Hunt class

The Hunt class is a Royal Navy mine countermeasures vessel class built in the United Kingdom by Vosper Thornycroft and Yarrow Shipbuilders. The 60-metre GRP ships use high-definition sonar and SeaFox mine disposal systems to hunt mines, with Royal Navy statistics listing 725 tonnes displacement, 17 knots speed, and 1,500 nautical miles range.

Various ConflictsUnspecified

Hunt class, Mine countermeasures vessel class, Naval Systems

Image source: Wikimedia Commons: HMS Brocklesby underway in the Arabian Gulf on 11 November 2020

Profile

Origin: United Kingdom
Built by: Vosper ThornycroftYarrow Shipbuilders
Type: Mine countermeasures vessel class
Service note: 1980-present
Produced: 1978-1988
Number built: 13

Also Known As

Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel
Hunt-class minehunter
Hunt class minehunter
Hunt-class mine counter-measures vessel

naval mine warfare

Specifications

Displacement: 725 tonnes
Length: 60 metres
Speed: 17 knots
Range: 1,500 nautical miles
Hull: Glass-reinforced plastic hull
Mine countermeasure fit: High-definition sonar, clearance diving teams, and SeaFox mine disposal system

Royal Navy Ships

The Royal Navy currently lists six Hunt class mine countermeasure vessels in service.

Ship	Pennant	Note
HMS Ledbury	M30	One of the six current Royal Navy Hunt class vessels.
HMS Cattistock	M31	One of the six current Royal Navy Hunt class vessels.
HMS Brocklesby	M33	Used in Gulf mine-clearance operations and listed by the Royal Navy as a current unit.
HMS Middleton	M34	One of the six current Royal Navy Hunt class vessels.
HMS Chiddingfold	M37	One of the six current Royal Navy Hunt class vessels.
HMS Hurworth	M39	One of the six current Royal Navy Hunt class vessels.

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Royal Navy mine countermeasures service from the 1980s onward.
Used by: Royal Navy

Conflict Usage

Side: Unspecified

Hunt-class mine countermeasure vessels have been used for mine-clearance operations in the Gulf. HMS Brocklesby cleared mined waters during the Iraq War and destroyed a mine laid by pro-Gaddafi forces near Misurata during the 2011 Libya campaign.

Hunt class Images

Hunt class, Mine countermeasures vessel class, Naval Systems - view 1 — Source: HMS Brocklesby M33 BB.jpg

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Sources

Hunt Class Mine Countermeasures Vessel | Royal NavyPublisher: Royal Navy | Note: Supports the class identity, mine-hunting role, six-ship Royal Navy inventory, displacement, length, speed, range, GRP hull, sonar, and SeaFox mine disposal system. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 Hunt Class Mine Countermeasures Vessels - MCMPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports builder context, class construction runs, launch and completion dates for individual ships, and the class's 13-ship background. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 HMS Brocklesby (M33) | Royal NavyPublisher: Royal Navy | Note: Supports HMS Brocklesby's Hunt-class role, Seafox unmanned underwater vehicle use, GRP hull, crew size, and offshore patrol duties. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 HMS Brocklesby rewarded for part in Libya mission - GOV.UKPublisher: Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports HMS Brocklesby's Libya campaign service context. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 Wikimedia Commons: HMS Brocklesby underway in the Arabian Gulf on 11 November 2020Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports primary image provenance and public-domain context for the Brocklesby image used as the lead image. | Accessed: 2026-06-25 HMS Brocklesby M33 BB.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and licensing context for a second Hunt-class ship photograph. | Accessed: 2026-06-25