Editing HMS Cumberland (F85) (section)

===Libya operations===
On 22 February 2011, [[British Foreign Secretary]] [[William Hague]] announced that ''Cumberland'', while transiting the Mediterranean on her return to the UK for decommissioning, would be redeployed to Libyan waters to assist in Operation Deference, the evacuation of British citizens and other nationals affected by the [[2011 Libyan civil war]].<ref>{{cite news |title=UK plans to fly Britons out of Libya amid unrest |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12545147 |newspaper=BBC News |date=22 February 2011 |access-date=22 February 2011}}</ref> ''Cumberland'' entered the [[Port of Benghazi]] on 24 February. The ship left the same day with an international collection of 454 passengers that included 129 British nationals plus European and American nationals,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-12571376|title=Britons flee Libya on navy frigate bound for Malta|publisher=BBC News|date=24 February 2011|quote=In 2011, HMS Cumberland was docked in Benghazi port, and deployed in Libyan territorial waters, on Thursday 24 February, Sunday 27 February, and Sunday 6 March |access-date=24 February 2011}}</ref><ref name=Hansard17Mar11c513>[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110317/text/110317w0001.htm Hansard 17 Mar 2011, Column 513W ] states that on Thursday 24 February, Sunday 27 February, and Sunday 6 March "she evacuated over 400 entitled persons including over 120 British nationals."</ref> and transferred them to safety in Malta.<ref name=Cumblerland14Mar11>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/type-22-frigates/hms-cumberland/news/defence_secretary_dr.htm MoD Website, ''Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox Visits Malta'' 14 March 2011]</ref> All European Union citizens were entitled to rescue by the ''Cumberland'', but needed to carry a passport or other document that could serve as proof of nationality; would-be passengers were advised to telephone the British embassy in Malta.<ref name=SofiaEcho06Mar11>[http://sofiaecho.com/2011/03/06/1054160_bulgarians-other-eu-citizens-offered-evacuation-from-benghazi-on-hms-cumberland Sofia Echo, 6 March 2011, ''Bulgarians, other EU citizens offered evacuation from Benghazi on HMS Cumberland''.]</ref>

In March 2011, ''Cumberland'' took part in [[Operation Ellamy]], the British role in the coalition action during the [[2011 Libyan civil war]] by enforcing a naval blockade.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.navynews.co.uk/news/1123-royal-navy-blockade-forces-gaddafis-gunboats-off-the-ocean.aspx| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110326061530/http://www.navynews.co.uk/news/1123-royal-navy-blockade-forces-gaddafis-gunboats-off-the-ocean.aspx| archive-date = 2011-03-26| title = Royal Navy blockade forces Gaddafi's gunboats off the ocean}}</ref> The life of the ''Cumberland'' has been extended so that the UK "armed forces remain equipped to protect in this conflict."<ref name=Hansard23Mar11c940>[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110323/debtext/110323-0001.htm Hansard 23 Mar 2011, Column 940]</ref>

{{cquote|Since frigates [[HMS Westminster (F237)|HMS ''Westminster'']] and ''Cumberland'' began enforcing the United Nations Resolution with other Allied naval forces on Friday [18 March 2011], the dictator's ships had shown "a very marked reluctance" to leave their bases... As well as ensuring arms do not slip through the naval cordon drawn across the Gulf of Sirte, both ships are using their surveillance suites to monitor activities along the Libyan coast, providing vital intelligence for the overall mission. Both frigates remain on station off the Libyan coast in full defence posture – defence watches, anti-flash, upper deck guns manned.<ref name=MoD23Mar11Blockade>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/type-23-frigates/hms-westminster/news/the_naval_blockade_o.htm MoD ''Royal Navy Blockade Forces Gaddafi's Gunboats off the Ocean'', 23 March 2011]</ref>}}

''Cumberland'' was transferred to [[Operation Unified Protector]] under [[NATO]] command at the end of March.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/HmsCumberlandReadyForEmbargoOperationsInLibya.htm|title=HMS Cumberland ready for embargo operations in Libya|publisher=Ministry of Defence|date=29 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/RafAndNavyPatrolLibyanSkiesAndSeas.htm|title=RAF and Navy patrol Libyan skies and seas|publisher=Ministry of Defence|date=31 March 2011}}</ref>