HMS Pembroke (M107)

HMS Pembroke is a Sandown Class Mine Counter-Measures Vessel (MCMV) stationed at HMNB Clyde. The crew of HMS Pembroke is made up of highly trained Mine Warfare Specialists and Mine Clearance Divers, as well as engineers, officers and chefs.

Role

As one of the Royal Navy’s seven Sandown Class Mine Counter-Measures Vessels, HMS Pembroke’s is designed for seeking out and destroying mines. Once the mines have been detected, the ship’s company use the SeaFox remote-controlled underwater vehicle or highly trained Mine Clearance Divers to dispose of them.

More broadly, HMS Pembroke is part of the Royal Navy’s ongoing mission to keep the global sea lines of communication open for trade, thereby securing the UK’s access to fuel, energy and consumer goods such as cars and clothing.

Capability

The personnel of HMS Pembroke are highly trained experts who specialise in mine disposal. Their many skills include:

Ordnance detection
Ordnance destruction
Diving
Operation of unmanned vehicles
Operation of sonar
Route surveying
Seabed clearance

Sandown Class

Crew

Led by Lieutenant Commander Simon Henderson, members of the ship’s company represent the Royal Navy in sports including rugby, football, badminton and hockey. Languages spoken aboard HMS Pembroke include English, German, French, Welsh and Spanish.

The musicians of HMS Pembroke play a range of instruments, including bagpipes, kettle drums, flute, saxophone and the didgeridoo. Over the course of a four-month NATO deployment, the ship’s company consumed 1500kg of potatoes and 1200kg milk.

Unit history

1665

The First Pembroke

The original HMS Pembroke was launched in 1655. She was lost in a collision 12 years later.

1690

The Second Pembroke

In 1690, another HMS Pembroke is launched. She lasts just four years until she was captured by the French.

1694

The Third Pembroke

The third HMS Pembroke was launched in 1694, and captured by the French in 1709. In 1711, she was recaptured before being sold off in 1713.

1710

The Fourth Pembroke

The fourth ship to bear the name Pembroke was launched in 1710 and saw action at the Battle of Marbella before being broken up in 1726.

1733

The Fifth Pembroke

Another Pembroke is launched in 1733. She took part in the Battle of Finisterre in 1747, only to be wrecked off the coast of the East Indies in 1749.

1757

The Sixth Pembroke

The sixth Pembroke is launched in 1757. The renowned explorer James Cook spent some time as ship's master, and the vessel takes part in the Siege of Louisberg. She is broken up in 1793.

1812

The Seventh Pembroke

The seventh HMS Pembroke is launched in 1812 before being converted to a screw ship in 1855. She goes on to be used as a base ship and a receiving hulk until being sold in 1905.

1997

The current Pembroke

The current HMS Pembroke is launched on 15 December 1997, and commissioned into service on 6 July 2000.

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