RN Mine & Threat Exploitation Group (MTXG)

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For the latest Tweets containing info and photos about MTXG go to - https://twitter.com/RN_MTXG

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Royal Navy
Autonomous minehunting operations have a taken a step forward thanks to the hard work and efforts of @RN_MTXG's Mission System Team 3.
They have spent the past 12 months running trials and ops on the Clyde to test a range of new equipment and tech.
See - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... ad-to-2024

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RFA Stirlng Castle has completed FOST and arrived in Faslane this morning for the first time.

Will soon begin work in support of the Mine and Threat Exploitation Group (MTXG).
[For details of Stirling Castle see RFA section]

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New ship arrives at new home Faslane naval base

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.
See - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-shi ... aval-base/
And - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... d-training

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Mine & Threat Exploitation Group (MTXG)
This week one of MTXG’s Squadrons deployed on exercise WISEX.
The period saw the MST operate multiple Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and Remote Vehicles to analyse the different modes of operation, and their utility against underwater threats.
Photos at - https://twitter.com/RN_MTXG/status/1755161034829000921

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Stirling exchange – RFA’s minehunting mothership begins training with experts in Scotland

The future ‘floating home of minehunting’ has begun integrating with the specialist team which is revolutionising the way the Royal Navy deals with underwater threats.

RFA Stirling Castle is the new ‘mothership’ for leading-edge mine warfare technology – technology which will both keep the UK’s waters safe and reduce the risk to sailors.

She arrived on the Clyde in late January to take her place at the forefront of supporting the next generation of the Royal Navy’s mine countermeasures capability.
Her arrival coincided with the departure of HMS Penzance, the last traditional minehunter on the Clyde.

Continues at - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... KGtxT4TXfQ

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HM Naval Base Clyde

THE latest Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, RFA Stirling Castle, arrived on the River Clyde on January 28th to take her place at the forefront of supporting the next generation of the Royal Navy’s mine countermeasures capability.

The 6,000-tonne vessel began life as MV Island Crown, before undergoing conversion at HM Naval Base Devonport last year. These adaptations will allow her to operate as a “mother ship” for the Royal Navy’s new autonomous mine countermeasures systems.

RFA Stirling Castle and her crew are working closely with Zulu Squadron of the Mine and Threat Exploitation Group (MTXG) - the Royal Navy’s mine countermeasures experts based at HM Naval Base Clyde. As the ‘Mother ship’, Stirling Castle has the capability to lift and transport the Royal Navy’s latest autonomous and remotely operated vessels to wherever they are required to keep the UK’s shipping lanes safe.
The Commanding Officer of the Ship, CO Richard Reville, is delighted to bring the RFA’s latest ship to the Clyde allowing him and his crew members the opportunity to develop links with the local and wider Scottish community.
“I am very proud to be in command of this wonderful ship with the capability that it is bringing in support of the UK’s Mine Hunting programme which is at the cutting edge of autonomous systems technology. We look forward to continuing our integration with MTXG to bring this exciting new capability into service,” said Richard.
“Due to Stirling Castle starting life as a modern commercial ship, the crew enjoy a high standard of accommodation. This, and the new crewing model, which means only 27 of the 54 RFA personnel are deployed at any time allows for a much better work and home life balance – something me, and my crew are all very grateful for.”
The threat from naval mines is rapidly evolving and this calls for the technology to keep pace. MTXG are trailblazing this advance in technology, employing a full suite of Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs) and Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles (UUVs).
This capability can be operated remotely by MTXG, using a portable command centre on land or onboard RFA Stirling Castle, but can also work autonomously.
MTXG will be capable of a more extensive search of the sea and will also remove the threat to Royal Navy personnel by keeping them well away from the minefield.
Commander Dan Herridge, Commander Officer of the Mine & Threat Exploitation Group said: “The recent arrival of RFA Stirling Castle is a key enabler in our ability to deliver sustained survey and Mine Countermeasures activity on the Clyde. Mine & Threat Exploitation Group’s Zulu Squadron will now begin an integration package to operate surface and subsurface systems on a sustained footing at reach, enabled by RFA Stirling Castle and her Crew”.
Stirling Castle will replace traditional mine countermeasures vessels, exploiting a series of uncrewed devices which include, not only MTXG, but also the joint French-UK Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) system, the Combined Influence Sweep (SWEEP) system, and Medium Underwater Autonomous Vehicles (MAUVs).
Over the past 12 months, MTXG has been delivering operations and trials to develop autonomous systems to support the future of mine hunting. They have worked with a range of equipment to get a clear picture of the seabed within the Clyde.
The team are now looking forward to working with RFA Stirling Castle and her crew on more trials designed to understand how the technology can be used to enhance operations.
RFA Stirling Castle and her crew will travel south soon to complete some final training in Devonport before returning to Scotland, where they will spend most of the year working with Zulu Squadron. Together, the teams will continue trials with the aim of moving towards autonomy, taking the sailor out of the minefield, and making the future Royal Navy mine hunting capability much safer.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary are civilian sailors operating globally to support vital logistics and operations.
The RFA provides support on everything from high-tempo combat and counter-piracy campaigns to disaster relief and emergency evacuations.
With a deep understanding of military operations and protocol, they are a world-leading civilian force and essential to our global success.
RFA personnel are grouped into three core branches:
Technical – world-class electrical and mechanical engineers.
Deck – Exceptional sailors who get us where we’re needed.
Logistics – talented logisticians who source vital supplies.

For more photos go to - https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=69 ... 2207520000 - and scroll to the right.

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Navy Lookout
MV Anvil Point in Gibraltar - deck cargo includes an 11-meter ATLAS AEUK autonomous minehunting boat - possibly for delivery to the Gulf to join RNMB Harrier.
Reminder https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy- ... sharp-end/

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Impressive drone shots show new minehunting mothership

Dave Cullen captured the moment RFA Stirling Castle arrived in Edinburgh.

The drone photographs are pretty good. Give Dave a follow by clicking here. You will not be disappointed.

The Ministry of Defence say that RFA Stirling Castle is the new ‘mothership’ for leading-edge mine warfare technology – technology which will both keep the UK’s waters safe and reduce the risk to sailors.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/impress ... othership/

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Mine & Threat Exploitation Group (MTXG)
MTXG’s Yankee Squadron takes another step closer to becoming operational. They have recently conducted Sea Trials on the SeaCat UUV.
RN MASTT are concurrently conducting trials on the new MMCM class of Uncrewed Surface Vessels with the Towed Synthetic Aperture Sonar.
4 Photos https://twitter.com/RN_MTXG/status/1783561178045665670