ROYAL NAVY ENDS ITS PRESENCE IN THE GULF AFTER 173 YEARS Britain’s last warship in the Gulf, the minehunter HMS Middleton will be departing the Gulf and returning to Britain, leaving not a single warship flying the White Ensign. Middleton may leave the Gulf as early as March. There are no plans to replace her. Admiral Lord West (First Sea Lord between 2002 and 2006) said, ‘It is extremely unfortunate that our Navy has been reduced to such a level that we can’t have a frigate or offshore patrol vessel based in the Gulf because it’s a region that has constant difficulty and trouble. To not have…
