Dates: 1978 - 2005
HMS Brecon was a Hunt Class mine counter measures vessel (MCMV) that served with the Royal Navy. Her pennant number was M29.
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..
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.
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.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Brecon
" HMS Brecon 1944-46 Far East. I have a Royal Naval Association shipmate who served on the Brecon, and who has unfortunately lost all memory of what the ship did immediately after the surrender of Japanese forces on the Missouri, can anyone help me on this matter? Bob ReevesHon Sec RNA Hull "
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