HMS Brecon (M29)

HMS "Brecon" was a Hunt Class mine counter measures vessel (MCMV) that served with the Royal Navy. Her pennant number was M29.

Service

"Brecon" was built at Vosper Thornycroft, the lead yard for the Hunt Class. She was launched by the Duchess of Kent and commissioned on 18 December 1979. Brecon saw service just after the Falklands War (1982) and the Gulf War (1991). In 1998 she was assigned to the Northern Ireland Squadron. She acted as guardship to the tall ships race when it visited Greenock in 1999.

"Brecon" was the first Royal Navy vessel to be commanded by a woman. Lieutenant Charlotte Atkinson became commanding officer of HMS "Brecon" in January 2004. "Charlie" was the only woman among the 45-strong crew of the ship. Her historic appointment came 14 years after the Royal Navy first began admitting female officers on equal terms with men. [cite web|url=http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2004/0401/0004012801.asp |title=Female officer takes command of minehunter.|publisher=Navy News Newspaper |date=2004-01-28] . [cite web|url=http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.3779/changeNav/3533 |title=Charlotte takes command of Hunt Class warship.|publisher=Royal Navy |date=2004-01-28]

"Brecon"'s assignment to the Northern Ireland Squadron required modifications from her traditional minesweeping duties to become a fully capable patrol platform. This included the addition of Rigid Inflatable Boats and embarkation of a 10-strong Royal Marine boarding team.

Decommissioning and new role

"Brecon" was scheduled to be decommissioned following defence cuts announced in 2004 by the British Ministry of Defence. The ship's company held a last Divisions and decommissioning ceremony on 19 July 2005.

In February 2008, "Brecon" was taken in hand for use as a static training ship at Jupiter Point HMS "Raleigh", where she is utilised to provide new recruits with their first taste of life aboard an Royal Navy ship.

Trivia

"Brecon"'s BFPO number was 235. She was affiliated with the town of Brecon, Powys. Her ship's crest depicted the cloak of the Master of the Brecon Hunt.

References

External links

* [http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2005/0507/0005071901.asp Northern Ireland Squadron decommissions] - www.navynews.co.uk
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3912283.stm 20,000 jobs go in defence cuts] - news.bbc.co.uk (21 July 2004)
* [http://www.forcesreunited.org.uk/namearchive/units/HMSNames/HMS-Brecon.html HMS Brecon old shipmates] - www.forcesreunited.org