Minehunters to leave for Iraq

Minehunters to leave for Iraq

The 'yellow submarines' help detect underwater explosives

Two mine clearance vessels are due to leave Portsmouth on Friday for the Gulf.

HMS Ramsey and HMS Shoreham will help clear the waterways around Iraq.

The Navy mineshunters will carry special submersibles - nicknamed yellow submarines - which can help track down underwater explosives.

The discovery of two mines on Thursday in an Iraqi waterway delayed the arrival of humanitarian aid to the port of Umm Qasr by 24 hours.

HMS Ramsey and HMS Shoreham will now replace HMS Bangor and HMS Sandown, who have been in the Gulf for several months.

More than half of all the UK ships in the Gulf are based in Portsmouth.