UK military support to 2012 Olympic Games

While the safety and security operation for the Games remains a clear Police lead, the Government has agreed that the Ministry of Defence will make a significant contribution by providing a range of support to the civilian authorities. This will include specialist capabilities which only the military can provide, as well as some more
general support. In total, the MOD expects to deploy up to 13,500 personnel, comprising:

*        5,000 personnel in support of the police and other civil authorities, with specialist capabilities including explosive ordnance disposal teams, military working dogs and Royal Navy support to maritime policing, as well as a 1,000-strong unarmed contingency force for deployment in the event of an Olympics-related civil emergency;

*        1,000 personnel to provide logistics support;

*        3,500 personnel, rising to a peak of 7,500, to provide venue security

*        A number of personnel participating in ceremonial events.

A number of military assets will also be deployed, including:

*        HMS OCEAN, the largest ship in the Royal Navy's fleet, which will be berthed in the Thames at Greenwich, providing logistics support, accommodation and a helicopter landing site;

*        HMS BULWARK, in Weymouth Bay, providing maritime command and control, accommodation, helicopter and small boat basing and logistics supply;

*        Typhoon jets, stationed temporarily at RAF Northolt in London and helicopters, likely to be Puma and Lynx, operating from HMS OCEAN to support airspace security;

*        Appropriate ground-based air defence capabilities also to support the airspace security effort.

In addition, the military will make available Defence real estate including Woolwich Barracks and Horse Guards.

Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond MP, said:

"Next year's Olympic and Paralympic Games are once-in-a-generation events for the UK. We want them to be secure, so that all those competing and attending can enjoy the Games for the celebration of sporting achievement and cultural celebration that it is.

"Defence is proud to be playing its part in such an important national event as London 2012, however support to the Games will not divert the MOD from its core business. Throughout the Games, the Armed Forces will maintain its commitments to the protection of the UK, to current operations in Afghanistan and to other standing commitments worldwide - including the ability to respond to the unexpected.

"The Defence contribution to London 2012 is on a similar scale to military deployed at other recent Olympic Games. The Government is clearthat the Games should be a peaceful celebration of sporting achievement and a cultural celebration - not a security event."

Notes for dummies issued by MoD

*         An amphibious assault ship, HMS OCEAN is designed to deliver troops to the centre of the action by helicopter or by landing craft - the ship has six helicopter operating spots on the flight deck and the hangar can hold many more aircraft. The ship has its own Royal Marine assault squadron, 9ASRM, and also carries four landing craft capable of carrying troops and vehicles.  Built on the Clyde by Kvaerner Govan, Ocean was a new approach to naval shipbuilding using commercial-build methods and techniques. The ship was launched in October 1995, and named by Her Majesty the Queen on February 20 1998.  She is currently the largest ship in the Royal Navy's fleet.

*        HMS BULWARK is the Flagship of the Royal Navy and the nation. Along with sister ship HMS ALBION. BULWARK'S role is to deliver the punch of the Royal Marines ashore by air and by sea, with boats from ou
landing dock in the belly of the ship and by assault helicopter from the
two-spot flight deck. She can carry 256 troops, with their vehicles and
combat supplies, and this can be swollen up to 405 troops.

*        TYPHOON provides the RAF with a multi-role combat aircraft, capable of being deployed in the full spectrum of air operations, from air policing, to peace support, through to high intensity conflict. It is currently employed on permanent operations in the Falkland Islands, UK QRA North and UK QRA South.

*        LYNX is a light, multi role battlefield helicopter with an all weather capability. Today, the Army Helicopter (AH) is in two marks, the AH 7 and 9. These have a high commonality with the Royal Navy, which has the Helicopter Anti-Submarine (HAS) Mk3 and Mk8 variants. The aircraft can hold two crew and up to nine passengers with full fighting order. It can be equipped with a pintle mounted, gunner operated General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and several role fits

*        PUMA HC1 first entered service in 1971, and the RAF currently has a fleet of 34 aircraft available to the front-line Support Helicopter Force. As support helicopters (SH) within the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC), Puma is used in the classic support roles of tactical troop and load (internal/underslung) movement by day or night.
The aircraft can accommodate 12 equipped troops or up to 2 tonnes of freight.