A Royal Navy mine-hunting support vessel has delivered specialized cargo to a UK warship deploying to the Middle East ahead of potential mine-clearance operations.
A Royal Navy mine-hunting support vessel has delivered specialized cargo to a UK warship deploying to the Middle East ahead of potential mine-clearance operations.
Sailing from Portsmouth on England’s south coast, HMS Stirling Castle transported four specialist mine-hunting vessels, three rigid-hull inflatable boats, more than 20 containers carrying specialized technology, and additional freight of varying sizes.
The cargo was transferred in Gibraltar to RFA Lyme Bay, a mine-hunting mothership preparing for possible operations in the Strait of Hormuz, where tensions have risen following US and Israeli attacks against Iran in late February.
US and allied intelligence have accused Tehran of deploying mines throughout the Strait, causing widespread disruption as approximately 20 percent of the global oil supply passes through it.
In March, the UK considered sending minehunter drones to help reopen the route.
HMS Stirling Castle
HMS Stirling Castle, which entered service with the Royal Navy in November 2025, is used to store, prepare, deploy, and recover autonomous surface and underwater vessels for mine warfare.
Operating around UK home waters, the ship is also used for testing, launching, and training personnel on autonomous systems.
Stirling Castle’s specialized logistics delivery to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s Bay-class auxiliary landing ship dock was marked as a unique mission.
“It isn’t our normal role, but it has highlighted the flexibility of my ship, which is new to the Royal Navy,” said Commanding Officer Philip Harper.
Following the ship’s visit to Gibraltar, officials from the British overseas territory and the ship’s crew signed a memorandum of understanding affiliating HMS Stirling Castle with Gibraltar for the first time.
“This partnership strengthens the bond between our ship and the people of Gibraltar, and we look forward to working closely together, sharing experiences, and supporting one another in the years ahead,” Harper noted.
