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HMSPembroke(M107)

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For other ships with the same name, seeHMS Pembroke.

HMSPembroke
History
United Kingdom
NameHMSPembroke
OperatorRoyal Navy
BuilderVosper Thornycroft
Launched12 December 1997
Commissioned6 October 1998
HomeportHMNB Clyde
Identification
StatusDecommissioned
General characteristics
Class and typeSandown-classminehunter
Displacement600 t (590 long tons; 660 short tons)[1]
Length52.5 m (172 ft 3 in)
Beam10.9 m (35 ft 9 in)
Draught2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
PropulsionPaxman Valenta 6RP200E diesels 1523 shp, diesel-electric drive,Voith Schneider Propellers,Schottel bow thrusters
Speed13kn(24 km/h; 15 mph)
Complement34 (accommodation for up to 40)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Radar Type 1007 I-Band
  • SonarType 2093
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament

HMSPembrokewas aSandown-classminehunterof theRoyal Navy.She was the second ship launched of the second batch of the class, which had several improvements over the first five ships built. The ship was posted for three years to thePersian Gulfbetween 2009 and 2012.Pembrokehas since been deployed in international exercises and in historicordnancedetection in home waters.Pembrokewas the first of the Royal Navy’s Mine Countermeasures Vessels to be fitted with the Oceanographic Reconnaissance Combat Architecture combat system to replace the previousNAUTIScombat system in early 2020.

In July 2023, it was announced that HMSPembrokewas to be decommissioned, as part of the Royal Navy's plans to replace all mine countermeasures vessels with autonomous unmanned vessels. A decommissioning service and Freedom ofPembrokeparade was held on 23 July 2023.[3][4]The ship was still in commission as of September 2023 but was reportedly scheduled to be transferred to theRomanian Navyin 2024.[5][6]She had reportedly decommissioned from the Royal Navy as of January 2024.[7]The ship is to be renamed to M271Căpitan Constantin Dumitrescuafter it will enter Romanian service.[8]

Design and description

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TheSandown-class minehunter was designed to complement the existingHunt-classmine countermeasures vessel,by providing a cheaper alternative and specific mine hunting service. TheSandown-class vessels were delivered in two batches, with the first five ships delivered byVosper Thornycroftto theRoyal Navyby November 1994. The company was then awarded the contract for a second batch of seven vessels, of whichPembrokewas the second.[9]

Ships of theSandown-class had a hull constructed fromglass reinforced plastic,and equipment on-board have a low magnetic signature. While under normal circumstances, the ship operates on diesel engines, when operating near mines she uses an electric drive system. In addition to thebow thrusters,she is also equipped with a Voith Schneidercyclorotor.[9]Further anti-mine equipment includes theSeafox mine disposal system.[10]Ships of the class were each equipped with a single30mm DS30M Mk2 gun.[9]

Construction

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Pembrokeoperating in the Persian Gulf, 2011

Pembrokewas constructed at the Vosper Thornycroft inSouthampton,England. She was used for shock trials on the improvements made to the second batch ofSandown-class minehunters.[9]

Operational history

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Pembrokewas posted toPersian Gulfduties in 2009, and spent the following three years conducting operations and exercises there. In 2012, she returned to HMNB Clyde. On the way, she andMiddletonprovided assistance toDelhi Express,a cargo vessel which had lost power while transiting theGulf of Aden.PembrokeandMiddletonprotected the ship until it was under way once more, as the area is known for piracy.[11]During the mission to the gulf, the ship had been manned by seven different crews.[12]Upon returning to Faslane, she was placed indry dockfor two months for maintenance.[13]

Pembrokeunderwent a six-month period of support work and upgrades byBabcock International.[14]The upgrades included the installation of theDefence Information Infrastructure,which allows for information sharing across the entire defence network. Further work was taken to upgrade the high pressure air system as well as installing an expanded fire detection system. The work was completed by early 2014, when the ship underwent furthersea trials.[15]

After a 300-pound (140-kilogram) mine was dredged up by a fishing boat in 2014,Pembrokedetonated the mine using a Seafox anti-mine drone.[10]In 2015, she spent four months cooperating in operations with ships from theGerman,Polish,BelgianandRoyal Dutchnavies. During this time she located nineSecond World Warbombs, including a 500-pound (230 kg) bomb in theNorth Sea.[16]On 26 March, she visited the wreck site of theI-classdestroyerHMSIsisand conducted a remembrance andwreathlaying ceremony.[17]In preparation for a deployment to theBaltic Seain April 2016, earlier that year,Pembroketook part in a series of training exercises including simulated attack by aircraft, gunnery, salvage and mine hunting.[16]

References

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  1. ^"Sandown Class Mine Countermeasures Vessels - Specifications".GlobalSecurity.org.11 July 2011.Retrieved8 June2014.
  2. ^"In focus: the Fleet Solid Support ship design".Navy Lookout. 28 February 2023.Retrieved14 April2023.
  3. ^"Hundreds line the streets to bidfarewell to HMS Pembroke".Western Telegraph.23 July 2023.Retrieved24 July2023.
  4. ^Sinclair, Tom (23 July 2023)."Farewell to HMS Pembroke: An iconic Royal Navy vessel concludes its journey".The Pembrokeshire Herald.Retrieved24 July2023.
  5. ^@NavyLookout (28 September 2023)."@NavyLookout ex-HMS Blyth has been transferred to 🇷🇴Romania with, yet to decommission, @hms_pembroke to follow next year"(Tweet).Retrieved28 September2023– viaTwitter.
  6. ^"Romania acquires 2 former Royal Navy's Sandown class minehunters".Navy Recognition.29 September 2023.Retrieved29 September2023.
  7. ^@NavyLookout (20 January 2024)."@NavyLookout HMS Bangor is the last Sandown class MCMV left in RN service. Images recently released of HMS Penzance decommissioning ceremony held before she left Faslane for the final time on 9th January"(Tweet).Retrieved20 January2024– viaTwitter.
  8. ^Lucian Irimia (4 March 2024)."Nava cu două echipaje".presamil.ro(in Romanian).
  9. ^abcd"Single Role Minehunter (SRMH)".Ministry of Defence.Archived fromthe originalon 13 July 2001.Retrieved1 May2016– viaThe National Archives.
  10. ^ab"Royal Navy minehunter destroys 300lbs mine dredged up by fishing boat off Falmouth".Falmouth Packet.9 June 2014.Retrieved1 May2016.
  11. ^"Minehunter HMSPembrokereturns to Clyde naval base ".BBC News.3 September 2012.Retrieved1 May2016.
  12. ^Mitchell, Ben (31 August 2012)."Royal Navy minehunter returns from Gulf duty".The Independent.Retrieved1 May2016.
  13. ^"Pembrokereceives a lift after Gulf exertions ".Navy News.9 October 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 7 May 2016.Retrieved1 May2016.
  14. ^"Babcock starts work onPembroke".Babcock International.24 June 2013.Retrieved1 May2016.
  15. ^"HMSPembrokeStarts Sea Trials ".World Maritime News.9 February 2014.Retrieved1 May2016.
  16. ^ab"HMSPembrokegoes to action stations during exercise off Scottish coast ".Royal Navy.1 March 2016.Retrieved1 May2016.
  17. ^"NATO warships arrive in Falmouth".Falmouth Packet.2 April 2015.Retrieved1 May2016.
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