The UK is stepping up preparations to support mine clearance operations in the Strait of Hormuz, with ministers highlighting new capabilities and ongoing multinational planning.
In response to a private notice question in the House of Lords, Defence Minister Lord Coaker said efforts are underway to restore and maintain freedom of navigation in the strategically vital waterway.
“We continue to convene efforts towards restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which is of vital importance to the UK,” he said.
RFA Lyme Bay is being equipped to act as a mothership for autonomous mine countermeasure systems.
The update follows a meeting convened by the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters on 7 April involving around 30 nations, focused on safeguarding shipping routes in the region.
During the exchange, former First Sea Lord Lord West of Spithead warned against any disruption to the Strait, describing it as a critical international waterway, and pointed to the UK’s expertise in minehunting.
He also suggested closer coordination with Oman, noting that key deep-water shipping routes into and out of the Gulf pass through Omani rather than Iranian waters. The government said it is working with allies on a coordinated multinational approach to protect international shipping, including plans to co-host a summit with France to develop that framework.
We’re fighting to stay relevant.
With the US military unable to keep the straits open and mine free, what can you expect from the UK. The US caused this mess, they should clear it up.
They’re Iranian mines, mate.
It’s an American war. Was the Strait mined before Trump and the big Yahu started bombing schools?
And what caused them being there? Was it trump and his illegal war with no win criteria specified?
Anyone and everyone with a vague ounce of common sense knew Iran would use the strait for leverage and mining it was their best option, and yet the US didn’t account for it or prepare to counter it.
Steve, if (big if) at some point in the future evidence emerges that the US and/or Israel destroyed Iran’s ability to deploy a nuclear weapon any time soon I suspect that the action will quickly be regarded as some form of self defence. As for win criteria – I’m not quite sure that they need to tell anyone that certainly at this point.
Your assuming 2 things, one that Iran was making nukes which all the intel indicated they were not and 2 that they were lying when they promised to open up to inspectors both under Obama and just over a year ago in the peace talks. Can’t see this war ever being seen as a possitive. If there was any real intel back that they were developing them trump would have plastered it all over the media as justification for war. Flip side 100% guaranteed large number of innocent people have died from the bombing and poorer members of the UK society will suffer badly from the inflation that is incoming later in the year when food prices shoot up due to lack of fertiliser.
Sorry mate but the Iranians were definitely up to bad things. Im absolutely not a supporter of the way the US and Israel went about it but there had to be a reckoning at some point. Don’t turn the pre-war Iran narrative in to ‘peaceful, innocent country attacked’.
Fully agree the Iran regime is toxic, but so is the US and Israel, plus a whole load of other counties, it doesn’t justify a war. Plus not to mention that the regime is still in place and bombing them won’t stop them developing nuclear weapons, if anything it will encourage them further to avoid being attacked again.
The independent negotiation team said Iran was conceding on a lot o things during the peace talks before this all kicked off, surely the right thing to do is let them play out first,.but no the attacked in the middle of them. Same with what is going on now, Pakistan said the cease fire deal included Lebanon but the US /Israel have clearly moved the goal posts.
It’s a mess, I can’t see how anyone will think it was successful or worthwhile when the dust settles.
Unfortunately we are relevant, no one else has the ability to bring a coalition of European, Asian and Gulf nations together and command them in a single force which is the only thing that’s going to get this done.
Oh yeah, the world just can’t wait to be led by Keir Starmer, head of a nation that can’t send a single surface combatant to the Strait of Hormuz or anywhere else. But then the UK has 40 admirals with no ships to command so maybe you can get them out from behind their desks and bring all of that command experience shuffling papers to the world. My, but you people are delusional.
Pop off then.
The UK’s current weakness contrasts with our history of empire power. The world map is no longer coloured pink. However, we have learned something.
“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same”
You’ll be a man my son.”
Others listen to the UK because we see clearly and speak the truth with a moral authority which is rooted in experience.
Have a nice day.
Well said
The US sent its first surface combatants through the strait two days ago, because it would be too dangerous for the world’s reputed most capable AAW combatant to try it earlier.
You are asking the RN to do things the USN wouldn’t risk in its own war.
All down to the Dumtwaddlechump and his over inflated ego.
The question is: Are there ships, maritime drones, and the capacity within the Royal Navy to do this? This administration’s approach is both pathetic and comical, but there’s no sign of increasing the already ridiculously small naval forces. What’s the point of having two aircraft carriers if there aren’t any ships to escort them? Perhaps that’s the justification they’re looking for to sell one of them. If the U.S. Navy is so busy clearing mines from the Strait, what can a navy that’s been reduced to a bare minimum possibly do?
The ships are building, they take years, do you expect them to pluck them out of thin air? Things are likely to get worse before they get better too, I wouldn’t bank on the elderly long past planned retirement T23’s surviving until their replacements enter service.
An RFA with basic damage control and Phalanx in a war zone. I bet the crews are thrilled. One thing to be accompanied by a couple of Type 45, 23 and continuous Typhoon cap , the other to be put on offer for a limp beta male PM who hasn’t released his fully coated DIP.
Nice Alt right language there, I suppose you a alpha giga hyper mega chad then 😂
Compared to Starmer possibly. A man who was proud to call Jeremy Corbyn his friends despite his parties Jew hate, until he wasn’t. Who conspired with the EU to block Brexit, demanding a second referendum until his mong vase strategy of saying nothing. His recognition of the Palestine state, endless I turns, his belief in the International law as dictated by his mate he appointed. His own party want rid. He’s pathetic, running around organising coalitions , turning up late, and presiding over a cabinet even worse than the Tory one.
The fully coated DIP?
Happy to prosecute old men.
Just hope this mission doesn’t lead to needless casualties.
😂😂😂
Woah there, beta male. Don’t presume to talk to a high value man in that tone.
Please god no, even in mockery I can’t bear to read this stuff any more 🙂
All negativity aside about the lack of minesweepers (despite the fact we have seven in service) however a Bay class operating one or more of the new drone systems we have will be a vast capability upgrade on anything four Sandown or Hunt class minesweepers could ever manage.
She can also operate several Wildcat to provide enhanced force and UAV protection. Combine that with a T45 and that is a solid UK contribution to lead any international coalition force.
A good opportunity to test the new autonomous SWEEP system that the RN has invested in.
It may be better to send the older ARCIMS in as losing the first generation autonomous systems to random Iranian drones would be less costly money wise.
So we are too risk adverse to send military equipment i to a combat zone?
Not really, if you consider a drone an attritional unit then with drones why would you not burn your older drones first… surely is as rational
As stock rotating in a supermarket ?
An opportunity for a real world trial of the new RN ways of doing mine clearance; usvs, uuvs and makeshift mothership. We should learn a lot.
Yes I agree we are one of very few countries that could pull together a coalition naval force with allies just a sad state what limited resources we could spare for it but that alone is a great asset.
Something America has now lost!
The trouble is the credibility gap (DIP) of having few frigates and even fewer destroyers so we can produce world leading hot air around needing to get to 3% GDP on defence and then go all collegiate and so nothing happens.
Meanwhile because nothing happens Jo-on-the-doorstep is actually starting to get alarmed about defence and it is becoming a voting issue.
Then our genius Sec State Defence…..you really could not make this stuff up.
UK has had since 2014 to get its act together and to slowly ramp up spending and almost nothing has happened. It wasn’t until UKR2 that we sort of got the message but only because Boris saw himself as Churchill. Usual Boris act of throwing a big one off lump of cash in the direction of the problem and saying job done.
Ha yes good old Boris did idolise Churchill.
Would of been interesting to see him in action with Trump God knows what would of happened😂
This has been 3 decades in the making all previous governments to blame and the lack of public knowledge and interest on defence.
There are green shoots but 5 to 10 years away with the current clowns doing nothing for 2 years .
The navy must nurse maid the t23 remaining until enough new frigates arrive and the t45 I can’t see being replaced until mid 2040s myself.
Hopefully this new idea of a mothership of mine clearance with the new TEC is successful ,it’s sad to see a once capability the RN had with a fleet of minehunters and were world renown for is now lost .
What I don’t understand is why we are sending an RFA crewed ship into harms way when we have HMS Stirling which is supposed to be the mother ships for unmanned mine clearance ?
What makes it even less sensible is the RFA are in dispute with their crew members and officers, surely they don’t intend to involve their reserved status.
That’s just not Cricket !
Sensible…..waassat?
Even Streeting has grasped that trying to bribe unions doesn’t work: they simply come back for more.
Sadly nobody tried to bribe RFA with cash. That would have worked as there is a genuine commercial market which RFA has to match. If it came close then the manning crisis would have been over at The Grey Funnel Line would have had plenty of RFA around to escort Russian ships which would save the miles on the T23 papiermache repairs.
To quote Navy Lookout ‘ The dedicated mine-hunting Mothership, HMS Stirling Castle, continues in her primary role supporting the trials and development of autonomous mine hunting capabilities in UK waters. Despite being crewed by the RN, she is completely unarmed and even less suitable for deployment into higher threat areas than Lyme Bay’. She is ‘HMS’ in name only.
I would strongly recommend that the RFA now use this situation as leverage with Mr Starmer and make it clear Lyme Bay doesn’t move until the pay dispute is satisfactorily resolved, which will probably cost an extra £5m+ per year. A very small price to pay for their help in saving the U.K. and potentially the globe from a recession.
Fixing RFA pay has to be the absolute cheapest quick win for overall availability that’s on the table right now.
The whole idea of the autonomous mine systems is great, but the weak link are the mother ships.., three large targets was a stupid way to go.. they should have 10 well protected patrol craft that can carry the mine warfare autonomous kit as well as doing other naval taskings.