Oops! Embarrassing moment Royal Navy warship crashes into another as it gets stuck in reverse on Gulf mission

This is the embarrassing moment one Royal Navy minesweeper crashed into another after an apparent mechanical failure left officers unable to stop it from reversing.

In a blunder that could jeopardize British operations in the Gulf at a crucial time, HMS Chiddingfold returned to HMS Bangor, which was moored in a port in Bahrain.

The accident tore a huge hole in the fuselage, which is made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic. There was internal damage, but no injuries were reported.

Navy sources suggested there is no timeline yet for when the ship can return to the front line.

One said: ‘HMS Chiddingfold got stuck in reverse.

“The understanding at this point is that when she tried to back away, there was a glitch.

‘The crew could not alter her course, so they had to watch helplessly as she struck the after quarter bow of HMS Bangor first.

‘Her interior was also torn apart. The ship won’t be in action for a while.’

This is not the first time HMS Chiddingfold has crashed into a friendly ship.

NavyLookout reported that Chiddingfold struck HMS Penzance and was out of commission for three months as it underwent repairs.

The specialist site said Hunt-class ships are difficult to maneuver in ports and vulnerable to high wind speeds.

Vice Admiral Edward Ahlgren, Operations Commander, said the Telegraph he was ‘aware’ of the incident and ‘would like to emphasize that fortunately no one was injured in the collision, but some damage was sustained’.

‘Why this happened has yet to be determined. We train our people to the highest standards and strictly enforce machine safety standards, but unfortunately these types of incidents can still occur.

‘I assure you that a full and thorough investigation is already underway and any changes to procedure that could prevent further incidents will be implemented quickly. In the meantime, Britain will continue to play a key role in ensuring the security of merchant shipping in the region.”

Images of the clash were shared by the military site Bible claims and has since been viewed hundreds of thousands of times online.

Bangor is one of the Royal Navy’s seven Sandown-class mine countermeasures vessels.

Her standard crew of 39 consists of mine countermeasures specialists and mine clearance divers.

She is normally based at the Clyde Naval Base in Faslane, Scotland, but has been deployed to the Gulf for an extended period of time.

According to the Defense Department, Bangor is equipped with SeaFox unmanned underwater vehicles that scour the ocean floor for mines.

While the ship plays an important role in ensuring the security of Britain’s and global trade routes, the incident is the latest in a series of problems facing the Royal Navy.

Earlier this month it was revealed that a drastic shortage of sailors forced the Royal Navy to decommission two of its warships, HMS Westminster and HMS Argyll.

The warships were taken out of service so that their crews could transfer to new frigates.

The retirement of HMS Westminster is controversial as it underwent expensive repairs in 2017 and only recently returned to service.

The dismantling of the ships comes as record numbers of sailors, such as Navy divers and engineers, are signing off. Many have been headhunted by private sector companies that can double their wages.

According to official statistics, the Royal Navy has provided the worst recruitment service over the past 12 months.

Recruit intake fell by 22.1 per cent in the 12 months to March 2023, while the RAF fell by almost 17 per cent and the army by almost 15 per cent.

In response to the crisis, the Royal Marines have been given £500 to persuade friends on the ‘civvy street’ to sign up.

Recruitment is a growing problem in the Royal Navy, even at the top. Desperate Royal Navy chiefs turned to business social media site LinkedIn in their efforts to find a commander for their submarines and nuclear operations.

They have been forced into this unprecedented step because no one in uniform is qualified or interested in the £150,000 role.

Chiefs want a retired or part-time officer to return to full duty and rely on social media to find them.

Royal Navy ships have been deployed to protect international shipping lanes targeted by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, with around 30 cargo ships and tankers hit.

The attacks continue despite British and American airstrikes on Houthi bases.