Strait of Hormuz mine countermeasures force: RFA Lyme Bay (and HMS Dragon)
RFA Lyme Bay was converted into a mine-hunting mothership carrying uncrewed systems and more than 270 personnel, including over 100 Royal Navy mine warfare and diving experts. She reached the Middle East in June 2026 for a possible multinational mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Any clearance operation depends on political conditions. The Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon escorted her through the Red Sea. A 13 October 2026 press report says Dragon had since returned to Portsmouth after seven months. It says Lyme Bay was then the only Royal Navy vessel near the Strait, and that no replacement destroyer had been announced.
- Where
- The Gulf, Middle East / approaches to the Strait of Hormuz
- When
- since 18 Jun 2026
- Units
- RFA Lyme Bay; UK Mine Countermeasures Force; HMS Dragon (reported returned to Portsmouth, October 2026)
- With
- Germany, France
- Last checked
- 4 Nov 2026
Sources
- RFA Lyme Bay arrives in the Middle East for potential Strait of Hormuz mission Royal Navy, 23 Jun 2026
- Royal Navy ready for Middle East mine clearance mission Navy Lookout, 23 Jun 2026
- HMS Dragon Returns Home After 7 Months, Leaving Only 1 Royal Navy Ship Near Hormuz Marine Insight, 13 Oct 2026
- UK Re-deploys Destroyer Dragon to Middle East for Potential Hormuz Mission Naval News, 10 May 2026
