The Royal Navy will be dealing with an embarrassing video that has begun to circulate on social media. Two of the Navy’s elite mine hunters, HMS chidding fold and H.M.S. bangorBased in Bahrain, was involved in the accident. chidding fold hit bangor. Both ships were reported to have sustained damage, but no personnel were injured.
A Royal Navy spokesperson confirmed the incident, but the video online makes it difficult to deny, but provides no insight into whether weather conditions, mechanical issues or poor operational judgment were to blame. is not provided either. A team is reportedly heading to Bahrain to assess the full extent of the damage and investigate the situation.
“We are aware of an incident involving two minehunters who were with us in Bahrain. There have been no casualties as a result of this incident and as the investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further.” The Navy is responding to media inquiries.
https://t.co/m1KMgNLhtt pic.twitter.com/2ZauWyBacw
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Commissioned in 1983, chidding fold The ship is on a long-term mission to the Persian Gulf region as part of Operation Kipion to maintain freedom of navigation and commerce. She is one of eight Hunt-class Mine Hunters in the Royal Navy, with six officers and her 39 rating on board.
HMS bangor The ship was new, having entered service in 1999, and was reportedly lying alongside at a berth in Bahrain. She is one of seven Sandown-class mine countermeasure vessels in the Royal Navy. She has 39 personnel and includes a team of mine warfare specialists and demining divers. She usually calls Scotland home.
Last September, the Royal Navy highlighted two ships practicing close maneuver and force protection skills as part of a training exercise with the Qatari Navy. During the exercise, both ships cooperated with their Qatari counterparts and practiced navigation in close combat to test the bridge team’s skills and capabilities.
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As mine hunters, they are made of unique materials to perform their role undetected. According to the report, the hull is made of glass-reinforced plastic composite to reduce the threat of mines.
The Royal Navy has only said that it will draw up a plan of action after investigating and inspecting both ships.