Cumberland: to Malta with SAS team

Eight persons arrested carried British passports. The reason they were arrested is that they came into the country unofficially and without any previous arrangement. A team of eight SAS soldiers and a UK diplomat, who were being detained by Libyan rebels near Benghazi, are believed to be aboard the HMS Cumberland which is due to arrive in Malta March 7.
The group, which had been deployed to Libya to make contacts with the opposition, were captured just outside the eastern Libyan town by rebel forces.

HMS York: Rapid Deployment Team to Benghazi

A statement from the Foreign Office said: ‘HMS York is now on its way to Benghazi to pick up any remaining British Nationals wishing to leave. Those who can travel easily to Benghazi should make their way to the port. A Rapid Deployment Team will be on board to provide consular assistance. Estimated arrival and departure times will be confirmed shortly.’

HMS Cumberland: second rescue trip to Benghazi

HMS Cumberland, left Benghazi for Malta February 27 on its second rescue mission, carrying 200 people of various nationalities, earlier

York: RN Destroyer from Gib to Malta for Libya

York, D98, was ordered to head east for the Libyan coast from Gibraltar


Name: HMS York
Operator: Royal Navy
Builder: Swan Hunter
Laid down: 18 January 1980
Launched: 20 June 1982
Christened: 9 August 1985
Commissioned: 9 August 1985
Identification: Pennant number: D98

Cumberland frigate had left the rebel-held port of Benghazi in eastern Libya on Thursday carrying 207 passengers but was forced to travel at a reduced speed because of the rough weather in the Mediterranean.

The vessel carried citizens from more than 20 countries -- part of a vast multinational workforce in Libya that includes oil industry executives from Europe and the United States and migrant workers from Africa and Asia.
earlier

HMS Cumberland: off Tripoli w/ Lynx helos

A team of six UK officials has arrived in Libya's capital, Tripoli while HMS Cumberland departed from Crete. The frigate, which was commissioned in 1989, is one of four axed in the government’s Strategic Defence and Security Review in October last year. She is due to leave service in April this year.


Cornwall class (Type 22 Batch 3) frigates

Displacement: 4,850 tons full load
Dimensions: 148.10 x 14.75 x 6.0 meters (486 x 48 x 19.5 feet)
Propulsion: 2 shafts, 2 RM1C cruise gas turbines, 10,680 shp, 18 knots;
2 SM1A boost gas turbines, 37,540 shp, 30 knots
Crew: 232 (245 as flagship)
Aviation: aft helicopter deck with hangar; 2 Sea Lynx helicopters
Radar: Type 967M surface/air search
Sonar: Type 2050 hull, Type 2031(Z) towed
Fire Control: 2 Type 911 missile control
EW: UAA-2 intercept, 2 Type 675 jammer, 4 decoy, Type 182 towed
Armament: 8 Harpoon, 2 6-cell Sea Wolf (72 missiles total, manual
reload), 1 114mm/55 DP, 1 30 mm Goalkeeper CIWS, 2 triple 12.75 inch torpedo
tubes, 2 30 mm