The UK’s state-of-the-art minehunting vessel, RFA Stirling Castle, is approaching the end of its military conversion process following its arrival in Devonport as MV Island Crown just three months ago.
Once operational, the ship will serve as a central command and accommodation hub for the Royal Navy’s mine warfare specialists and their cutting-edge equipment, including uncrewed minehunting vessels.
The primary focus will be on securing UK waters, while Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the ship.
RFA Stirling Castle replaces traditional mine countermeasures vessels by integrating advanced technology to combat mine threats. The ship is equipped with a range of uncrewed systems, including the joint French-UK Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) system, the Combined Influence Sweep (SWEEP) system, and Medium Underwater Autonomous Vehicles (MAUVs).
These systems, say the Royal Navy here, will enable the identification, location, and neutralisation of mine threats more effectively and efficiently.
As the vessel prepares for trials and training, the first ship’s company has already completed their initial three-month rotation onboard. The plan is to rotate the entire crew every few months, similar to existing minehunters and patrol ships, ensuring that the RFA Stirling Castle remains available for operations as much as possible.
Am I correct in thinking this is going to be based at HMS Jufair to replace one of the Bay class??
If so, sounds good
No it’s going to Faslane.
No such place as HMS Jufair. Its UKNSF Bahrain.
The Bay class will in all likelyhood be extended in service anyway. The other things that the Bay brings to the table in the Gulf are hard to beat.
massive Chinook capable flight deck. The dock. Accom on board and the facilities to support it. Vehicle deck storage. Large container deck.
As DMJ says, but eventually one of these mother ships should be, as the Bay is needed for its primary role.
Wonder if they put a little pop gun on her ,she’s well needed.
Why haven’t they painted it grey?
Is that really the final colour scheme for RFA ‘Stirling Castle’ ? Blue & White ? Seriously…..for an operational defence vessel ? Methinks that ‘retaining the union’ pandering to a political agenda is at work here.
No it’s been painted gray, that the picture before it went in.
Thank you Jim, I am greatly relieved. The name ‘Stirling Castle’ on the bow of the blue & white vessel image had me rather confused, since the pre-Devonport name for the vessel was MV Island Crown. Maybe somebody has been busy with Photoshop ?!
The ship is blue and white at the moment but will be painted gray in future.
I think that’s Proteus not Sterling Castle that’s been repainted
I am only repeating the naming statement made by UKDJ.
What? Proteus is the new surveillance ship that is being repainted
It’s the colour it was delivered in. If the paint work is in good order why worry about repainting it until it needs it, more important to get it into service. On delivery it was reported it would not be immediately repainted.
Well I guess we could save both money and time and get the T.31’s & T.26’s delivered into service quickly… in red primer ……..
Could be worse could be completely PC and be all the colours of the Rainbow ..We could then call it rainbow warrior…oh hang on maybe not….
Great comment Grizzler !
I have a horrible feeling that RFA vessels painted in whatever grey the RN is currently using will be deemed ‘offensive’ and representative of ‘Imperial crimes’.
So..lets go for it, whatever colour the ‘off-the-shelf’ RFA vessels arrive in is now good – puce pink, lime green – any colour, just to get them into service quickly.
Why what’s the issue…a lot of auxiliaries especially vessels used for monitoring are not all painted grey..a lot of US TAGOS ships are white etc. why spend the time and money doing things that will not make a difference, when she could be commissioned a bit earlier and get on with the job.
She is still blue and white and shall remain so until at least her next major refit. The blue and white scheme is Island Shipping colours. Painting her grey for purely cosmetic reason would be a waste of money.
Well I guess in the name of money saving – why not. After all it’s only a civilian contract vessel isn’t it ? NO…it’s an RFA – but – ok, lets take all future off-the-shelf RFA’s in any colour they come, As yet another ‘fitted for but not with’ money saver.
I am probably just way out of date and un-woke. I just like to see all RN & RFA vessels in GREY, any shade will do but…GREY. Very boringly, it’s what the enemy expects.
I agree with you, Clive. She should be grey, and in time I’m sure she will be.
Thank you Daniele. It’s the “time” that worries me. I wonder what colour the other off-the-shelf, Portsmouth based, vessel will be ?
Let’s see if this really is all about cost……
This is what we need for MCM work, off the shelf commercial vessels painted grey not a Gucci Type 32 frigate.
Hopefully we can just keep rolling with T31 build and get 12 and buy a bunch of these to support the USV and Drones.
What ships are the RN giving up for this one?
The 2 Wave class by the look of it, as they are laid up in extended readiness. The crews are needed for more pressing priorities, the MROSS and this.
So many good castle names for more ships.
I read of 4, I hope that comes to fruition. It needs to, as more than 1 mother vessel will be needed!
Good job, quick and effective decision making with a decent short time scale, ensuring the asset is in service ASP! Whoever was in charge of this project give them a promotion to defence sec!
Excuse my ignorance, which will become readily apparent, but if this is some kind of mother ship, and things go pear shaped and the mother ship gets taken out, what happens to its children, do they still work, or it a case of putting all you eggs in one basket (again) ?
Looks good. Are we getting more than just the one?
there was surpose to be a new build as well
I think that is the 2nd MROSS Simon, not aware of a purpose built Mother vessel.
Thanks Daniele, just checked and it is a sister ship to RFA Proteus that is a new build
That’s right.
I’d read of 4.