One of the ship’s was left close to sinking following the collision

Efforts have begun to bring a stricken Royal Navy minehunter back into service following a shocking crash.

Repairs are being made to the Sandown-class ship HMS Bangor. She was slammed into by HMS Chiddingfold at speed off the coast of Bahrain in January 2024 during Operation Kipion.

Sandown-class minehunter HMS Bangor is having repairs undertaken, according to a defence minister. | UK MOD Crown copyright

placeholder image — Sandown-class minehunter HMS Bangor is having repairs undertaken, according to a defence minister. | UK MOD Crown copyright

A mechanical fault caused the steering to malfunction and sailors were left scrambling to save one of their own ships. It was originally planned for all Sandown-class mine countermeasures vessels to be decommissioned by 2026, but the decision was made to extend her life.

Labour minister for defence readiness and industry, Luke Pollard, issued an update in response to a written question from Liberal Democrat James MacCleary. Mr Pollard said: “Repairs are underway to ensure the vessel is returned to service safely and efficiently.”

At the time, the Daily Express and other national publications reported that the ship was on the verge of sinking. The crash reportedly left a gaping hole in the side of the vessel. All of the bedrooms were destroyed, as well as the galley.

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Rear Admiral Edward Ahlgren OBE said at the time that nobody was hurt in the crash. Reports at the time said an estimated £25m worth of damage was caused. 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.

According to Navy Lookout, HMS Bangor was “patched up” in Bahrain before returning to the UK in December 2025. They added: “HMS Bangor, last of the RN Sandown-class in service, is being retained and will be based at Faslane, partly to provide mine-hunting assurance in the Firth of Clyde and its approaches.”

The defence publication said HMS Bangor is being kept in the fleet is due to the force’s need to retain an assured deep water mine hunting capability. HMS Chiddingfold has since returned to Portsmouth, but is currently laid up at the naval base and is on extended readiness. She has not been officially decommissioned.