Royal Navy mine-hunting mothership in Gibraltar

HMS Stirling Castle is a former Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel which was sold to the Navy, modified, and commissioned last year.

The Royal Navy said she had "been designed a warship as she will be committed 100 per cent of her time to front-line operations".

It says she "can be used to store, prepare, deploy and recover autonomous boats and underwater systems for mine warfare".

According to the Navy Lookout, a website dedicated to news about the Royal Navy, HMS Stirling Castle is carrying uncrewed surface vessels designed for minehunting and minesweeping.

The Navy Lookout says the minehunting mothership is in Gibraltar to deliver equipment to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship RFA Lyme Bay, for onward deployment to the Middle East.

GBC has reached out to the Ministry of Defence for comment.