RFA Stirling Castle, a new vessel that will operate autonomous minehunting vessels as a ‘mothership’, has arrived at her new home HMNB Clyde in Scotland.

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.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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58 COMMENTS

  1. Doesn’t entirely make clear whether this vessel is a “trials platform” or a “mothership” or both.

    • Not a trials platform, it is a mothership, first of a class of 4. It’s a big step up from the Sandowns class it’s replacing.

      • One of four “motherships to replace what until recent years, used to be 30 or so Mine hunters’ including Twelve Sandowns….. So that’s just four places at any given time subject to Crew numbers and availability/maintenance.

        • Yes and no, one MCM vesell can only track mines at one point. A mother ship operating multiple drones can look for mines in multiple locations at the same time.

          • Sorry but a fleet of 30 can be in thirty places all over the World…… this solitary Castle might just be able to be in one place and locally deploy multiple Vehicles but…… just locally….. I’m looking at the wider picture mate.

      • “It’s a big step up from the Sandowns class it’s replacing.”

        The cynic that in me that has developed from successive “upgrades” to capability that disguise downsizing the fleet means I have to question this. Forgive my ignorance!

        Firstly, was the class 3, not 4?

        Do we know what and when the third ship will be, given ships 1 and 2 have been acquired?

        Are they truly upgrades over the formerly large minehunter fleet? What makes them so?

        • In minehunting yes, because they can carry automated platforms of various sizes and easily maintain them at sea whereas the old mine hunters don’t have the space for that.
          Disadvantage is obviously numbers, but that’s the usual trade off.

          • Just off the top of my head there must (being generous) at least 20 locations around the UK where keeping waters mine free would be vital in a conflict arguably a lot more and obviously this won’t be a one time process in any single location as time passes. Will other vessels still be maintained or developed to help out? We will need to know we have a near stranglehold on Russian subs in the North Sea and the artic approaches to make this work I fear. Too many presumptions on future scenarios for my liking in any conflict, Most ‘experts’ I suspect would never have accepted the Russians in 2023/24 could have sustained their current loses and stayed in the game militarily or politically.

            I fear politicians are still not aware enough of weaknesses in any future conflict esp if US support is less than firm. It is clear already, as it is with the Southern border as good as openly admitted now, that Trump is orchestrating Republicans in the Senate and the House to block support for Ukraine so that if he is in Office he is in a position Ukraine to accept effective surrender to the status quo at best while allowing him to claim he has solved the problem. It will of course leave Europe at the mercy of Putin’s ambitions and some no doubt in fear join Hungary in trying to trade with the Devil to try to gain better terms for their own survival. Farage will do it here if allowed to gain any real power so we must open our eyes to the dangers in Europe of such a Trump imposed peace.

          • I Don’t know if We still do ,but Hunts used too conduct what was called OP Pike around UK waters in which we would Route Survey shipping lanes and harbours checking on the seabed for any objects that hadn’t been there on a previous survey

          • The No 1 Task of the RN is to maintain, support and operate the CASD capability no other Port or facility comes close on the priority list.
            To do that they must ensure that the access routes from HMNB Clyde to the deep water of the North Atlantic are safe and clear of threats. Which is why there have been a couple of MCM vessels based there for decades, and the RFA Fort Stirling is doing her trials up there.

        • Stirling castle is the first of 3/4… RFA Proteus is for a different purpose so actually It’s just the one hull…. unless you count the 10t boats and UWV’s she will carry.

        • Ship 2? No other mother vessels have arrived yet. If you’re referring to Proteus, she is for cable defence work.

          • Yes, different roles, similar ships in looks…. It appears that Stirling Castle will be having more dock time to “rectify defects” sometime in the Spring, which means that she won’t have done much work a year on from purchase.

        • Plastic hull small expensive MCM vessels are a piss port way to deploy drones and modern mines are so lethal ships can’t get anywhere close. That’s why it’s an upgrade.

          • So this one 6000t hull made of Steel and to commercial standards is so much better then ? Got any specs you would like to share to enlighten us mate ?

          • Because it is a “mothership”. It does not have to be anywhere near the danger area. It will deploy uncrewed mine clearing vehicles to explore and clear the mines if needed.

  4. I thought she was to relieve/replace the Bay-Class (DLS) ship in Bahrain? Would we not be better off building a MCM
    mothership like the Netherlands, Belgium and France are for their autonomous systems

    • No. That is a logical aspiration for when we have the 4, as it’s never been great using a precious LSD(A) for that.
      Stirling is primarily for Faslane.

      • Faslane ?…. I didn’t know that…. Will the others be primarily for the Clyde, Portsmouth and Plymouth then ? …. it’s all very confusing but I get that the 10t Boats would be Ideal for this sort of Inshore hunting ……. What will we have to do the Global Bit ?

        • Yes mate, that’s what I’d read. Prioritising the CASD. I also heard the other 3 were for Devonport, Pompey, and one overseas.
          I’m not certain on this so apologies if incorrect.
          Global?! They cannot self deploy! As we said. Hope an asset is available to carry them.
          What if the mines are in deeper, rougher seas? Can these boats do that?
          Another point, the Hunts will be around for a while yet while this autonomous MCM capability is expanded.

          • Once again mate…. you seem to be aware of these “What If’s” and all the associated questions….. Clyde might just need one all of their own I guess then ? …… Overseas would more than likely be one of either Bahrain, Gib or at a push, Falklands……

  6. Not a particularly important point but do we know if she’s going to be repainted? Probably not at the top of the priority list mind.

    Would have thought so as they’ve repainted Proteus.

  7. There seems to be a lot of confusion as to what Stirling Castle is actually supposed to do. I’ve been quite interested in the metamorphosis in Mine clearing for a few years so I’ll share my take on it.
    It is the intention of the RN to acquire 4 MMCV Motherships mid decade and until the Trials are done no one knows which option we will go for.

    RFA Stirling Castle is a Trials ship but her purpose is Threefold.

    1. Carry out Trials of the New Anglo French MMCM system in a realistic environment (in the Clyde). She will trial the use of UUV, USV, comms etc to identify and neutralise mines.
    2. Trial out the operation of an MCM vessel by the RFA rather than RN but with RN specialists operating the actual MMCM kit.
    3. Trial the suitability or not of using an OTS solution such as an adapted Offshore Support Vessel rather than a purpose built Mothership.

    IMHO it is the latter that is actually the most interesting of the 3. It’s a bit radical compared to the normal way of doing things in U.K MOD procurement to say the least.
    Normally we would usually draw up a requirement, issue a tender for a design and then once one was selected build an all singing, all dancing purpose built military Warship to fulfil the role.

    And the RN / MOD would of course insist on loading it up with all sorts of things it doesn’t actually need to clear mines from a distance. So a 40/57/76 mm gun (with a Magazine), a decent 3D Radar, Helicopter deck and hanger (probably large enough for a Chinook) et all. Oh and crewed by a full RN compliment.
    And then the usual suspects on UKDJ site will want to add CAMM, TAS and a 15” Gun turret for Naval Gunfire support.🥴
    So with UKDJ input it will be about 2,800 tonnes, crew of 60 and @£180 million each.
    Which is exactly what the Netherlands and Belgium are doing right now with the 12 City class MCM Motherships (€2 billion just for the ships). And France wants 6 as well (if they have any spare cash after building a 75.000 ton CVN).

    So rather than all that the seems to have had a brainwave let’s see if we can buy a commercial vessel off the shelf and see if it can do the job instead.

    The advantage is that if it works this type of vessel is far cheaper and more easily available.

    And if it doesn’t work well we can build a version of the City class just like the T31 is a version of the Ivor Huitfeldt Frigate.

    • Or BJ’s (so far) fictional fleet of 5 T32’s….. (recently revised to say “Up To 5”) Designed to be “Platforms for Autonomous Vehicles” ….. Oh dear, i’m so cynical in my old age. !

      • I’m still sticking to boris meant to say type 31 but got confused and to stop him looking like a Wally the press office ran with it.
        The conversation would of went something like:
        Press office: Boris you said 5 type 32 instead of 31. What should we do?
        Boris: oh I don’t want to look like a silly boy just back up what I said. I will be long gone by then.
        Press office: ok we will say something about new ships for 2030s. Oh what about adding autonomous capabilities?
        Boris: perfect thanks oh and add in we fixed the economy so budgets increasing all round.

    • Nope CASD on the Clyde is RN No1 priority and as it is way deeper than the others the best place to trial the capability is where it is hardest not easiest.

  10. One thing the Navy will surely loose is a lot of “junior” command posts. We all know that Charles commanded a mine-sweeper at one point in his career, and I suspect that a large percentage of those in 1* and above roles probably got their first command on a Mine sweeper/hunter.
    I am sure these posts gave them considerable experience in running a ship’s company.

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