Royal Navy deploys HMS Richmond to bolster UK naval presence in the Gulf region

In a statement to Parliament, the Secretary of State has confirmed that HMS Richmond will join HMS Diamond and HMS Lancaster in the Gulf region in response to the serious maritime security situation in the Red Sea.

Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond sailed from Plymouth on Friday, the first naval movement of the year from Devonport Naval Base. Although primarily an Anti-Submarine platform, she is well-equipped to protect merchant shipping from air and surface threats and armed with 36 Sea Ceptor missiles but lacks land-attack capability. HMS Richmond was the first frigate to have the PGMU engine upgrade which has performed reliably and the ship participated in the 50,000nm, 7-month 2021 Carrier Strike Deployment to the Pacific.

The Minister said: “We are working with allies and partners to protect freedom of navigation and remain committed to holding malign actors accountable for unlawful seizures and attacks. The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives and commercial shipping in these critical waterways. As you would expect, while planning is underway for a range of scenarios, no decisions have been made and we continue to pursue all diplomatic routes”.

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