We would like to place Cookies on your computer to give you the best possible experience when you visit our website. If you are happy with the current Cookie settings and want to continue to use this website as normal, click 'OK'. You also have the option to change these settings, plus learn more about Cookies and how we use them. More information on Cookies.

OK
Change settings

Sign into my account

Forgot your username Forgot your password

Protecting our Nation's Interests

Skip to main content
  • Current Location

    British Isles

    11:21 GMT - 15 May 2013

    Home Waters

    Follow the story
  • Current Location

    The Gulf

    09:40 GMT - 16 May 2013

    East of Suez

    Follow the story
  • Current Location

    London

    16:38 GMT - 13 May 2013

    Battle of The Atlantic

    Follow the story
  • Current Location

    Atlantic, Caribbean & USA

    08:32 GMT - 13 May 2013

    Atlantic, Caribbean & USA

    Follow the story
  • Current Location

    Deception Island

    13:45 GMT - 10 May 2013

    Antarctica

    Follow the story
VIEW FLEET BY:

Latest News

Close
  • Top Breaking Stories

    • Also in the news

      Close

      VIEW BY VESSEL

        Name of vessel
        Show vessel on map > Close
        HMS Cattistock

        HMS Cattistock

        Cattistock, like her sisters, is built from glass-reinforced plastic – usually shortened to GRP – with a non-magnetic hull that makes her somewhat less noticeable to the lurking dangers in the minefield. Cattistock was built by Vosper Thornycroft, and commissioned into the Navy in June 1982.

        We are well prepared and looking forward to working alongside our NATO allies in the Mediterranean.

        Lieutenant Commander Stephen Higham
        HMS Cattistock

        The first half of 2012 saw HMS Cattistock busy in UK coastal waters, with two visits to her affiliated town of Poole, and support to Bristol during its Harbour Festival, and the second half saw her taking part in major Naval exercises off the coast of Scotland.

        The minehunter was one of 22 warships, two submarines, 40 aircraft and more than 4,500 personnel from ten countries who took part in Exercise Joint Warrior in October 2012.

        HMS Cattistock sailed on Monday (4 February) for a four-month NATO mission in the Mediterranean. She will be working as part of a permanent multinational maritime force in the area called the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 2 (SNMCMG2).

        Ships from allied nations work together throughout the year defending sea routes from the threat of underwater mines and carrying out joint training exercises.

        COMMANDING OFFICER

        Steve Higham

        Lt Cdr Steve Higham
        RANK:
        Lieutenant Commander
        JOINED:
        1997
        SPECIALISATION:
        Warfare
        PREVIOUS UNITS:
        HMS Manchester, HMS Middleton
        Military experience

        Steve Higham joined the Royal Navy in 1997 after gaining degrees in Law and International Law at Cambridge University. Following initial training at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and HM Ships Quorn and Sutherland, he was appointed to the Destroyer, HMS Cardiff as a Bridge Watchkeeper.

        Between 2001-2003, Higham served as the Flag Lieutenant and Aide de Camp to Flag Officer Surface Flotilla. This was an intense period of activity that saw the Royal Navy respond to the events of 9/11 while undertaking radical reform and significant reshaping.

        After this early insight into strategic and operational thinking, Higham joined the Fishery Protection Squadron serving as Executive Officer in the Patrol Vessel, HMS Guernsey. Selected for a Lieutenant ‘Command Appointment’ he moved to the Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMS Mersey as Executive Officer and Officer in Temporary Command under the innovative 3 Watch Manning regime.

        Selected early for promotion to Lieutenant Commander in 2004, Higham undertook the Initial Command and Staff Course (Maritime) and the Principal Warfare Officer (PWO) Courses in 2005.

        His first appointment as a PWO was in the Type 23 Frigate HMS Montrose, conducting maritime security, counter-terrorism and asset protection patrols in the Gulf. Higham became Operations Officer as Montrose conducted further operational deployments to the Gulf and Mediterranean in 2006-2007. The Ship was awarded the Fleet SeaWolf trophy during this period in recognition of her efficiency and operational effectiveness.

        Advanced Air Warfare training followed, with Higham being awarded the BAE Systems Prize and an assignment to the Type 42 Air Defence Destroyer, HMS York as Operations Officer and Executive Officer in 2007.

        In 2008, Higham received the prestigious appointment as Senior Warfare Officer in the Destroyer HMS Manchester, deployed as Regional Air Defence Commander for the Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Gulf of Aden working as part of the USS Harry S Truman Carrier Group.

        In recognition of this contribution to strike operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Royal Navy ‘first’ of deploying fully integrated into a US Carrier Group, Manchester was awarded the Fleet SeaDart trophy for air warfare effectiveness. Manchester followed this with another operational deployment to the South Atlantic in 2009.

        Higham was most then appointed to the UK Ministry of Defence as a policy and operations advisor in a busy, specialist, operational Directorate.

        Selected for Command in 2010, he joined the Second Mine Countermeasures Squadron in Command of Crew 2 and HMS Cattistock in Aug 2011 followed by HMS Middleton in Jan 2012. He returned to take command of HMS Cattistock in January 2013

        Steve Higham is married and lives on the South Coast. A limited (but keen) tennis, squash and cricket player, he and his wife share common interests in cooking, travel and watching cricket and international rugby union.


        ABOUT THE UNIT

        KEY STATISTICS


        Pennant

        M31

        Displacement

        685tonnes

        Complement

        45personnel

        Length

        60Metres

        Beam

        10metres

        Draught

        3.4metres

        Top Speed

        15knots

        Range (Nautical)

        1,500miles

        Launch Date

        22/01/81

        Commissioned date

        16/06/82

        TAKE A LOOK

        HMS Cattistock

        UNITS IN TIME


        HMS Cattistock HISTORY

        TRACK THE HISTORY OF SHIPS NAMED HMS Cattistock
        • The First Cattistock

          Two previous Cattistocks have served with the Royal Navy before the current minehunter. The first was a 730-ton minesweeper, launched in 1917, which served in minesweeping flotillas in the Atlantic, the North Sea and in the Baltic.

        • The Second Cattistock

          The second Cattistock was a Type 1 Hunt-class destroyer, launched in 1940. She began her wartime career with the Third Destroyer Squadron in Scapa Flow, then later moved south to the Nore and the Twenty-First Squadron on convoy escort and anti-submarine patrols. During the invasion of Normandy, she screen ships bombarding German invasion barges in Dunkirk harbour among other duties.

        LATEST NEWS

         

        TOP STORIES

        Home sweet home – Cattistock village’s own warship calls at Poole
        Cattistock village’s own warship calls at Poole after three-months’ ops
        02 May 2013

        She has just spent three months in the Mediterranean as...

        HMS Cattistock heads up multi-national mine exercise
        HMS Cattistock heads up multi-national mine exercise
        19 April 2013

        A multinational mine hunting exercise has taken place off the...

        Algerian Patrol Boat, Al Mirfak, conducts drills alongside HMS Cattistock
        HMS Cattistock on mine-hunter duties in the Mediterranean
        03 April 2013

        A Portsmouth based minehunter has carried out a goodwill visit...

        HMS Cattistock
        Portsmouth Minehunter Heads For The Med
        04 February 2013

        Portsmouth-based Royal Navy minehunter HMS Cattistock sailed today (February 4)...

        Recruiting Now

        The featured jobs are available now

        More Info

        I'm Interested in:
        • Explore Opportunities Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering)
          More info
        • Explore Opportunities Royal Marines Officer
          More info
        • Explore Opportunities Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering)(Submariner)
          More info
        • Explore Opportunities Royal Marines Other Ranks
          More info
        • Explore Opportunities Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering)
          More info
        • Explore Opportunities Naval Nurse (Qualified)
          More info
        • Explore Opportunities Engineering Technician (Weapons Engineering Submariner)
          More info