RFA: MCM Support Ships

[Pelican]

New mine-hunting support ship named

A new ship designed to help safeguard Britain’s waters on mine-hunting operations will be named Stirling Castle.
RFA Stirling Castle, formerly the MV Island Crown, will act as an offshore forward operating base, deploying Mine Countermeasures Maritime Autonomous Systems (MCM MAS), drones and other crewless systems to find and neutralise sea mines and other seabed threats.

She will boost the Royal Navy’s mine hunting capability and offer a safer alternative to legacy systems.
Continues at - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... ing-castle

[Pelican]

This is the correct badge that has now been approved for RFA Stirling Castle

[Pelican]

RFA Stirling Castle

LH(C/S) Phil Gardner and C/S Sam Matkowski preparing cabins for next week's crew change. Most of our ship's company are now on a two month rotation, which will reduce further once operational.
See - https://twitter.com/RFAStrlngCastle/sta ... 2758045698

[Pelican]

Navy's new minehunting 'mother ship' gears up for trials and training

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... d-training

[Pelican]

RFA Stirling Castle will sail from Devonport tomorrow morning to begin sea trials and crew familiarisation.

She has been in Devonport for a 4-month conversion to serve as mine countermeasures mothership.
Photo at - https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 85/photo/1

[Pelican]

Stirling work begins as new minehunting mother ship starts trials

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https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 7083765762

https://twitter.com/RFAStrlngCastle/sta ... 6486096897

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[Pelican]

A minehunting 'mothership' and autonomous vessels were trialled together for the first time in a milestone moment for the future of the UK’s mine counter measure operations.

The three boats joined RFA Stirling Castle in Portland, Dorset, for a series of tests as the navy looks to adopt autonomous minehunting systems.

Royal Navy Motor Boats Apollo, Hydra and Hazard zipped around the water off the south coast as part of initial loading trials with the recently-purchased Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship.
Continues at - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... WyHyX8ziTY

[Pelican]

Up close with RFA Stirling Castle – first of the navy’s new motherships

In this article, we examine the layout, equipment and initial trials programme for RFA Stirling Castle, the first of the vessels recently purchased by the RN for use as a mothership.

Background
Early in 2023 the former walk-to-work and subsea support vessel, MV Island Crown was purchased from Norwegian owners (Island Offshore) for £40M, primarily as a platform for operating autonomous mine hunting systems. The acquisition of this vessel is positive news and demonstrates visible progress as the Naval Service embraces new ways to deliver capabilities. The generation process has been rapid and she will begin operations within 6 months of concluding the purchase. (It took the RN 9 months for the much smaller XV Patrick Blackett bought off the shelf from the Netherlands to achieve the necessary certifications to go to sea.)
Continues at - https://www.navylookout.com/up-close-wi ... therships/

[Pelican]

RFA Proteus arrives in Portland today.

Now alongside with RFA StrlngCastle
See 2 Photos at - https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 54/photo/1

[Pelican]

Mine hunting support ship RFA Stirling Castle welcomed into Navy family

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh today joined the Dedication Service of a new Naval ship which will help safeguard UK waters from underwater threats.
Resplendent in her unique blue and white livery, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s Stirling Castle was formally dedicated during a high-profile ceremony.

The ship marks a move away from traditional minehunting, embracing cutting-edge technology as she acts as a ‘mother ship’ for an array of remotely-operated and autonomous systems which will scour home waters looking for mines.

With Stirling Castle due to begin operations later this year, a break from training offered the ideal opportunity to welcome the new ship into the RFA family in the presence of the Service’s Commodore-in-Chief, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

It’s the second high-profile Royal visit to the Royal Navy in Scotland in 24 hours; yesterday, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal paid her first visit to new Type 31 frigate HMS Venturer under construction in Rosyth.

Prince Edward joined Robert Aldridge, the Lord Lieutenant of Edinburgh, Commodore David Eagles, the Head of the RFA, and civic leaders from Stirling among others.

“Bringing a ship into service is a demanding endeavour which relies on a diverse, multi-skilled team, strong leadership, and unflinching determination,” said Commodore Eagles.

“RFA Stirling Castle is no different and I pay tribute to the men and women in the UK – military and civilian – who have contributed to this project and made today possible.

Continues https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... avy-family