HMS Bronington

Ship: HMS BRONINGTON
Pennant No: M1115
Laid Down: 30th May 1951
Built by: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley, Yorkshire. Yard Number 854 
Completed: 4th June 1954
Time to Build: 36 Months
Commissioned: September 1954 For 101st (RNVR) Squadron as HMS HUMBER and based Hull
Years Fully Operational: 31
Conversion to Minehunter: December 1963 to February 1965 at Rosyth

Outline of Operational Career:

• Oct 1954 Named HMS HUMBER. Joined 101st MSS.
• May 1958 Reverted to BRONINGTON
• Sep 1958 Reserve Chatham then Deltic Conversion at Rosyth
• Mar 1960 Recommissioned for 50th MSS (Trials) at Portland
• Oct 1961 Transferred to 51st MSS (later 1st MHS) at Port Edgar
• Dec 1963 Paid off for conversion to Minehunter at Rosyth
• Dec 1965 Joined 1st MCM Squadron based Rosyth
• Sep 1978 Transferred to 2nd MCMS as SO based Portsmouth.
• July 1983 Attached to STANAVFORCHAN (to Dec 83)
• June 1988 Paid off at Portsmouth

Significant Events:

• Mar 1960 Collision in Forth. Damage to stem. Repairs 6 weeks.
• Mar 1973 Rescued 8 men and a woman from Dutch Coaster Aground off Co. Down
• Feb 1976 Lt HRH The Prince of Wales took command (to Dec 76)
• Nov 1976 HM The Queen visited ship in Pool of London
• Apr 1981 Assisted HMS ALACRITY in standing by FV ‘Pentille’ Taking water off Plymouth. Pumping out failed so BRONINGTON ordered to sink FV with Bofors.

Paid Off: 30th June 1988

Disposal: 25th January 1989. Transferred to Trafford Park Development Corporation in Manchester Docks for display as a preserved warship in good condition "Ready for Captain's Rounds"

In 2002 she was transferred to the Historic Warships, Birkenhead. Initially she continued to be open to the public but a dispute with Mersey Docks and Harbour Board resulted in the Historic Warships being placed in administration and the ship moved to Vittoria Basin, Birkenhead and closed to the public.

Subsequently neglected and in 2016 semi-submerged at her berth - see photo

Several projects have been attempted to "Save and Restore" the ship but to date all have lacked necessary resources and finance.