Mine Countermeasures Flotilla Departs Bahrain for UK - US Exercises

Hunt class mine countermeasures vessel (MCMVs) HMS Middleton (M34) and HMS Chiddingfold (M37) head into the Arabian Gulf for a 10 day mine countermeasures exercise with counterparts from the U.S. Navy.

25 August 2010 -- Four Royal Navy mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) departed Bahrain in mid August for ten days of exercises with counterparts from the U.S. Navy in the Arabian Gulf.

The exercises were designed to enable the two navies to further develop mine hunting techniques in the warm, shallow waters of the Middle East, which form a busy and important maritime environment.

For the Royal Navy, it is also an opportunity for the Commander UK Mine Counter Measures Force (COMUKMCMFOR) to direct a bi-lateral, multi ship mine countermeasures task force at sea.

The British contingent consisted of two Hunt class MCMVs, HMS Middleton (M34) and HMS Chiddingfold (M37), and two Sandown class vessels, HMS Grimsby (M108) and HMS Pembroke (M107). The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Landing Ship RFA Lyme Bay (L3007) has also joined the exercise the afloat headquarters COMUKMCMFOR.

They were joined by four ships from the U.S. Navy's Avenger class: USS Ardent, USS Dexterous, USS Gladiator and USS Scout.

Commander David Bence Royal Navy, Commander UK Mine Counter Measures Force, said:

"Sea mines and unexploded ordnance have the potential to cause great disruption to international shipping lanes, restricting freedom of the seas and damaging world economies. The Royal Navy is at the forefront of mine countermeasure capabilities, in experience, expertise and in technology. It is important that we maintain these capabilities across a range of different environments, from the cold Atlantic to the warmer coastal waterways of the Middle East".

"This exercise was an opportunity to demonstrate our ability to deploy an expeditionary mine countermeasures task force and battle staff, in conjunction with international partners."

The four British MCMVs are forward deployed to Bahrain for several years at a time. They are maintained locally and crew members are rotated with counterparts in the United Kingdom on a regular basis.

They are among several Royal Navy warships and auxiliaries operating in the Middle East region, undertaking maritime security operations such as counter-piracy and counter-terrorism alongside partner nations from NATO,
the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) and the 24 nation Combined Maritime Force (CMF).

HM Ships Chiddingfold (M37), Middleton (M34) and Pembroke (M107) depart Bahrain bound for a ten day mine countermeasures exercise with counterparts from the United States Navy.

Sandown class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) HMS Grimsby (M108) and HMS Pembroke (M107) head into the Arabian Gulf for a 10 day mine countermeasures exercise with counterparts from the U.S. Navy.

HM Ships Chiddingfold (M37), Middleton (M34) and Pembroke (M107) depart Bahrain bound for a ten day mine countermeasures exercise with counterparts from the United States Navy.

HMS Middleton departs the port of Mina Salman in Manama, Bahrain, followed by HM Ships Pembroke and Grimsby and two U.S. Navy minesweepers. A total of five British and four U.S. vessels took part in a ten day mine countermeasures exercise.

Royal Navy