For the next 12 months Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth will be the floating headquarters of the maritime element of NATO’s spearhead force.
The British warship this week took on the role as Afloat Command Platform, the floating HQ of the Allied Reaction Force (Maritime) — usually shortened to ARF(M) — as the U.K. took over leadership of the ARF for the next 12 months.
The handover was marked by a ceremony on board the carrier in Portsmouth Naval Base. Formal command of the ARF maritime force was transferred to Rear Admiral Anderson, Commander of the United Kingdom Strike Forces from the Spanish Navy last week.
As per a Royal Navy press statement: “The ARF is held at high readiness and is designed to face down many modern-day challenges that require a coordinated response, including hybrid warfare, terrorism and cyber-attacks.”
R.Adm.Anderson commented: “The U.K. remains committed to NATO, and taking command of the maritime component of the ARF is a clear demonstration to partners and allies that the Royal Navy will play its part in responding swiftly and effectively to crisis.”
In another associated first, Britain is also taking command of NATO’s high readiness special operations force; U.K. Special Operations Forces have assumed leadership of the Special Operations Component Command within the ARF.
Its maritime element is led by the Royal Marines of 42 Commando, who form the Special Operations Maritime Task Group.
They are primed for specialist missions such as recapturing vessels and oil rigs, as well as conducting covert coastal raids ahead of amphibious landings.
- You can read more details on the Royal Navy website