An RAF C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft was assigned to the region along with the RN warship HMS Chatham, which left its station patrolling in the Persian Gulf.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel RFA Diligence, present in Kochi, India when the disaster struck, replenished Chatham before returning to Kochi to embark aid supplies.
After the port call it returned to the disaster area, to perform relief work with Chatham around the east coast of Sri Lanka.
A company of a British Army Gurkha battalion stationed in Brunei and two accompanying Army Air Corps helicopters was offered to the Indonesian government in January 2005 to aid in efforts on the island of Sumatra.
It is believed the Gurkhas were turned down due to Indonesia's past confrontation with such British-led troops[1]