Gibraltar could be home to new carrier
Friday, November 30, 2007
The Royal Navy continues to study the idea of making Gibraltar the home of one of the new aircraft carriers.
Plans for a carrier base have been in development for several years. The idea would make Gibraltar home to one of Britain’s two new aircraft carriers along with the support fleet that accompanies it. The fleet would serve as a rapid response force.
The tiny island city has become a key area of interest for the Ministry of Defence over the last few years. It already serves as a crucial logistics base for UK forces operating in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. The island is also a frequent layover point for Royal Navy ships and has recently become a crucial training ground for naval and air force personnel preparing to deploy to the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of operation. This makes a scenario where a carrier fleet is permanently stationed in the city more likely. The increased emphasis on law enforcement and anti-smuggling operations have seen more Royal Navy ships using Gibraltar as a base as well.
The MoD sees the building of a permanent aircraft carrier base a way of reducing costs, increasing its presence in the Mediterranean, and allowing for easier deployments throughout the world.