HMS Atherstone

Military experience

Justin Hains joined the Royal Navy in January 1992 as a University Cadet Entry Warfare Officer. After gaining a Bachelor of Science (with Honours) Degree in Geological Sciences at Oxford Brookes University, he completed his afloat Junior Warfare Officer training in HMS Brecon and HMS London.

Appointed to HMS Cattistock as Navigating Officer in 1997 and then HMS Middleton in 1998, he began a close affiliation with the Mine Warfare and Diving specialisation that led to him qualifying, as a Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer in 1999. A rewarding period as the Operations Officer HMS Sandown preceded his exchange appointment to the French Minehunter ‘Persee’, as Operations and Diving Officer, based in Toulon throughout 2003 and 2004.

Returning to the UK, he completed an extremely demanding and rewarding 2 year period as Officer-in-Charge of Southern Diving Unit 2, during which time he contributed to the development of Underwater Force Protection Procedures in time for the Trafalgar 200 celebrations in Portsmouth and later led the training of other Fleet Diving Squadron teams to achieve sustainable, worldwide capability. Qualified throughout his appointment as a Joint Service Improvised Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operator, he attended a wide variety of tasks in support of eastern and southern Constabularies, which reached their peak on and following the London bombings on 7 July 2005.

Qualifying as a Principal Warfare Officer (Underwater Warfare), he joined HMS Edinburgh in July 2007. Within 4 months he was performing the additional role of Operations Officer, during a successful deployment to the Middle and Far East (including periods supporting counter narcotics operations, participating in Exercise BERSAMA SHIELD and a period poised off Burma to provide Humanitarian Relief following the devastating landfall of Cyclone Nargis in April 2008). Returning to the UK, he performed the additional duties of the Principal Warfare Officer (Above Water Warfare) and remained the only PWO onboard and Operations Officer until July 2009.

Assigned to the Second Mine Countermeasures Squadron as Chief of Staff in August 2009, he joined the On-call Mine Warfare Battle Staff (MWBS) in the Arabian Gulf, where he managed the transformation of the Staff from a permanently deployed shore-based MWBS to a more agile, embarked capability, capable of withdrawing to readiness in the UK if required.

Justin assumed Command of MCM2 Crew 6 in HMS Atherstone on 30 August 2011. A keen runner and amateur triathlete, he enjoys most sports, but remains too young to play golf with any degree of skill.