9th Mine Countermeasures Squadron

The 9th Mine Countermeasures Squadron has been a front-line squadron of the Royal Navy with responsibility for mine warfare in the Persian Gulf region. The squadron had been based in Bahrain but, as of early-2026, all crewed vessels had been withdrawn to the U.K.. Normally, a Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) support ship had also been assigned to the squadron. However, in late 2024 the squadron's normal support ship, RFA Cardigan Bay, returned to the UK for refit and acute personnel shortages in the RFA made her replacement in the Gulf uncertain. In early 2025 the mine countermeasures vessel HMS Chiddingfold was also returned to the U.K. while the minehunter HMS Bangor was inactive due to damage sustained in a collision. HMS Bangor was returned to the Clyde naval base on a heavy-lift vessel in preparation for refit in late November 2025. HMS Middleton, the last crewed vessel assigned to the squadron, followed in 2026.

These events seemed to herald the end of the squadron's role, at least until possibly replaced by future mine countermeasures systems.