Any deployment of RFA Lyme Bay to the Strait of Hormuz is unlikely to take place until the situation stabilises, with the risk from Iranian drones and missiles deemed too dangerous and unpredictable (Picture: Royal Navy)

Navy

RFA Lyme Bay to become mine-hunting mothership ahead of possible deployment

As the UK continues to explore options to facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the Royal Navy is equipping one of its Bay-class landing ships with new mine-hunting capabilities.

RFA Lyme Bay will be fitted with cutting-edge, uncrewed systems – from underwater drones to minehunting vessels – and will act as a mothership for this next generation of technology.

The move follows her transition to heightened readiness several weeks ago and will be a key component of the service's shift to a Hybrid Navy.

First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said: "Mine countermeasures have always been vital work, and by harnessing autonomous technology we are ensuring the Royal Navy remains at the forefront of underwater defence.

"I am proud of everyone involved in making this capability a reality."

A preventative step

The UK is currently working with allies on developing military plans for reopening the strait, a crucial shipping route for oil and gas that has been effectively blockaded by Tehran with far-reaching ramifications.

Despite continued pressure from US president Donald Trump for allied support to reopen the strait, Western nations have so far declined to take action.

Any deployment of RFA Lyme Bay to the strait is unlikely to take place until the situation stabilises, with the risk from Iranian drones and missiles deemed too dangerous and unpredictable.

A defence source said: "Whilst no decisions have yet been taken on whether these capabilities will be sent to the Strait of Hormuz, this preventative step gives ministers options should they be needed to help resume the normal flow of merchant shipping."

RFA Lyme Bay was brought to heightened readiness as a "precaution" should she be needed to assist in maritime tasking in the Eastern Mediterranean (Picture: MOD)

Support arm of the Royal Navy

Despite the vagueness surrounding what role the Bay-class landing ship of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary will play, she has proven adept in delivering humanitarian aid, highlighted by the delivery of 87 tonnes of aid to Egypt for use in Gaza in 2024, as well as providing disaster relief to Dominica following Tropical Storm Erika.

It is understood that the decision to equip the ship with anti-mine equipment followed a reassessment of the risk that civilians would have to be evacuated from Lebanon, following a ground invasion by Israeli forces.

Captain Mark Colley, the Commanding Officer of Lyme Bay, said: "The RFA is a crucial support arm of the Royal Navy and being able to act as an MCM (mine countermeasures) mothership once again shows how we can adapt to the operational demand where needed.

"Having recently returned to high readiness, we have been put through our paces but I know we are ready to support this autonomous uncrewed kit so as to play an important role in its use."