Britain and US build up firepower in Gulf

The US and Britain are assembling a formidable array of firepower in the Gulf ahead of expected military reprisals for the World Trade Centre terrorist atrocities.

A second US carrier battle group, headed by the aircraft carrier USS Vinson, is heading for the region and is due to arrive later this week.

It will join the USS Enterprise already on station in the Gulf with 50 aircraft and an accompanying flotilla of some two dozen warships.

Britain also has a naval task force of 27 ships, led by the carrier HMS Illustrious, heading for the region, originally to take part in a large-scale joint exercise with the Omani armed forces.

Illustrious is carrying eight Royal Navy Sea Harriers and seven RAF Harrier GR7s, while the task force also includes two nuclear-powered submarines, one with land-attack cruise missiles, frigates, destroyers, amphibious vessels and two Royal Marine commando units.

In addition both the US and Britain already have substantial air power in the region, with warplanes policing the northern and southern no-fly zones over Iraq.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed about 50 British RAF personnel have been deployed to Kuwait. They form part of 15 Squadron RAF Regiment at RAF Honington in Suffolk and left for Kuwait over the weekend.

A spokesman for the RAF base says the move is a precautionary one and not a result of any specific threat.

He said: "The business of the RAF Regiment based at RAF Honington is force protection, namely looking after RAF assets worldwide.

"The deployment of an element of No15 Squadron RAF Regiment over the weekend is not in reaction to a specific threat. However, as you are aware all defence bases worldwide have enhanced their security state."