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Current Location
Atlantic, Caribbean & USA
08:32 GMT - 13 May 2013
Atlantic, Caribbean & USA
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HMS Ramsey
HMS Ramsey is one of the four Royal Navy minehunters currently working in the Gulf. Alongside sister Sandown HMS Shoreham and the two Hunts HMS Quorn and Atherstone, her role is to safeguard the waterways for all shipping in the area - a role that Royal Navy minehunters have been carrying out for the past six years.
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HMS Ramsey
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HMS Ramsey
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HMS Ramsey
It has been a busy period for all on board due to the wide range of tasks and training that the Gulf-based mine-hunters are asked to perform.
Maintaining and developing the RN’s warm-water mine-hunting capability proves a challenge for both the ships and the crew, but one that many of the crew have faced before. Their extensive experience in the region, coupled with the training received by the crew in the UK, mean that despite a crew change, Ramsey remains ready for any task that may come her way.
Among the highlights of the latter part of 2012 was a visit to the ship in Bahrain by the Secretary of State for Defence, Mr Philip Hammond, and a boarding exercise with US Navy and Coast Guard ships in the region.
COMMANDING OFFICER
Richard Hutchings
- RANK:
- Lieutenant Commander
- JOINED:
- 1996
- SPECIALISATION:
- Warfare
- PREVIOUS UNITS:
- HMS Pembroke, HMS Bangor
Military experience
Born in Kent in 1974, Richard Hutchings was educated at the Colchester Royal Grammar School before graduating from the Universities of Middlesex and Nantes (France) with Honours Degrees and a French Masters in International Finance and Economics. Joining the Royal Navy in 1996 as a Warfare Officer, his initial training appointments included HMS Plover during the handover of Hong Kong and HMS Invincible.
A volunteer for submarines, he qualified in HMS Victorious after initial submarine warfare training. After further warfare and navigation training, he was then appointed to Northwood Headquarters as a Submarine Control Officer. In 2002, Richard returned to the Surface Fleet and was appointed to HMS Invincible as the Assistant Navigator, during which time the Ship completed post-refit trials and worked up to conduct fixed and rotary wing flying operations.
Richard assumed command of HMS Sabre in 2004, one of the 2 fast patrol boats tasked to support the maritime defence and sovereignty of Gibraltar. Subsequently completing the Principal Warfare Officers’ (PWO) Course and specialising in Underwater Warfare, he then served in HMS Westminster as the Operations Officer and PWO(U) from 2007.
A varied operational programme included a deployment contributing to counter-piracy operations, multi-national exercises and support to the UK’s efforts to offer disaster relief to Burma after Cyclone Nargis. On return to the UK, the Ship spent a considerable period as the Duty Towed Array Patrol Ship at high readiness for National Tasking.
Appointed to the staff of the Flag Officer Sea Training as a Staff Warfare Officer in 2009, he was responsible for planning and delivering warfare training both to RN ships and foreign naval units, specialising in anti-submarine warfare.
He assumed command of Crew 1 within the First MineCountermeasures Squadron in March 2011. The Crew has since conducted Operational Sea Training in HMS Blyth, a 7½ month deployment in the Gulf in HMS Pembroke and took ownership of HMS Bangor in May 2012 on their return to the UK.
His interests include rugby (coaching and watching), squash and dinghy sailing.
OPERATIONS
Maritime security
CURRENT STATUS: active
British ships and units are committed to operations around the world. Operations focus on maritime security, reassurance and wider regional engagement to build regional maritime capability.
Operation Gulf MCMV
CURRENT STATUS: active
In support of wider British efforts in the region, minehunters are providing the capability to conduct route survey, sea-bed clearance, and mine clearance operations all over the Gulf. The operation also aims to provide a visible naval presence in a region where stability and good relations with local nations is vital. Much of the UK’s oil and gas, as well as other products, come from the Gulf region and as such these efforts are of vital importance to our economy and lifestyle.
UNIT DIARY
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Defence Secretary's visit in Bahrain19/09/12
HMS Ramsey was given her chance to shine on behalf of the Royal Navy’s mine hunting community this week as she received a visit from the Secretary of State for Defence, Mr Philip Hammond MP.
Read more -
HMS Ramsey July Update04/07/12
Having manned HMS Ramsey since the beginning of December, the First Mine Countermeasures Squadron’s Crew 6’s Gulf deployment comes to an end on 10 July.
Read more -
A Busy Month For Ramsey18/03/12
After 3 months away from the UK, Crew 6 is well and truly settled into the lively pace of life onboard HMS Ramsey.
Read more -
A New Crew26/01/12
HMS Ramsey is the new home of the First Mine Counter Measures Squadron’s Crew 6, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Paul Ottewell.
Read more
ABOUT THE UNIT
KEY STATISTICS
- Pennant
M110
- Displacement
600tonnes
- Complement
34personnel
- Length
52.5Metres
- Beam
10.5metres
- Draught
2.3metres
- Top Speed
13knots
- Range (Nautical)
2,500nautical miles
- Launch Date
04/07/00
- Commissioned date
20/07/01
- London to Birmingham
25 times on one tank of fuel
TAKE A LOOK
PHOTO GALLERY
Ramsey
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Top of the class for fitness
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Top of the class for fitness
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HMS Ramsey visits Saudi Arabia
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SONY DSC
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HMS Ramsey visits Saudi Arabia
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HMS Ramsey pays historic trip to Saudi Arabia
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Stock Picture: Units from the UK and America took part in Exercise Shamal in the middle east. Images are from the Photex at the end of the exercise. HMS Argyll was deployed on OPS 2011 â 2012. The type 23 frigate successfully conducted anti-piracy operations in the Middle East. HMS Ramsey (M110) is a Sandown-class minehunter of the British Royal Navy. Like other vessels of the Sandown class, the Ramsey is built of glass-reinforced plastic and other non-magnetic materials so that her hull does not trigger mines as easily as standard warships.She is the third vessel to bear the name.
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HMS Ramsey pays historic trip to Saudi Arabia
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HMS Ramsey pays historic trip to Saudi Arabia
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HMS Ramsey pays historic trip to Saudi Arabia
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HMS Ramsey pays historic trip to Saudi Arabia
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CLYDE SAILOR HONOURED FOR ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE IN THE GULF
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CLYDE SAILOR HONOURED FOR ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE IN THE GULF
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Ramsey 'clean and happy' after divers scrub hull
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Ramsey 'clean and happy' after divers scrub hull
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HM Minehunters Ramsey and Shoreham support UK Trade at Defence Exhibition
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The Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Philip Jones CB, is welcomed on board HMS Ramsey by the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Richard Hutchings
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HM Minehunters Ramsey and Shoreham support UK Trade at Defence Exhibition
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Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Jones CB, is greeted at HMS Shoreham’s gangway
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HM Minehunters Ramsey and Shoreham support UK Trade at Defence Exhibition
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Some of the Ship's Company take the opportunity to enjoy their time at NAVDEX
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HM Minehunters Ramsey and Shoreham support UK Trade at Defence Exhibition
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One of many flypasts by the UAE display team at the Exhibition
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US Navy boarding HMS Ramsey
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USS Whirlwind
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HMS Ramsey rafting with RFA Lyme Bay in the Gulf
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RAMSEY SHIP-SHAPE ON DEPLOYMENT THANKS TO
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RAMSEY SHIP-SHAPE ON DEPLOYMENT THANKS TO
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HMS Ramsey and HMS Pembroke
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HMS Pembroke and HMS Ramsey during the Officer Of the Watch manouevres. As HMS St Albans set sail from Bahrain she conducted Officer Of the Watch Manoeuvres with HMS's Ramsey and Pembroke along with RFA Lyme Bay. During the manoeuvres HMS ST Albans seaboats were used to train the latter 3 ships Quickdraw teams. HMS St Albans is currently deployed for 6 months to the Middle East on Operation Kipion where she will carry out Counter Terrorism, Anti Narcotics and anti piracy operations. She is due to return to the UK in December. She is due to return to the UK in December. Image taken by LA(Phot) Simmo Simpson
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HMS Pembroke leads her sister HMS Ramsey – two of four RN minehunters based in Bahrain – during training in the Gulf. Picture: LA(Phot) Simmo Simpson
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HMS RAMSEY in the Gulf
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HMS Ramsey in the Middle EAstern sunset.As HMS St Albans set sail from Bahrain she conducted Officer Of the Watch Manoeuvres with HMS's Ramsey and Pembroke along with RFA Lyme Bay. During the manoeuvres HMS ST Albans seaboats were used to train the latter 3 ships Quickdraw teams. HMS St Albans is currently deployed for 6 months to the Middle East on Operation Kipion where she will carry out Counter Terrorism, Anti Narcotics and anti piracy operations. She is due to return to the UK in December.She is due to return to the UK in December.Image taken by LA(Phot) Simmo Simpson
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HMS Ramsey
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HMS Ramsey is greeted by a water fanfare from the tug Powerful on returning to Portsmouth from operations in the Gulf with HM ships Grimsby, Shoreham and Ledbury.
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HMS Ramsey
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HMS RamseyM110
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HMS Ramsey
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HMS Ramsey
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HMS Ramsey
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HMS Ramsey
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HMS Ramsey
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UNITS IN TIME
HMS Ramsey HISTORY
TRACK THE HISTORY OF SHIPS NAMED HMS Ramsey
LATEST NEWS
TOP STORIES
HMS Ramsey visits Saudi Arabia
16 April 2013On a recent stopover in Saudi Arabia, the Ship’s Company...
HMS Ramsey meets a match in Saudi Arabia
03 April 2013Faslane-based minehunter, HMS Ramsey, had the honour of berthing alongside...
Clyde Sailor Honoured For Engineering Excellence In The Gulf
22 March 2013A Royal Navy engineer from HM Naval Base Clyde has...
