HMS Middleton (M34)

HMS Middleton is a Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel of the British Royal Navy. As of 2021, she forms part of Nine Mine Countermeasures Squadron operating out of HMS Jufair in Bahrain.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Middleton.

HMS Middleton in Portsmouth
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Middleton
BuilderYarrow Shipbuilders, Glasgow
Launched27 April 1983[1]
Sponsored byLady Blaker
Commissioned4 July 1984[2]
HomeportHMNB Portsmouth
Identification
StatusShip in active service
General characteristics
Class and typeHunt-class mine countermeasures vessel
Displacement750 t (740 long tons; 830 short tons)[3]
Length60 m (196 ft 10 in)
Beam9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
Draught2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)
Propulsion2 × Caterpillar C32 ACERT diesels[4]
Speed17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Complement45 (6 officers & 39 ratings)
Sensors and
processing systems		Sonar Type 2193
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • SeaFox mine disposal system
  • Diver-placed explosive charges
Armament

The ship was launched by Lord and Lady Blaker in 1983: Lady Blaker remains the patron of the ship.[6]

Operational history

In 2009, Middleton sailed for the Persian Gulf for a three-year deployment operating out of Bahrain, she returned to Portsmouth on 31 August 2012.[7]

In early 2013, Middleton entered refit in Portsmouth, the work package included replacing her 30-year-old Napier Deltic engines with new more fuel efficient Caterpillar C32 ACERT diesels. Following sea trials, Middleton rejoined the fleet in 2014[8] and took part in that autumn's Exercise Joint Warrior off Scotland.[9]

On 9 November 2015, Middleton sailed from Portsmouth for a second three-year deployment in the Persian Gulf.[10] Alongside sister ship HMS Chiddingfold, the two Hunt-class ships form half of the Royal Navy's minehunter force permanently deployed in the region.

In 2018, Middleton returned to the U.K. subsequently undergoing an upgrade to carry the Oceanographic Reconnaissance Combat Architecture (ORCA) system which assists vessels with a higher level of mine detection at greater stand-off distances. In mid-2021, Middleton returned to the Gulf accompanied by HMS Bangor to rejoin the other vessels of 9 Mine Countermeasures Squadron operating out of HMS Jufair. Middleton and Bangor were to relieve their sister vessels HMS Brocklesby and HMS Shoreham, which were to return to the U.K..[11]

Affiliations

References
  1. "Ship of the Month: Background on HMS Middleton". Navy News. October 2001. Archived from the original on 5 January 2004. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  2. "HMS Middleton". This is Middleton.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  3. "Hunt Class Mine Countermeasures Vessels - Specifications". GlobalSecurity.org. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  4. Ministry of Defence (12 March 2012). "Minehunter's upgrade reaches major milestone". Gov.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  5. "In focus: the Fleet Solid Support ship design". Navy Lookout. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  6. "'Lucky' lady sees her ship off to the Gulf". Manchester Evening News. 4 February 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  7. "HMS Middleton returns after three years". The News. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  8. "New lease of life for HMS Middleton". Royal Navy. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  9. "Exercise Joint Warrior gets underway". Royal Navy. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  10. "HMS Middleton leaves Portsmouth for three years in the Gulf". Royal Navy. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  11. "UK minehunter joins operations in region".
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