British Royal air Force aircraft ready for further action over the city of Tripoli in Libya 2308112

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World Air Force News - United Kingdom
 
 
British Royal air Force aircraft ready for further action over the city of Tripoli in Libya.
 
As street fighting continues in Tripoli between Free Libya Forces and members of Colonel Gaddafi's former regime, British and NATO military aircraft are maintaining a presence in the air. In the lead up to Free Libya Forces entering Tripoli this weekend the RAF continued to strike at key Colonel Gaddafi targets within the city as part of NATO's Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR.
     
As street fighting continues in Tripoli between Free Libya Forces and members of Colonel Gaddafi's former regime, British and NATO military aircraft are maintaining a presence in the air. In the lead up to Free Libya Forces entering Tripoli this weekend the RAF continued to strike at key Colonel Gaddafi targets within the city as part of NATO's Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR.
British Royal Air Force Typhoon and Tornado GR4 aircraft at Gioia del Colle air base in southern Italy (stock image)
[Picture: Senior Aircraftwoman Sally Raimondo, Crown Copyright/British MOD 2011]

     

On Sunday morning British RAF Tornado and Typhoon aircraft mounted a precision strike before dawn on the military intelligence operations room in Tripoli, close to the Baroni intelligence facility which the RAF had successfully bombed 24 hours previously.

Nine Paveway guided bombs were delivered with great accuracy to the target.

Later in the day, an armed reconnaissance patrol identified and destroyed one of Gaddafi's main battle tanks positioned on the outskirts of the city.

     
At sea, HMS Liverpool was conducting surveillance off Tripoli when she sighted a small Maltese-registered vessel which had been damaged by hostile fire while leaving Tripoli port, apparently with evacuees embarked.
HMS Liverpool (left) conducts a replenishment at sea with United States Henry J Kaiser Class oiler the USNS John Lenthall for fuel and ammunition for her 4.5-inch (114mm) gun (stock image)
[Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Caz Davies, Crown Copyright/British MOD 2011]

     
At sea, HMS Liverpool was conducting surveillance off Tripoli when she sighted a small Maltese-registered vessel which had been damaged by hostile fire while leaving Tripoli port, apparently with evacuees embarked.

The vessel was under way but her manoeuvrability was impaired. HMS Liverpool passed a line to the vessel and towed her to open water where she was able to proceed safely. Liverpool alerted the Maltese authorities to the vessel's condition, and was then able to return to her duties off the coast.

UK forces currently deployed on this operation include:

• RAF Tornado and Typhoon aircraft based at Gioia del Colle in Italy
• RAF VC10 and TriStar air-to-air refuelling tankers based in Sicily and the UK
• RAF Sentry and Sentinel surveillance aircraft based in Sicily and Cyprus
• HMS Ocean (helicopter carrier)
• HMS Liverpool (Type 42 destroyer)
• HMS Bangor (Sandown Class minehunter)
• Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Fort Rosalie
• British Army Apache attack helicopters
• Fleet Air Arm Sea King helicopters (Airborne Surveillance and Area Control role)
• RAF air transport aircraft providing extensive logistic support to the deployed bases in Italy, Sicily and the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus.