To quote the
Times article:
...F-35B Lightning stealth jets and Merlin submarine-hunting helicopters are to stand ready on the task group’s flag ship, the carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, to support the warships in the Black Sea should they be threatened by Russian warships, submarines or aircraft.
A naval task group is comprised of ships than can change position all the time. During the Falklands conflict groups of frigates and destroyers were detached from the main body of the force for things such as naval gunfire support, submarine hunting (alongside carrier based Sea Kings), and supporting special forces. The comment that the Type 23 and Type 45 sent into the Black Sea could be supported by F-35B Lightnings and ASW Merlins from HMS
Queen Elizabeth actually makes a nice change from the media always assuming that the task group exists solely to defend the carrier, and so do her aircraft. The Type 45 will control aircraft flying air defence sorties and the frigate will cue and work with the Merlin HM2s from the carrier.
To that end: