Royal Navy joins international rescue exercise in Northern Gulf

That was the challenge facing the crew of Royal Navy minehunter HMS Middleton as they joined sailors and fliers from the USA, Kuwait and Iraq in an international test of collective lifesaving abilities.

The minehunter left her base in Bahrain to join the multi-national Combined Task Force 152 – responsible for safety and security of shipping specifically inside the Gulf – as it hosted a SOLAS exercise: Safety Of Life At Sea.

Ships from the Iraqi and Kuwaiti Naval Forces, Kuwaiti Coast Guard and US Coast Guard were involved on the water, with helicopter support from the Kuwait Police Flying Wing.

The Brits were earmarked as the ship overseeing the mock rescue: to first locate an aircraft which had been forced to land on the water – then co-ordinate the response of the assorted vessels and air power.

With Middleton’s time in the Middle East almost entirely devoted to her core mission of hunting for/neutralising mines, her Navigating Officer Lieutenant Jack Savage said the 50 crew welcomed the chance of a “uniquely rewarding experience”.

He continued: “It was a privilege to exercise alongside such a diverse range of nations and unit types, each bringing their own strengths and professionalism on the day.

“For us, operating in a new area of the Gulf added a layer of excitement and challenge, making the exercise even more memorable.

“What stood out most was the seamless communication across all units—clear, concise, and effective—which played a key role in the overall success of the exercise. Witnessing the unity and coordination among the different national assets was truly impressive.”

The result was that the four nations could work together quickly and effectively in an emergency to a successful conclusion: saving lives.

Lieutenant Commander Kyle O’Regan, HMS Middleton’s Commanding Officer, was particularly impressed by the Kuwait and Iraqi sailors.

“Their professional abilities were clear for all to see during the manoeuvring exercises and their communication during the exercise were crisp and efficient leading to a rapid and comprehensive search of the area,” he said.

“I’m confident that had this been a real incident we would have searched the area quickly and most likely found the aircraft.”

Also delighted with the outcome of the combined training was Commodore Mohammad Alarefi, the Kuwaiti in charge of CTF 152.