Author Archives: David Arkwright

The MoD has extended legal protection to more than two dozen naval shipwrecks. The move follows decades of disturbance, with at least 3,000 artefacts recovered by divers from wrecks in UK waters. Newly protected sites include HMS Jason, HMS Hawke and HMS Nottingham (all off the Scottish coast), French minesweeper Emile Deschamps (off North Foreland) and RFA tanker Cairndale (off Casablanca). Also covered are HMCS Regina (north of Padstow) and HMCS Trentonian (K 368) (off Mevagissey), while HMCS Cobra lies off the Lincolnshire coast. USCG Cutter Tampa, lost around 45 miles northwest of Land’s End in 1918, is also included despite its wreck not yet being located. Battleships Royal Oak in Scapa Flow and HMS Vanguard in the Cromarty Firth, are already designated controlled sites but the exclusion zone around both is now being extended to provide extra protection.

https://ift.tt/7gVLuqf   https://ift.tt/y7J9nD8

ex-HMS Argyll and HMS Westminster now on the trots in Fareham Creek awaiting tow to Turkey to be scrapped. Westminster’s flight deck was cut open to allow Towed Array sonar winch removal.

https://ift.tt/Jjmxew8   https://ift.tt/HYdayAF

The Royal Navy is stepping up its minehunting capabilities as RFA Lyme Bay gets ready to take on new cutting-edge uncrewed equipment. The kit will be able to detect, identify and neutralise threats, with Lyme Bay acting as ‘mothership’.

https://ift.tt/NlgrZaJ https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2026/march/29/20260329-rfa-lyme-bay-minehunting-mothership    https://ift.tt/Qv6ELic

USS Gerald R Ford has arrived in Split, Croatia, for repairs and crew rest. The ship has been deployed for over 9 months, crossing the Atlantic twice from the North Sea to operations in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Red Sea. She departed Souda Bay, Crete, following local protests against her presence and lack of options for crew to go ashore.

https://ift.tt/G0eP7HW   https://ift.tt/MWqspRa

In 2005 the MOD signed an agreement to sell 3 Type 23 Frigates to Chile. Ex HMS Norfolk, HMS Marlborough and HMS Grafton which still serve today as Almirante Cochrane, Condell and Lynch. The RN retains 7 of the original class of 16. HMS St Albans being the last frigate to be commissioned in 2002.

https://ift.tt/FENRM70   https://ift.tt/LfyCreS