A mothballed former Royal Navy minesweeper is getting a £55million makeover so it can be used to thwart Vladimir Putin ’s aggression.
HMS Quorn was sold to the Lithuanian armed forces two years ago as they bolstered their defences against Russia.
The country shares a border with Russia through the Kremlin exclave of Kaliningrad, which sits on the Baltic Sea.
The Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel Quorn served 27 years with the Royal Navy until 2017 and was bought by Lithuania in April 2020.
It “uses high-definition sonar to scour seabeds for mines, which are then destroyed by the ship’s clearance diving teams or mine disposal system”, according to the Ministry of Defence.
Work includes upgrades to the ship’s mission and sonar systems, and an additional search and rescue facility.
She will also receive new main engines, generators and propulsion gear, while her accommodation, hull and electrical systems will be revamped.
The work will be carried out at Harland & Wolff’s shipyard in Appledore, Devon, in a deal which the MoD said would support 100 jobs.
Harland & Wolff chief executive John Wood said the firm’s “eyes are now set on delivering this contract and executing on our pipeline as we continue to build momentum, credibility and a high-performing, experienced workforce”.
Defence Minister Jeremy Quin said: “I’m pleased that this multi-million pound contract will see a former Royal Navy mine-hunting vessel restored and regenerated in a British shipyard, supporting UK jobs and strengthening shipbuilding in the South West.
“Lithuania is a key NATO ally and Joint Expeditionary Force partner, and this mine-hunting vessel will bolster NATO maritime capability across Europe, ensuring the alliance remains ready to respond to evolving global threats.”
Commodore Richard Whalley, head of the UK Defence Equipment Sales Authority, said: “This contract award reinforces our excellent working relationship that we have with Lithuania as our NATO ally as well as UK owned Harland & Wolff.
“We’re really pleased to see HMS Quorn refurbished in Appledore shipyard and look forward to continuing our work with them supporting the British supply chain.”
