HMS Brocklesby (M33)

HMS ''Brocklesby'' is a of the British Royal Navy, her primary purpose is to find and neutralise sea mines using a combination of; Sonar, Mine Clearance Divers and the Seafox remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The class are the largest warships of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) construction, which gives the vessels a low magnetic signature. In addition to her mine countermeasures activities, ''Brocklesby'' acts as an offshore patrol vessel, undertaking coastal patrol and fisheries protection duties.

From 2018 to 2021 ''Brocklesby'' was deployed in Bahrain at as part of four minehunters of 9th Mine Countermeasures Squadron supported by a Royal Fleet Auxiliary on Operation Kipion.

Operational history

Cherbourg incident

In 1993 she became involved in the Cherbourg incident, when ''Brocklesby'' challenged the French trawler ''La Calypso'' in the Channel Islands waters.

2003 Invasion of Iraq

She gained a battle honour when she was among the first coalition ships into Umm Qasr during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. She was part of a group of mine countermeasure vessels that cleared a mined channel into the port, enabling access to it by sea.

2011 Libya operations

In 2011 she took part in surveillance and embargo operations off the coast of Libya alongside , as part of Operation Ellamy, the UK's contribution to Operation Unified Protector. In early May 2011, she took part in a mine-clearing operation to secure the waters of Misrata Port, Libya, after mines were dropped by Muammar Gaddafi's forces to prevent aid from being delivered to the besieged city. ''Brocklesby'' used her sonar and SeaFox mine disposal system to locate and destroy a mine that was located from the harbour entrance, making the waters safe for aid ships to enter.

''Brocklesby''s commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Jim Byron DSC, said:

''Brocklesby'' returned to Portsmouth on 5 July 2011 flying a special version of the Jolly Roger, indicating the successful destruction of a sea-mine.

Exercise Joint Warrior 2013

In October 2013 she participated in Exercise Joint Warrior.

Operation Kipion 2018–2021

During 2018 ''Brocklesby'' departed the UK's waters and transited to the Middle East as part of the British commitment to promoting stability in the region. Operation Kipion saw four British minehunters, as well as other warships, spend approximately three years forward deployed. The squadron is capable of operating both independently and as part of a larger multinational force to ensure the safe flow of oil and trade from the Middle East. ''Brocklesby''s move to the Middle East saw her take responsibility from , subsequently allowing ''Middleton'' to transit back to the UK. In August 2021, ''Middleton'' returned to the Gulf to again relieve ''Brocklesby'' which redeployed back to the U.K.

References

External links

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Virtual tour of HMS Brocklesby in Bahrain on YouTube

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brocklesby (M33)
Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessels
1982 ships