Harland & Wolff to acquire ex-Royal Navy minehunter
Harland & Wolff would spare parts from HMS Atherstone for the regeneration of HMS Quorn if it is awarded the contract. (Photo: UK MoD)
Harland & Wolff has acquired the Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel (MCMV) HMS Atherstone from the UK MoD, the company announced on 1 June. Atherstone was decommissioned in 2017 along with one of its sister ships, HMS Quorn, after 30 years of service.
Harland & Wolff ultimately intends to refurbish the vessel for non-military use, but the company is also involved in the MoD-run competition for regeneration of HMS Quorn. It believes that the acquisition of Atherstone will significantly de-risk that programme.
Harland & Wolff would use some of the common spare parts and components of the recently acquired MCMV during the regeneration if it were to win the HMS Quorn contract. Quorn is expected to join the Lithuanian Navy in 2023 once work is complete.
Negotiations with the MoD are expected to conclude in the next few weeks.
More from Naval Warfare
-
USN awards SM-2 contract modification for Raytheon
SM-2 Block IIIC features an active radar seeker and is expected to be deployed by the USN surface fleet by October 2022.
-
Rheinmetall to develop prototype naval airburst munition
Rheinmetall claims that its new 30mm x 173mm Kinetic Energy Electronically Timed airburst round would aid point defence for surface vessels.
-
Australia has no looming submarine capability gap, at least according to the RAN
Will the recent change of government bring about a much-needed admission from Australia's navy that a capability gap will occur in its submarine fleet?