Wargaming prompts changes to Royal Navy’s future minehunting motherships

British Government published a statement providing an update on the planned up to three new Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs), being developed in cooperation with Norway. These are to be motherships for the Royal Navy’s future autonomous mine-hunting systems.

In that statement, the UK government writes that it worked with Dstl to “design and implement realistic mine countermeasure scenarios and inputs, enabling Royal Navy subject matter experts to rigorously test operational concepts under realistic conditions.”

The proposed OSV concept was tested in a two-day table-top exercise, and it produced some needed changes. Wargaming on proverbial tables has been an important way for militaries to plan and structure their forces and de-risk for over 100 years.

The statement stresses that mine-hunting is particularly important for the UK as the country depends on secure maritime access for economic security and NATO obligations.

These vessels are being designed to tackle tomorrow’s threats: “As mines grow more sophisticated, autonomous systems and advanced modelling are vital to stay ahead.” The wargaming saw the use of 3D-printed models combined with traditional methods. In images released, the models appear similar to Lego models.

New renders of Offshore Support Vessels

A new piece by Navy Outlook published yesterday helps to construct an image of what the future Royal Navy will look like, apparently leveraging the government’s 4 August statement.

These new OSVs look more similar to large commercial offshore vessels than more familiar conventional naval vessels, including auxiliary vessels. Officials have previously said the Royal Navy plans for three minimally modified commercial design OSV motherships to transport at least three USVs, UUVs and associated command-and-control equipment.

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Inside the Royal Navy’s new mine warfare mothership programmehttps://t.co/ktGCvg01dE pic.twitter.com/0EJ6lBRycF

— Navy Lookout (@NavyLookout) August 11, 2026

The concept represents a shift away from the Hunt and Sandown-class minehunters. HMS Stirling Castle and RFA Proteus provide useful points of comparison for the new mothership concept. The remaining conventional MCM vessels are due to disappear by 2032.

Navy Outlook noted that while earlier Royal Navy development work indicated a need for at least 1,000 square metres (up from 600 square metres on the HMS Stirling Castle), the Navy’s preference has evolved. Now it appears to be something closer to a “floating workshop, transport and command platform with considerable spare volume and deck area.”

Partnering with Norway in the Atlantic

The Defence Investment Plan allocates £1.3 billion to the Autonomous Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) Block 2 program for the period spanning 2026 to 2030. In addition, the plan has £90 million for offshore support vessel cooperation with Norway.

The OSVs are closely tied to Norway, along with wider naval cooperation. Britain formally joined Norway’s programme to develop OSVs for autonomous mine hunting in the 2025 Lunna House Agreement.

The major headline part of that agreement was for the Royal Norwegian Navy to operate at least five British-built Type 26 frigates and operate them as an integrated fleet with the Royal Navy’s planned eight Type 26 frigates. But the agreement also includes cooperation on the Naval Strike Missile, torpedoes, autonomous systems, and joint operations in the shared North Atlantic.

The purchase of the Norwegian-designed OSVs is seen as part of the wider strategic offset programmes and cooperation associated with Norway’s decision to purchase the frigates. It also leverages Norway’s strengths in offshore vessel design.

However, an interesting detail is that the two-day tabletop exercise produces changes needed for the Royal Navy. It remains unclear how much redesign these ships will need for British service.