HMS Middleton crew member swaps mighty minehunter for a microcar on the Isle of Man

Royal Navy personnel have driven one of the world's microcars during a visit to Douglas in the Isle of Man.

HMS Middleton's crew got the chance to rev up the Peel P50's rear-mounted 49cc DKW single-cylinder, two-stroke moped engine, which generates a whopping 4.2 horsepower, beside the vessel in Douglas Harbour. 

The three-wheeled microcar, painted red, is 137cm (54in) long and 99cm (39in) wide, so it is adept at getting through narrow spaces, and it has a top speed of around 38mph (61km/h). 

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"Join the Navy = go to sea and have adventures," HMS Middleton posted on X alongside footage and images of personnel driving the microcar. 

The Isle of Man does not have a naval base, although it is home to 75 Engineer Regiment, 202 Field Squadron, RE Manx Troop and B Detachment, 206 (North West) Multi-Role Medical Regiment at the Army Reserve Centre in Douglas.

The Royal Navy minehunter Middleton defends the UK's crucial sea lanes and ensures access to sea bases. 

The vessel was in the Isle of Man to take on fuel and supplies after training in the north-west of Scotland. 

She previously joined sailors and aircrew from the USA, Kuwait and Iraq in an international test of their collective lifesaving abilities in the northern Gulf in May last year.