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Current Location
Atlantic, Caribbean & USA
08:32 GMT - 13 May 2013
Atlantic, Caribbean & USA
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HMS Ledbury
Minehunter HMS Ledbury is the oldest of the eight Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessels operated by the Royal Navy and based in Portsmouth. The ship was built by Vosper Thornycroft in Southampton and commissioned in June 1981 by its Sponsor Lady Elizabeth Berthan. MCM2 Crew 6 is the incumbent Crew.
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HMS Ledbury
EXERCISE JOINT WARRIORHMS Ledbury arriving at HMNB CLYDE to take part in Exercise Joint Warrior.Exercise Joint Warrior (JW) is a UK wide, tri-service exercise conducted in the Spring and the Autumn of each year and it is believed that JW is the largest exercise of its kind in Europe. The event is truly international â apart from the UK and the United States, other countries taking part are: Canada, Italy, France, Estonia, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Turkey, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.HM Naval Base Clyde will play host to a handful of big American Ships as well as HMS Ark Royal and 15 more vessels, meaning that by Friday, October 1, Faslane and Glasgowâs King George V docks will have 28 ships tied up between them.LA(Phot) AJ MacLeod, Fleet Regional Photographic Unit (North).
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HMS Ledbury
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HMS Ledbury
HMS Ledbury a Royal Navy Hunt Class Ship taking part in Exercise Joint Warrior. In the background is HMS Shoreham a Royal Navy swepping ship.The Hunt Class is unique in the Royal Navy for its dual functions of 'Sweeping' and 'Hunting' on the same platform and can be rolled from one function to the other in minutes.Exercise Joint Warrior (JW) is a UK wide, tri-service exercise conducted in the Spring and the Autumn of each year and it is believed that JW is the largest exercise of its kind in Europe. The event is truly international â apart from the UK and the United States, other countries taking part are: Canada, Italy, France, Estonia, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Turkey, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.HM Naval Base Clyde will play host to a handful of big American Ships as well as HMS Ark Royal and 15 more vessels, meaning that by Friday, October 1, Faslane and Glasgowâs King George V docks will have 28 ships tied up between them.SAC Dickinson, Fleet Regional Photographic Unit (North).
COMMANDING OFFICER
Justin Hains
- RANK:
- Lieutenant Commander
- JOINED:
- 1992
- SPECIALISATION:
- Warfare
- PREVIOUS UNITS:
- HMS Sandown, HMS Edinburgh
Military experience
Justin Hains joined the Royal Navy in January 1992 as a University Cadet Entry Warfare Officer. After gaining a Bachelor of Science (with Honours) Degree in Geological Sciences at Oxford Brookes University, he completed his afloat Junior Warfare Officer training in HMS Brecon and HMS London.
Appointed to HMS Cattistock as Navigating Officer in 1997 and then HMS Middleton in 1998, he began a close affiliation with the Mine Warfare and Diving specialisation that led to him qualifying, as a Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer in 1999. A rewarding period as the Operations Officer HMS Sandown preceded his exchange appointment to the French Minehunter ‘Persee’, as Operations and Diving Officer, based in Toulon throughout 2003 and 2004.
Returning to the UK, he completed an extremely demanding and rewarding 2 year period as Officer-in-Charge of Southern Diving Unit 2, during which time he contributed to the development of Underwater Force Protection Procedures in time for the Trafalgar 200 celebrations in Portsmouth and later led the training of other Fleet Diving Squadron teams to achieve sustainable, worldwide capability. Qualified throughout his appointment as a Joint Service Improvised Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operator, he attended a wide variety of tasks in support of eastern and southern Constabularies, which reached their peak on and following the London bombings on 7 July 2005.
Qualifying as a Principal Warfare Officer (Underwater Warfare), he joined HMS Edinburgh in July 2007. Within 4 months he was performing the additional role of Operations Officer, during a successful deployment to the Middle and Far East (including periods supporting counter narcotics operations, participating in Exercise BERSAMA SHIELD and a period poised off Burma to provide Humanitarian Relief following the devastating landfall of Cyclone Nargis in April 2008). Returning to the UK, he performed the additional duties of the Principal Warfare Officer (Above Water Warfare) and remained the only PWO onboard and Operations Officer until July 2009.
Assigned to the Second Mine Countermeasures Squadron as Chief of Staff in August 2009, he joined the On-call Mine Warfare Battle Staff (MWBS) in the Arabian Gulf, where he managed the transformation of the Staff from a permanently deployed shore-based MWBS to a more agile, embarked capability, capable of withdrawing to readiness in the UK if required.
Justin assumed Command of MCM2 Crew 6 in HMS Atherstone on 30 August 2011. Following a very successful deployment to the Gulf region in 2012 he assumed command of HMS Ledbury in January 2013. A keen runner and amateur triathlete, he enjoys most sports, but remains too young to play golf with any degree of skill.
ABOUT THE UNIT
KEY STATISTICS
- Pennant
M30
- Displacement
685tonnes
- Complement
45personnel
- Length
60Metres
- Beam
10metres
- Draught
3.4metres
- Top Speed
15knots
- Range (Nautical)
1500miles
- Launch Date
05/12/79
- Commissioned date
11/06/81
- Equivalent Range
15Trips From London To Birmingham Without Refuelling
TAKE A LOOK
HMS Ledbury
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The remains of a German sea mine
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HMS Ledbury heads for the med
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Royal Navy minehunter HMS Ledbury sails from Portsmouth for a four-month NATO mission in the Mediterranean. Image taken by LA(Phot) Vicki Benwell
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HMS Ledbury heads for the med
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Royal Navy minehunter HMS Ledbury sails from Portsmouth for a four-month NATO mission in the Mediterranean. Image taken by LA(Phot) Vicki Benwell
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HMS Ledbury heads for the med
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Royal Navy minehunter HMS Ledbury sails from Portsmouth for a four-month NATO mission in the Mediterranean. Image taken by LA(Phot) Vicki Benwell
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HMS Ledbury heads for the med
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Royal Navy minehunter HMS Ledbury sails from Portsmouth for a four-month NATO mission in the Mediterranean. Image taken by LA(Phot) Vicki Benwell
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HMS Ledbury
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Photgrapher LA(Phot) Kyle Heller
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Portsmouth minehunter heads for the Med
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Photographer LA(Phot) Kyle Heller
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Wartime mine pinpointed – then blasted – by Ledbury off Sardinia
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Wartime mine pinpointed – then blasted – by Ledbury off Sardinia
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Wartime mine pinpointed – then blasted – by Ledbury off Sardinia
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
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Wartime mine pinpointed – then blasted – by Ledbury off Sardinia
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
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Wartime mine pinpointed – then blasted – by Ledbury off Sardinia
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Ship's company and HMS Ledbury in Cania, Sicily. Mt Etna in the background, had erupted the night before
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HMS Ledbury conducting a three ship Replenishment with Spanish Ship ESPS Turia and Turkish Ship TCG Ackakoca
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Ship's company on the fo'c'sle in Vigo Spain
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HMS Ledbury mine hunting off Sardinia
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The Ship's company Splicing the Main Brace as ordered by HRH The Queen on her Birthday
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HMS Ledbury Returns Home
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Portsmouth based warship HMS Ledbury returned home today (June 29) after spending six months working alongside NATO counterparts in the Mediterranean Sea. The Hunt Class minehunter and her 42 crew sailed in early January. Since then Ledbury has clocked up 12,000 nautical miles and spent her time operating with NATOâs permanent mine countermeasures group, assisting with the task of clearing the Mediterranean of historic ordnance left from the World Wars and more recent conflicts and to conduct a series of exercises. The ship and her crew have sailed around most of the Mediterranean in their six-month deployment visiting 18 ports in 8 countries including Malta, Sicily, Croatia, Spain, Portugal and Italy. There were also two visits to key North African countries as part of NATOâs role in the Mediterranean. During recent training off the coast of Sardinia, HMS Ledbury worked with Italian counterparts to destroy a live World War II German sea mine that had been spotted by Ledburyâs skilled operators using the shipâs sophisticated sonar at a depth of 43 metres. The shipâs remote controlled mini submarine Seafox was used to beam live video back to the ship, enabling mine clearance divers to detonate the aged ordnance safely.
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HMS Ledbury Returns Home
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Portsmouth based warship HMS Ledbury returned home today (June 29) after spending six months working alongside NATO counterparts in the Mediterranean Sea. The Hunt Class minehunter and her 42 crew sailed in early January. Since then Ledbury has clocked up 12,000 nautical miles and spent her time operating with NATOâs permanent mine countermeasures group, assisting with the task of clearing the Mediterranean of historic ordnance left from the World Wars and more recent conflicts and to conduct a series of exercises. The ship and her crew have sailed around most of the Mediterranean in their six-month deployment visiting 18 ports in 8 countries including Malta, Sicily, Croatia, Spain, Portugal and Italy. There were also two visits to key North African countries as part of NATOâs role in the Mediterranean. During recent training off the coast of Sardinia, HMS Ledbury worked with Italian counterparts to destroy a live World War II German sea mine that had been spotted by Ledburyâs skilled operators using the shipâs sophisticated sonar at a depth of 43 metres. The shipâs remote controlled mini submarine Seafox was used to beam live video back to the ship, enabling mine clearance divers to detonate the aged ordnance safely.
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HMS Ledbury Returns Home
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Portsmouth based warship HMS Ledbury returned home today (June 29) after spending six months working alongside NATO counterparts in the Mediterranean Sea. The Hunt Class minehunter and her 42 crew sailed in early January. Since then Ledbury has clocked up 12,000 nautical miles and spent her time operating with NATOâs permanent mine countermeasures group, assisting with the task of clearing the Mediterranean of historic ordnance left from the World Wars and more recent conflicts and to conduct a series of exercises. The ship and her crew have sailed around most of the Mediterranean in their six-month deployment visiting 18 ports in 8 countries including Malta, Sicily, Croatia, Spain, Portugal and Italy. There were also two visits to key North African countries as part of NATOâs role in the Mediterranean. During recent training off the coast of Sardinia, HMS Ledbury worked with Italian counterparts to destroy a live World War II German sea mine that had been spotted by Ledburyâs skilled operators using the shipâs sophisticated sonar at a depth of 43 metres. The shipâs remote controlled mini submarine Seafox was used to beam live video back to the ship, enabling mine clearance divers to detonate the aged ordnance safely.
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HMS Ledbury Returns Home
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LLogs Shawn Benjamin with hs wife Claire and children Saraya and Shavin.
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Ledbury commits to the sea the ashes of a WW2 hero
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Ledbury commits to the sea the ashes of a WW2 hero
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HMS Ledbury
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HMS Ledbury
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HMS Ledbury
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Patrol ships and Minehunters
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Hunt Class
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Ledbury filled with pride as townsfolk show their support1
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HMS Ledburys Freedom of the City march through Ledbury town followed by a civic reception at the town community centre for meet and greet with the ships company and VIP's. *** Local Caption *** VIP's Pictured- The Countess of Darnley (Lord Lt) Ledbury Mayor Allan Conway High Sherriff Simon Arbuthnot Rear Admiral Phillip Wilcocks HMS Ledbury Commanding Officer- Commander Tony Williams
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Ledbury filled with pride as townsfolk show their support2
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HMS Ledburys Freedom of the City march through Ledbury town followed by a civic reception at the town community centre for meet and greet with the ships company and VIP's. *** Local Caption *** VIP's Pictured- The Countess of Darnley (Lord Lt) Ledbury Mayor Allan Conway High Sherriff Simon Arbuthnot Rear Admiral Phillip Wilcocks HMS Ledbury Commanding Officer- Commander Tony Williams
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HMS Ledbury
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HMS Hurworth
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HMS Hurworth
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HMS Hurworth
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HMS Hurworth
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HMS Ledbury
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EXERCISE JOINT WARRIORHMS Ledbury arriving at HMNB CLYDE to take part in Exercise Joint Warrior.Exercise Joint Warrior (JW) is a UK wide, tri-service exercise conducted in the Spring and the Autumn of each year and it is believed that JW is the largest exercise of its kind in Europe. The event is truly international â apart from the UK and the United States, other countries taking part are: Canada, Italy, France, Estonia, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Turkey, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.HM Naval Base Clyde will play host to a handful of big American Ships as well as HMS Ark Royal and 15 more vessels, meaning that by Friday, October 1, Faslane and Glasgowâs King George V docks will have 28 ships tied up between them.LA(Phot) AJ MacLeod, Fleet Regional Photographic Unit (North).
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HMS Ledbury
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HMS Ledbury
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HMS Ledbury
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HMS Ledbury a Royal Navy Hunt Class Ship taking part in Exercise Joint Warrior. In the background is HMS Shoreham a Royal Navy swepping ship.The Hunt Class is unique in the Royal Navy for its dual functions of 'Sweeping' and 'Hunting' on the same platform and can be rolled from one function to the other in minutes.Exercise Joint Warrior (JW) is a UK wide, tri-service exercise conducted in the Spring and the Autumn of each year and it is believed that JW is the largest exercise of its kind in Europe. The event is truly international â apart from the UK and the United States, other countries taking part are: Canada, Italy, France, Estonia, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Turkey, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.HM Naval Base Clyde will play host to a handful of big American Ships as well as HMS Ark Royal and 15 more vessels, meaning that by Friday, October 1, Faslane and Glasgowâs King George V docks will have 28 ships tied up between them.SAC Dickinson, Fleet Regional Photographic Unit (North).
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HMS Ledbury
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UNITS IN TIME
HMS Ledbury HISTORY
TRACK THE HISTORY OF SHIPS NAMED HMS Ledbury
LATEST NEWS
TOP STORIES
HMS Ledbury finds historic sea mine on first day of deployment
10 May 2013HMS Ledbury has found the remains of a German sea...
HMS Ledbury heads for the med
07 May 2013Royal Navy minehunter HMS Ledbury sailed from Portsmouth today for...
Portsmouth minehunter heads for the Med
01 May 2013Portsmouth-based Royal Navy minehunter HMS Ledbury sails on Tuesday (May...
HMS Ledbury Returns Home From Deployment
29 June 2012Portsmouth based warship HMS Ledbury returned home today (June 29)...
