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Name: HMS Bronington

Certificate number: 130

Status:

Designated Vessel

Function:

Fighting Vessel

Sub Functional Area:

Minesweeper

Type:

Ton Class

Location:

Birkenhead (East Float), Wirral, England

Current use:

Museum: floating

  • Length Overall:

    46.33 metres (151.90 feet)

  • Displacement Tonnage:

    425.00

  • Draught:

    2.50 metres (8.20 feet)

  • Maximum Breadth:

    8.76 metres (28.72 feet)
HMS Bronington - Bronington - port view

Web address

Builder

History

BRONINGTON was laid down on 30 May 1951 by Cook, Welton and Gemmel in Beverley, Yorkshire. She was launched 2 years later on the 19 March 1953 by Mrs W G John, wife of the Director, Naval Constructors. She was completed in June 1954, renamed HMS HUMBER and assigned for 4 years to 101st Minesweeping Squadron in the RNVR Humber Division based in Hull. During this period she won the Thornycroft Trophy for minesweeping excellence, against competition from both regular and reserve units.

Reverting to her original name in 1958, HMS BRONINGTRON rejoined the fleet and served in various squadrons before entering refit in 1963 to begin her conversion to a minehunter. Alterations included the fitting of an enclosed bridge, a tripod mast and the latest sonar. BRONINGTON then saw service around the coast of Britain, northwest Europe and Scandinavia.

After a major refit in 1974 in Gibraltar, the ship returned to the home waters in the 1st Mine Counter Measures Squadron and in 1976 became the command of HRH Prince Charles. In the 1980s, in her final active years, HMS BRONIGTRON was deployed to the Mediterranean as part of the 2nd Mine Counter Measures Squadron, and spent a period detached in the NATO Standing Naval Force Channel and was employed for a time as a member of the Fishery Protection Squadron. She entered Portsmouth to pay off on 23 June 1988. In January 1989, Parliament was informed that HMS BRONINGTON had been purchased by The Bronington Trust, a charity dedicated to her preservation and display to the public.

These brief histories are compiled from details supplied by vessel owners and enthusiasts and from various reference works. National Historic Ships would be grateful for any corrections of facts or additional information for inclusion. Please contact ron.ellis@nationalhistoricships.org.uk

Subsequent developments

None notified, please let us know if you have any additional information.

Previous names

Bibliography