[holding answer 12 March 2007]: The Royal Navy is mandated to provide two frigates or destroyers and one auxiliary oil tanker to the Gulf and wider region.
This requirement is kept under regular review, and force levels are adjusted as required. Additional RN units have been deployed to the Gulf and the wider region at various stages over the last six months, as a result of these reviews. Currently these additional units consist of two mine countermeasure vessels, one landing ship logistics, one auxiliary fleet support (with two airborne surveillance and area control Sea Kings embarked) and three Merlin Helicopters based at Seeb, Oman.
Additionally, the Royal Navy training team have been deployed since 2003, tasked with training Iraqi forces until further notice.