Royal Navy minehunter HMS Middleton departed her home in Portsmouth for a three-year deployment to the Persian Gulf where she will protect vital sea lanes and provide wider maritime security to the region.
The crew sailed off for the Gulf yesterday, November 9. Although Middleton will be based in Bahrain for three years, the 45 ships company will rotate every six months. Four of the Navy’s minehunters are a permanent presence in the Gulf.
The current crew took charge of the Hunt-class vessel at the beginning of 2015.
Since joining they have put the ship through intensive operational sea training in preparation for deployment, taken part in Exercise Joint Warrior and made visits to London and various ports around Scotland.
Middleton’s crew will work alongside the UK and international navies conducting maritime security patrols and exercises to ensure the safe flow of trade and oil in the area.
The ship is equipped with the remotely operated submersible Seafox Mine Disposal System and a DS30B 30mm Gun.
HMS Middleton is one of the Navy’s fifteen mine countermeasures vessels. Eight are based in Portsmouth.
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Image: Royal Navy