HMS Bronington (M1115)

HMS Bronington is a Ton-class minesweeper of the Royal Navy, launched on 19 March 1953. This mahogany-hulled minesweeper was one of the last of the "wooden walls" (wooden-hulled naval vessels).

HMS Bronington laid up at Gilbrook Basin, West Float, Birkenhead (11 June 2015)
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Bronington
NamesakeBronington, Wales
BuilderCook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley
Laid down30 May 1951
Launched19 March 1953
Commissioned4 June 1954
Decommissioned30 June 1988
IdentificationPennant number: M1115
FateSunk at her moorings in March 2016. Still partially sunk.
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeTon-class minesweeper
Displacement440 long tons (450 t)
Length153 ft (46.6 m)
Beam28.9 ft (8.8 m)
Draught8.2 ft (2.5 m)
Propulsion2 × Paxman Deltic 18A-7A diesel engines at 3,000 bhp (2,200 kW)
SpeedCruise 13 knots (24 km/h) on one engine. Max 16 knots (30 km/h) on both
Range2,500 nautical miles (4,600 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement32
Armament1 x Bofors 40 mm gun

History

Bronington was laid down on 30 May 1951 by Cook, Welton & Gemmell at Beverley, Yorkshire. Built on the River Hull she was launched on 19 March 1953 and Bronington was commissioned as HMS Humber on 4 June 1954. Humber spent four years in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve where it served as part of the 101st Minesweeping Squadron.[1][2]

Reverting to its original name in 1958, the vessel was converted into a minehunter at Rosyth Dockyard between 1963 and 1965, and was commissioned to, initially the 5th Minesweeper Squadron, and the 1st Mine Countermeasures Squadron on 5 January 1967.[3]

King Charles III (then the Prince of Wales) commanded the vessel between 9 February and 15 December 1976.[4] Subsequently, under the command of his successor, Lieutenant A. B. Gough R. N., it ran aground in the River Avon while departing from Bristol.[5]

During the late 80s, the vessel saw service in the Mediterranean as part of 2nd Mine Counter Measures Squadron, with NATO as part of the Standing Naval Force Channel and also as a fishery protection vessel.

After being decommissioned from service, the ship was purchased in January 1989 by the Bronington Trust, a registered charity whose patron is the King.[5] For some time, the ship was berthed in the Manchester Ship Canal at Trafford Park, Greater Manchester, England and was open to visitors for ten years. On 11 July 2002, she became part of the collection of the Warship Preservation Trust and was moored at Birkenhead, Merseyside.[1] After the closure of the Warship Preservation Trust, she remained in storage, formerly alongside the Rothesay-class frigate HMS Plymouth, at Vittoria Dock, Birkenhead, and latterly in the West Float of Birkenhead Docks.

On 17 March 2016, Bronington sank at her moorings.[6][7][8]

Preservation

December 2021 saw the formation of the 'HMS Bronington Preservation Trust', an organisation dedicated to raising the vessel and preserving it.[9]

As of 2023, the ship is still partially submerged. The preservation trust commissioned a dive survey in June 2022 to establish the state of the vessel.[10] The survey revealed the vessel to be in good condition, with only two minor holes in the hull. Subject to fund raising, the trust hopes to move the vessel to a dry dock at Cammell Laird where it will be restored, either for sailing or for use as a static museum exhibit.[11] In June 2023, the National Museum of the Royal Navy said that there are potential locations in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, which could be considered if the restoration effort is successful.[12]

References
  1. Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: A Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy From the 15th Century to the Present. London: Chatham. p. 56. ISBN 1612000274.
  2. "About the ship". HMS Bronington. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  3. Brown, Paul (2010). Historic Ships: The Survivors. Stroud: Amberley. ISBN 978-1-84868-994-7.
  4. Brandreth, Gyles (2007). Charles and Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair. UK: Random House. p. 170. ISBN 978-0-09-949087-6.
  5. Brown, Michèle (1980). Prince Charles. London: Artus. p. 125. ISBN 0-51754-019-3.
  6. Graham, Barry (19 March 2016). "HMS BRONINGTON M1115". Shipspotting. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  7. "News in brief: sad demise of ship the Prince once captained". The Times. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  8. Naylor, Mary (25 April 2016). "Pictures show sunken state of Prince Charles' former Royal Navy ship". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  9. "Timeline". HMSBronington.org. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  10. "Dive Survey Friday 24th June 2022 | HMS Bronington". HMS Bronington Preservation Trust. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  11. Deeks, Steve (18 May 2022). "Former crew on submerged warship fondly remember service amid restoration efforts". www.portsmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  12. Deeks, Steve (5 June 2023). "Royal Navy's HMS Bronington: 'Last of wooden walls' set for romantic return to Portsmouth after 35 years". The News. Portsmouth. Retrieved 22 July 2023.


53°24′11.4″N 3°02′46.7″W

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