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 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

EGV Berlin: Deutsche Marine to Libya escape

The Berlin supply ship and the Rheinland Pfalz frigate were berthed in Malta's picturesque Grand Harbour, while the third vessel, the Brandenburg, also a frigate, remained offshore.
The Type 702 Berlin class replenishment ships are the largest vessels of the Deutsche Marine (German Navy). In German, this type of ship is called Einsatzgruppenversorger which can be translated as task force supplier though the official translation in English is combat support ship, or in military parlance, a replenishment oiler.
# Power Plant: 2 × MAN Diesel 12V 32/40 diesel-engines, 5,340 kW each; 2 reduction gears, 2 controllable pitch four-bladed propellers, 1 bow thruster
# Length: 173.7 m (569 ft 11 in)
# Beam: 24 m (78 ft 9 in)
# Displacement: 20,240 tonnes
# Capacity: 9330 tonnes of fuel oil, aviation fuel and fresh water
# Cargo space: 550 tonnes mixed cargo
# Speed: 20 kn (37 km/h)
# Aircraft: 2 × Sea King or MH90 helicopters
# Armament: 4 × MLG 27 mm autocannons, Stinger surface to air missile (MANPADS), 2 × RAM launcher (planned)
# Crew: 139 (+ 94), plus hospital capacity of 43 patients