Stunning image of HMS Protector shows why it's a different colour to other Royal Navy ships

An incredible image of the Royal Navy's only ice patrol ship, HMS Protector, as she sails among the ice floes of the Antarctic has given an insight into the vessel's unique colour scheme and why that is in stark contrast to other ships in the fleet.

While most Royal Navy ships use dark colours and shades of grey to avoid detection, Protector uses bright colours to be more visible.

Instead of using darker colours to hide, the vessel uses a white, red and yellow colour scheme to stand out in the ice and snow.

The vessel sails the waters of Antarctica and the Southern Hemisphere and is deployed for 330 days a year.

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On Twitter, HMS Protector shared how the colour scheme works in its normal working environment, posting an image of the vessel surrounded by ice and snow.

The ship tweeted: "Can you see why we're painted red and yellow? Otherwise from a distance, we would be difficult to spot!"

HMS Protector is affectionately referred to as the Royal Navy's 'Swiss army knife' due to its bright red colour and array of capabilities.

The ship pays regular visits to international bases, delivers supplies, and supports important scientific research in Antarctica. 

In January 2023, HMS Protector transported scientists to Antarctica to conduct research on underwater volcanoes and help better understand tsunamis.

In December 2022, the crew of HMS Protector was able to dig out the staff of an isolated Antarctic scientific base on the island of Port Lockroy after they became trapped under the snow. The base was hit with heavy spring snowfall and some of the buildings had been buried.

HMS Protector is an icebreaker and is equipped with two cranes that can lift 60 tonnes of supplies.

The 5,000-tonne vessel has 4,741 horsepower and can break through thick ice to deliver vital support to some of the most difficult environments in the world.

HMS Protector can survive alone in the snow and has the equipment and the specialist crew on board to fend for herself.