The Royal Navy wants three new-build mine hunting motherships
It has emerged that the RN plans to acquire up to three ‘survivable, non-complex warships’ designed from the outset to be motherships for autonomous mine-hunting boats.
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Mine warfare
A naval accident in context – Royal Navy minehunters collide in Bahrain
Here we consider the implications of the unfortunate collision of two Royal Navy ships in Bahrain, seen in the wider context of peacetime naval accidents.
Up close with RFA Stirling Castle – first of the navy’s new motherships
In this article, we examine the layout, equipment and initial trials programme for RFA Stirling Castle, the first of the vessels recently purchased by the RN for use as a mothership.
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Should the Royal Navy rebuild its minelaying capability?
The RN currently has no stock of sea mines or dedicated minelaying platforms. Here we look at whether regenerating this capability would be worthwhile and the options available.
Royal Navy autonomous mine hunting at the sharp end
As the RN begins the transition from crewed minehunters to autonomous systems, the first boat has been deployed to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. This is a small but significant step and much rests upon the success of this vessel in the operational environment.
Mothership to support autonomous mine hunting systems arrives in the UK
Offshore Support Vessel, MV Island Crown arrived in Devonport yesterday on her delivery voyage from Ulsteinvik, Norway. She will join the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and operate Uncrewed Surface Vehicles (USV) in support of mine countermeasures tasks around the UK and in European waters.
HMS Shoreham – the next Royal Navy minehunter to decommission
HMS Shoreham has left her home port of Faslane for the final time to conduct a brief tour of the UK before she is formally decommissioned in Rosyth.More
Industry participates in new round of autonomous minehunting trials
During September and October, the Wilton Industry Show and Experiment for Mine Counter Measures (WISEX) was held in the Clyde approaches. This was an opportunity for industry to further demonstrate autonomous mine-hunting equipment and software.
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Risky business? – Royal Navy goes “all in” with autonomous mine warfare
Tony Carruthers spent 8 years as an officer serving in Royal Navy minehunters. Here he articulates some of the concerns about exchanging crewed mine countermeasures vessels for autonomous systems.
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