Royal Navy: Major project to extend HMS Bangor's life after shocking crash with HMS Chiddingfold, reports say
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A Royal Navy minehunter involved in a disastrous crash with a sister ship will have her life extended, reports say.
Navy Lookout reports that HMS Bangor will be maintained and kept in service for the next five years. It was originally planned for all Sandown-class mine countermeasures vessels to be decommissioned by 2026.
HMS Bangor was involved in a major accident in January 2024. She was left “close to sinking” after HMS Chiddingfold slammed into the warship off the coast of Bahrain.
Reports at the time said an estimated £25m worth of damage was caused. A mechanical problem thought to be a wiring issue is believed to have led to the crash, though this was never confirmed by the Royal Navy. The galley and the bedrooms were left in ruins following the collision.
HMS Chiddingfold was left largely unscathed, returning to her Portsmouth home on April 5. She restarted operations and patrols in May 2024.
Specialist personnel were deployed to the UK Naval Support Facility in Bahrain to conduct an “accident investigation and damage assessment”. No updates about the investigation have been issued, despite it being over a year since it started.
Navy Lookout reports that HMS Bangor being kept in the fleet is due to the force’s need to retain an assured deep water mine hunting capability. She is expected to head to HMNB Clyde to support the nuclear submarines based there, while acting as a support vessel for RFA Proteus.
The report said HMS Chiddingfold has been placed on “extended readiness”, and will act as a parts donor for sister ships despite not being officially decommissioned. Extended readiness means a ship is held in reserve and not fully crewed, but is available for deployment after a period of reactivation and maintenance.
The Royal Navy has been pushing to integrate more autonomous vessels for mine-hunting duties. The force declined to comment directly on the state of both HMS Bangor and HMS Chiddingfold. A spokesperson said: “For security reasons we do not comment on the specific details of our vessels however they are all held at different levels of readiness to meet our commitments worldwide.”