Moment Royal Navy warship crashes into one other on Gulf mission

This is the embarrassing second a Royal Navy minesweeper crashed into one other after an obvious mechanical failure left officers unable to cease it reversing, the most recent in a string of incidents which have left Navy chiefs red-faced in current weeks. 

In a gaffe that would compromise UK operations within the Gulf at an important time, HMS Chiddingfold reversed into HMS Bangor, which was docked at a port in Bahrain. 

The accident ripped an enormous gap within the hull, which is constructed of glass strengthened plastic. There was inside injury however no accidents.

Navy sources urged there was no timeline but for when the vessel can return to frontline duties. 

One stated: ‘HMS Chiddingfold received caught in reverse. 

‘The understanding in the mean time is when she was trying to go astern, there was a malfunction.

‘The crew could not alter her course in order that they have been compelled to look on helplessly as she careered into HMS Bangor’s rear quarter bow first. 

‘Her inside was ripped aside too. The ship will not be in motion for some time.’

This is not the primary time HMS Chiddingfold has crashed right into a pleasant vessel. 

NavyLookout reported that Chiddingfold struck HMS Penzance and was out of motion for 3 months because it underwent repairs. 

The specialist web site stated that Hunt class vessells might be troublesome to manoeuvre in harbours, and are weak to high-speed winds.   

Rear Admiral Edward Ahlgren, Commander Operations, instructed the Telegraph he was ‘conscious’ of the incident and ‘want to stress that fortunately no person was harm within the collision, however some injury was sustained’.

‘Why this occurred continues to be to be established. We practice our folks to the very best requirements and rigorously implement equipment security requirements, however sadly incidents of this nature can nonetheless occur.

‘I guarantee you {that a} full and thorough investigation is already underneath approach and any adjustments in process that would forestall additional incidents might be quickly carried out. In the meantime, the UK will proceed to play a key half in making certain the protection of service provider delivery within the area.’

Footage of the collision was shared by navy web site Claims Bible and has since been considered tons of of hundreds of occasions on-line. 

Bangor is without doubt one of the Royal Navy’s seven Sandown-class mine counter-measures vessels. 

Her commonplace crew of 39 consists of mine warfare specialists and mine clearance divers. 

Ordinarily she is predicated on the Clyde naval base in Faslane, Scotland, however she has been on long-term deployment to the Gulf.

According to the Ministry of Defence, Bangor is supplied with SeaFox unmanned underwater automobiles that trawl the ocean flooring trying to find mines.

While the ship performs an vital position in making certain the safety of the UK and international commerce routes, the incident is the final in a collection of embarrassments confronted by the Royal Navy. 

Earlier this month, it was revealed that drastic shortages of sailors compelled the Royal Navy to decommission two of its warships, HMS Westminster and HMS Argyll. 

The warships have been retired in order that their crews might switch to new frigates.  

The retirement of HMS Westminster is controversial because it underwent costly repairs in 2017 and solely just lately returned to service. 

The decommissioning of the ships comes as report numbers of sailors, akin to navy divers and engineers, are signing off. Many have been headhunted by personal sector corporations who can double their wages. 

According to official statistics, the Royal Navy has carried out the worst of the companies for recruitment within the final 12 months.

Its consumption of recruits dropped by 22.1 per cent within the 12 months to March 2023, whereas the RAF dropped by virtually 17 per cent and the Army by almost 15 per cent.

In response to the disaster serving Royal Marines have been supplied £500 to steer associates on ‘civvy road’ to enlist.

Recruitment is a rising problem within the Royal Navy, even among the many prime brass. Desperate Royal Navy chiefs turned to enterprise social media web site LinkedIn of their efforts to discover a commander for his or her submarines and nuclear operations.

They have been pushed into the unprecedented transfer as a result of no person in uniform is both certified for or within the £150,000 position.

Chiefs need a retired or part-time officer to return to full service and are counting on social media to seek out them.

Royal Navy ships have been deployed to guard worldwide delivery lanes, which have been focused by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, with round 30 cargo vessels and tankers being struck.

The assaults have continued regardless of UK and US air strikes on Houthi bases.