HMS Bangor Deploys to Bahrain.

 On a matchless day on the Clyde, minehunter HMS Bangor slipped away from the jetty to begin a lengthy mission to the Gulf.

It will be at least two more years before she sees Gareloch again as she replaces her sister Shoreham in Bahrain.

The Sandown-class ship faces a journey of more than 6,000 miles to reach her future patrol ground.

She’ll spend it in company with HMS Middleton, which is also Gulf-bound, having departed Portsmouth on Monday; she’ll do a like-for-like swap with HMS Brocklesby, which will sail back to the UK with Shoreham.

This is the 15th year that the Royal Navy has maintained a continuous minehunting presence in the kingdom, working with allies and partners in the region to keep sea lanes open, hone mine warfare skills and generally promote peace and stability.

HMS Bangor is home to Crew 8 from the 1st Mine Countermeasures Squadron. They been on board for a year in preparation both for the journey and the mission once they get to Bahrain.

The 45 men and women aboard have taken the 600-tonne vessel from the depths of maintenance through to a fully-operational warship after completing training.