Ship gets connected for mine mission
Her crew will be blowing up Second World War mines in the Baltic, but they will have the home comfort of a broadband internet connection.
The Portsmouth-based minehunter HMS Brocklesby is due to leave tomorrow for a six-month mission to the Mediterranean and Baltic seas.
The Hunt-class vessel will form part of a Nato group, working alongside mine countermeasures vessels from Germany, Belgium, Latvia and the Netherlands.
Her ship's company will be looking forward to speedy internet access, as Brocklesby is one of the first ships in the navy to be fitted with an upgraded broadband system.
Brocklesby's first stop after leaving Portsmouth will be Copenhagen, before she sails to the Mediterranean for a month of exercises with the other ships. The ships will then work to clear live explosives from the Second World War from the English Channel, North Sea and Baltic.
This will allow Brocklesby to use her new state-of-the-art mine warfare system – Seafox – for the first time.
Seafox comprises a remote-controlled unmanned submarine with a camera, and is capable of destroying ordnance in depths of more than 300 metres.
Commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Tom Tredray said the 45 crew on board were looking forward to the deployment.
He said: 'It will be busy but varied – it is always interesting working with ships from foreign navies, and I know the younger members of the ship's company in particular are looking forward to that.
'We also have a number of goodwill port visits lined up in France, Italy, Spain and Germany.'
The ship is due to return to Portsmouth in July.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 24 C
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