Royal Navy Hunt-class minehunter, HMS Cattistock, successfully conducted live firings of Diver-Placed Charges and Seafox combat rounds as part of its ongoing Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) exercises, the vessel’s crew announced on social media.
The drills, which are essential to maintaining the ship’s operational readiness, showcased the ship’s advanced mine warfare systems and seabed clearance capabilities.
Posting from its official account, the crew of HMS Cattistock highlighted the importance of the exercise, stating, “Today we’ve proven our mine warfare weapon systems with live firings of Diver Placed Charges and Seafox Combat rounds.”
Live firings! Today we’ve proven our mine warfare weapon systems with live firings of Diver Placed Charges and Seafox Combat rounds. This is an essential part of our @FOST training💥 #Seapower #Minehunter #SeabedWarfare pic.twitter.com/dVUVYOSlZR
— HMS Cattistock (@HMSCattistock) February 11, 2025
The exercise is critical to ensuring the vessel’s readiness to neutralise underwater threats, from sea mines to modern maritime dangers.
The 60-metre Hunt-class vessel, equipped with the SeaFox mine disposal system and sonar Type 2193, specialises in detecting and neutralising sea mines, ensuring the safety of shipping lanes and military naval operations. With a complement of 48 crew, Cattistock combines cutting-edge technology with traditional mine clearance techniques, such as diver-placed explosive charges.
The ship’s SeaFox system, a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV), plays a crucial role in identifying and neutralising underwater threats.
As part of modernisation efforts, Cattistock received Caterpillar C32 Acert diesel engines in 2015 to enhance efficiency and reliability, enabling it to reach speeds of up to 17 knots. Its versatile weapons include a 30mm DS30B gun, miniguns, and general-purpose machine guns.
How’s this for a Monday morning work view?
Heading up the #KilbrannanSound on our way towards the #IsleofBute for more Mine Warfare exercises. #Seapower #MineHunter #RoyalNavyinScotland 🏴 pic.twitter.com/TZveIMqMXJ— HMS Cattistock (@HMSCattistock) February 10, 2025
Cattistock’s FOST training also included mine warfare exercises in the Kilbrannan Sound near the Isle of Bute. The crew posted a scenic update, stating, “How’s this for a Monday morning work view? Heading up the Kilbrannan Sound on our way towards the Isle of Bute for more Mine Warfare exercises.”
At the UK Defence Journal, we aim to deliver accurate and timely news on defence matters. We rely on the support of readers like you to maintain our independence and high-quality journalism. Please consider making a one-off donation to help us continue our work. Click here to donate. Thank you for your support!
