March 2024
Visited with @Mr Budge and @stranton, we arrived at our last destination with Mr Budge and Stranton. Despite being in the busy docklands, we found it without much trouble. Once we crossed the bridge, we were on board the ship. It's important to note that the vessel partially sank in 2016 and now rests at a steep angle in the water, making it tricky to walk around. I used the level feature on my camera to capture straight photos, but I've kept them at the original angle to illustrate how tilted the ship really is.
History
Bronington was built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell in Beverley, Yorkshire, with the process starting on 30 May 1951. She was launched into the River Hull on 19 March 1953 and became HMS Humber on 4 June 1954. For four years, she served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as part of the 101st Minesweeping Squadron. In 1958, she returned to her original name and underwent a conversion into a minehunter at Rosyth Dockyard from 1963 to 1965. She was first assigned to the 5th Minesweeper Squadron, and then to the 1st Mine Countermeasures Squadron starting 5 January 1967. Prince Charles was in command of the ship from 9 February to 15 December 1976. After him, Lieutenant A B Gough took over, and Bronnington ran aground in the River Avon while leaving Bristol.
In the late 1980s, the ship served in the Mediterranean Sea with the 2nd Mine Counter Measures Squadron. It was part of NATO's Standing Naval Force Channel and also worked as a fishery protection vessel. After it was decommissioned, the Bronington Trust, a charity with royal patronage, bought the ship in January 1989. For a decade, it was docked in the Manchester Ship Canal at Trafford Park, welcoming visitors. On 11 July 2002, it became part of the Warship Preservation Trust collection and was moored at Birkenhead in Merseyside. After the Warship Preservation Trust closed, the ship was kept in storage next to the HMS Plymouth and later in the West Float of Birkenhead Docks. Unfortunately, on 17 March 2016, Bronington sank at its mooring.
In December 2021, the HMS Bronington Preservation Trust was created to raise money for the ship's restoration and preservation. As of 2023, the ship remains partly underwater. In June 2022, the trust paid for a diving survey to check its condition. The survey found that the ship is mostly in good shape, with just two small holes in the hull. If fundraising efforts succeed, the trust plans to relocate the ship to a dry dock at Cammell Laird for restoration. This could lead to it being used for sailing or displayed as a museum exhibit. In June 2023, the National Museum of the Royal Navy mentioned possible sites in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard for the ship if the preservation efforts go well.
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
