If they don't bcome otherwise engaged in Libya, ships and Royal Marines from the Royal Navy's Response Force Task Group, currently deployed on Op Cougar 11 in the Mediterranean Sea, today starts the first major exercise between the Royal Navy and Albanian armed forces since Albania joined NATO in 2009.

Exercise Albanian Lion, which takes place between 27 May - 3 Jun 11, is claimed to be the most significant defence cooperation to date between the two NATO allies. Involving ships, helicopters and hundreds of Royal Marines, as well as Albanian forces, the Exercise will focus on amphibious operations.

Colonel Haydn White Royal Marines, Deputy Commander 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, will command the Landing Force. He said: "Albania is a NATO ally with whom the UK enjoys a positive relationship and this exercise is a milestone in the cooperation between our armed forces. We hope it is the first of many. We thank the Albanian people
for their support and look forward to working together again in the future".

It's worth noting that 3 Commando Brigade also is curently leading Task Force Helmand.

Commodore John Kingwell RN, commanding the UK Task Group from HMS Albion, said: "The Response Force Task Group is the UK's maritime quick reaction force. This long planned deployment involves multi-national amphibious exercises with partner nations, such as Albania, which reaffirm the Royal Navy's ability to respond at short notice to unforeseen world events."

COUGAR 11 was embarked upon to demonstrate the Response Force Task Group (RFTG) concept. RFTG was announced in last years Strategic Defence and Security Review and is the heart of the UK's maritime contingent
capability, held at very high readiness to respond to unexpected global events. It highlights the enduring need for the armed forces to plan and train for unforeseen events that may occur in parallel with the defence main effort of current operations.

Initially, the Task Group will demonstrate its amphibious capabilities through multi-national exercises in the Mediterranean, before conducting further exercises in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf.

The Defence Secretary has today cut the first steel for HMS Prince of Wales, the Royal Navy's second Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier.

During the ceremony at the BAE Systems shipyard in Govan, Dr Liam Fox started the computer-guided laser to cut the first piece of hull for the second of these new 65, 000 tonne ships, the largest ever built for the Royal Navy.

Dr Fox said: "We are committed to delivering this next generation of powerful British aircraft carriers that will mark a step change in our carrier strike capability and form the cornerstone of the Royal Navy's Future Force 2020. This major construction project is creating and sustaining thousands of jobs in shipyards around the country."

The new Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, which are being built by an alliance of BAE, Babcock, Thales UK and the Ministry of Defence, will give the Royal Navy a four acre military operating base which can be deployed worldwide. Both will have nine decks, plus a flight deck the size of three football pitches. Each carrier will have two propellers weighing 33 tonnes - nearly two and half times as heavy as a double decker bus - producing a maximum speed of over 25 knots. The class will operate at least twelve of the carrier variant Joint Strike Fighter jets that are highly capable, offer value for money, and allow for unparalleled interoperability with our allies.

Second Sea Lord, Vice-Admiral Charles Montgomery, who also attended the steel cutting ceremony, said: "The Queen Elizabeth Class will provide Britain with the means to deliver air power from the sea, wherever and whenever required, and in a stronger and more decisive form than ever before. In addition they will be able to undertake a wide range of tasks including support to peace keeping operations and delivery of humanitarian aid in times of crisis. They will undoubtedly prove a tremendous asset both to the Royal Navy and to the UK as a whole."

Major sections of HMS Prince of Wales will be constructed at six shipyards around the UK and will then be transported to Rosyth dockyard in Fife where the two ships will be assembled. Construction of the HMS Queen Elizabeth is well under way with components currently being brought together where they will be assembled using a 223 foot crane. Completion of the first ship is expected towards the end of the decade.