MCM2 Crew 6 has commenced a seven month deployment aboard HMS Atherstone in support of Operation Kipion.
Crew 2 handed over the baton to Crew 6 in Bahrain where the Hunt Class Minehunter is operationally based.
HMS Atherstone will continue to operate as part of the UK’s contribution to promoting security and stability in the Gulf region.
Crew 6 originally sailed HMS Atherstone to Bahrain in 2012 before embarking upon HMS Ledbury for 15 months during which they deployed to the Mediterranean, Red Sea and Baltic and conducted pre-deployment training in UK waters.
During this current deployment aboard HMS Atherstone, the Ship will conduct mine warfare operations and exercises alongside UK units and partner navies as well as visiting several regional countries.
These exercises will challenge the crew in a wide variety of roles including their core task of mine hunting while further developing relationships with regional navies.
HMS Atherstone is one of eight Hunt Class Minehunters with her home port in Portsmouth.
She is one of the four Royal Navy MCMVs based in Bahrain and permanently deployed to the Gulf.
HMS Atherstone is equipped with a Sea Fox mine disposal system and has a crew of over forty personnel, including highly trained divers, engineers and mine warfare specialists.