UK readies MCM mission package for Strait of Hormuz

Maritime Mine Countermeasures (MMCM) USV RNMB Ariadne, embarking RFA Lyme Bay off Gibraltar on 26 May 2026. (UK MoD/Crown Copyright)

The UK Royal Navy (RN) has deployed the landing ship dock (auxiliary) vessel RFA Lyme Bay into the eastern Mediterranean with an embarked ‘toolbox' of manned and unmanned mine countermeasures (MCM) systems in preparation for possible multinational mine clearance operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

Roled as an MCM mother ship, Lyme Bay sailed east from Gibraltar on 26 May with over 100 personnel from the RN's Diving and Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG) and Mine and Threat Exploitation Group (MTXG) on board alongside unmanned surface vessels (USVs), dive support boats, a number of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and other specialist equipment. The ship is now preparing for exercises off Cyprus following a brief stop in Toulon over the weekend of 30-31 May.

In a statement, Commander Dan Herridge, MTXG commanding office, said the deployment “reflects a significant, collective effort from across the enterprise bringing together people, platforms and technology at short notice to field an effect modern capability and ensure the Royal Navy remains ready to counter evolving maritime threats”.

The UK government announced on 12 May that Lyme Bay would be brought to heightened readiness for operations as an MCM mother ship. The potential deployment marks the first time that the RN has brought together platforms, sensors and systems delivered under the Minehunting Capability Programme (MHC) Block 1 programme within a mission package.

According to the RN, Lyme Bay has embarked a Maritime Mine Countermeasures (MMCM) primary system comprising the USV RNMB Ariadne, a Thales SAMDIS towed synthetic aperture (SAS) payload and a portable operations centre; RNMB Halycon