“Impressionable?” - what influence is it susceptible to? 😜

​@@TheGonzogibby waves I imagine lol

​@@regarded9702 waves? In the ocean? Chance in a million!

A cool sauna. So a fridge?

It’s quite hot, actually.

all the stories that sauna could tell

Could not agree more. It makes sense to keep the warships protecting the nation 👍🏻

The Sandown Class Mine Hunters had a Oerlikon 30mm gun that has a pretty impressive range. Think they were taken off the two that Ukraine will one day get when they can get through the Bosporus (don’t hold your breath) RFA Argus has a couple of 30mm Oerlikons and hand operated KAA200s (20mm cannons) - pretty sure Stirling will have similar defences, and definitely EW capabilities

The RFA Stirling Castle does not carry anti-aircraft systems. In the original spec document and Defence Secretary announcement, both MROSS would have light defensive armaments added. I suspect this will be the outfitting of 12.7 mm Browning HMG. Anti-drone (RF jamming) equipment is easily deployed to the minehunter; similar to deployments at British military bases and UK airports. The helipad allows for an RN helicopter to launch for countering attacks.

​@@MaXwellFalstein it would be nice if they could slap a 30mm or 40mm on it. Probably nowhere to mount it though

@@regarded9702 there is an area of the superstructure underneath the driving bridge with enough space for a Phallanx CIWS (20 mm); the more sensible location would be on top of the bow with new gantries for safe access for loading and maintenance. This MROSS will primarily be used for developing and training the mothership role; it will not be used in a war footing motership role because it is a protective ship. Given how close this ship will be operating to our shores, Typhoon and F-35B will be all over any threats. MROSS motherships will be joined by RN ships (not to the level of motherships) launching towed arrays and other USVs/UUVs. Some of those warships are part of our existing missile defence system operating around our Isles. This will provide interception capabilities for RFA MROSS without the need for advanced dedicated defensive capabilities to be deployed on RFA MROSS.

RFA vessels are not normally armed as are logistics ships moving stores and fuel for RN ships and bases, including resupply at sea and troop deployment. It's only now that the RFA has been given a more active specialist role but RN ships and aircraft provide any defence. The Merchant Ship classification is often needed to transit through contested waters, fitting weapons aboard would class them as Warships.

They’re on loan. Regardless, minesweepers are pretty much surplus to requirements for us.

The Sandown class minehunters were recommended to be decommissioned in 2021 and replaced by vessels like Sandown Castle that have the capability to launch and recover autonomous vehicles. So far, the Estonians have three, Romania has one (with two more being prepared for transfer), Ukraine two, one is a now a training vessel, and one is in the Gulf and two are decommissioned and awaiting transfer. Saudi Arabia bought three of them when they were first produced in 1990, and they are still in service.

​​@@fod1855Surplus to requirements? Who and what does the route surveys and mine clearance in the stait of Hormuz. There's 4 British MCMVs based in Bahrain. 2 Hunts and 2 Sandown and they are not surplus to requirements.

@@stephennelmes4557 I’m talking about those ones specifically given to Ukraine, that are older than most of their crew. But actually yes Having ships that are purely for mine hunting is also not ideal, as shown here, it’s better that they are more multi role

Well, maybe so, but it seems like we've got all our eggs in one basket with this ship. It's also going to be operating close to Iran if working in the SOH and that's going to bring a host of problems.

It’s an RFA. I’m sure in wartime they’d bolt a couple of Phalanx to it but in peacetime there’s no need.

No weapons? Sounds like a dream ship. It'll get based in Bahrain so it can do route surveys in the Strait of Hormuz, so Q days as well.😊😊

it's not a warship

​@johnpixie 😂😂 It may not be a warship, but it is a ship of war and will eventually have to go into a war zone. Its job is mine clearance mothership and will be operating in choke points like Straight of Hormuz and Bab el Mandeb. It will have to be fitted with guns at some stage.

​@@stephennelmes4557 with further reasuch my first comment was not correct but... "Determined by their tasking, Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships are armed with active weapon systems (AWS) for self-protection" The fact it is not armed and they exsplitly said it will be tasked to deal with historical ordanace show it will not be doing the jobs you stated for some time, as it stands it apears to not be a 'ship of war' and therefore needs no wepons to protect itself.

No point at the moment but it could well work with the Ukraine Navy later.

RFA has two MROSS. The first MROSS came into service before two minehunters were decomissioned and given to Ukraine. The second MROSS is now in service and testing USVs and UUVs to protect our international infrastructure. The two minehunters are stuck in the UK because Turkey is blocking all naval ships from entering or leaving the Black Sea.

@@MaXwellFalstein Montreaux Treaty is correctly administered by Turkiye however the two Sandowns should have been sold to Romania (Not a Combatant) so that they could travel through the Bosphorus , and later be donated to Ukraine (A Combatant). A missed opportunity IMHO..

Source?

Defence expert here

​@@reluctantheist5224it was revealed to him in a dream

At least it works, unlike the Queen Elizabeth class.

@@Calum_S Haha, no they're doing relatively well now.

To Hide in plain site maybe, it's a good question

@@adventuresofdeankane3569 Very much agree. Shes going to be working on or around undersea cables/pipelines in the North Sea. Very much hiding in plain sight among all the identicle supply ships out there.

I heard she'll be painted grey in a few years when she goes in for a maintenance period