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Current Location
Atlantic, Caribbean & USA
08:32 GMT - 13 May 2013
Atlantic, Caribbean & USA
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HMS Quorn
As one of the Royal Navy’s Hunt Class MCMVs, HMS Quorn represents the cutting edge of Mine Countermeasures capability. Constructed from glass reinforced plastic, HMS Quorn utilises her powerful sonar, underwater mine disposal vehicles and embarked mine clearance divers to locate, prosecute and destroy mines anywhere in the world.
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HMS Quorn
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HMS Quorn
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HMS Quorn
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HMS Quorn
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HMS Quorn at Sea in the Gulf (Aug 11)
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HMS Quorn alongside in Portsmouth with RADM Steele's flag flying as she prepares to sail for the Gulf
Royal Navy minehunter HMS Quorn left her Portsmouth home on Sunday (May 15) for the Middle East where she will spend three years on security patrols.The vessel will be taking over duties from sister ship HMS Chiddingfold which is currently stationed in the Northern Arabian Gulf as part of the UKâs commitment to maintain a mine countermeasures presence in the region.As one of four minehunters based in the Gulf, HMS Quorn will operate for the next three years conducting maritime security operations and training with the UKâs regional partners and coalition nations. Her crew will change approximately every six months.Quornâs Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Phil Dennis, said following a demanding training programme over the last three months the shipâs 45 crew had been trained to a high standard in all aspects of mine countermeasures and maritime operations.âFollowing our successful training under the guidance of the Royal Navyâs Operational Sea Training staff, the crew of HMS Quorn is looking forward to the challenge of deploying to the Middle East and operating in the Arabian Gulf.â *** Local Caption *** HMS Quorn alongside just before she sailed.
Built by Vosper Thorneycroft Shipbuilders Ltd. at Woolston, Southampton and launched on 23 January 1988 by Lady Rosemary Thompson, HMS Quorn was commissioned into the Royal Navy one year later.
With a ship's company of 45 and weighing 685 tonnes, HMS Quorn is part of the Royal Navy’s Second Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCM2) based in Portsmouth.
HMS Quorn is currently one of four Royal Navy minehunters deployed to the Gulf and is crewed by MCM2 Crew 8.
COMMANDING OFFICER
Simon Kelly
- RANK:
- Lieutenant Commander
- JOINED:
- 1998
- SPECIALISATION:
- WARFARE
- PREVIOUS UNITS:
- HMS Cattistock, HMS Richmond
Military experience
Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1974, Simon Kelly was educated at Royal Grammar School Newcastle and later graduated in European Studies from the University of Leicester. Following two years working in industry he joined the Royal Navy in 1998 as a Warfare Officer.
After initial Officer training and Fleet time in HM Ships Quorn and Birmingham, he joined HMS Newcastle as an Officer of the Watch at the start of the Naval Task Group 2000 Global Deployment.
He qualified as a Ship’s Diver in 2001 and subsequently chose to specialise as a Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer in 2002. During this time he served as a member of the team conducting Under Water Force protection for Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Merchant Shipping in support of Op Telic.
In 2004 he was selected for an exchange appointment to the French Navy serving as Operations Officer in CMT Persee, and subsequently CMT Capricorne based out of Toulon. He enjoyed a challenging and varied appointment with deployments across the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Black Sea.
On his return from France in 2006, he served in HMS Manchester in preparation for Principle Warfare Officers (PWO) Course and completed Initial Command and Staff Course.
Promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 2007 and having completed PWO Course he joined HMS Richmond as PWO(Above Water). Operations Officer for the majority of his time on board, he experienced a broad variety of tasks including multi-national exercises in the Baltic and towed array operations in the North Atlantic before a 7 month deployment on Commander Task Force (Iraqi Maritime) defending the strategic Iraqi Oil Terminals in the Gulf.
On departing HMS Richmond he returned to his specialisation, completing the Advanced Mine Warfare Course at the end of 2009 before taking up an appointment as Chief of Staff (COS) to the First Mine Counter Measures (MCM) Squadron. This challenging role included two periods deployed to the Gulf as COS to Commander UK MCM Force for which he was awarded a Chief of Joint Operations Commendation.
In July 2012 he assumed command of MCM2 Crew 8, in HMS Cattistock, and following operational training in the UK has now led his new Crew to the Gulf to take over HMS Quorn.
Simon lives in Hampshire with his wife, who is an officer in the Royal Air Force.
OPERATIONS
Operation Gulf MCMV
CURRENT STATUS: active
In support of wider British efforts in the region, minehunters are providing the capability to conduct route survey, sea-bed clearance, and mine clearance operations all over the Gulf. The operation also aims to provide a visible naval presence in a region where stability and good relations with local nations is vital. Much of the UK’s oil and gas, as well as other products, come from the Gulf region and as such these efforts are of vital importance to our economy and lifestyle.
ABOUT THE UNIT
KEY STATISTICS
- Pennant
M41
- Displacement
685tonnes
- Complement
45personnel
- Length
60Metres
- Beam
10metres
- Draught
3.4metres
- Top Speed
15knots
- Range (Nautical)
1500miles
- Launch Date
23/01/88
- Commissioned date
21/04/89
TAKE A LOOK
HMS Quorn
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HMS Quorn
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HMS Quorn
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HMS Quorn
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HMS Quorn
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HMS Quorn
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HMS Quorn
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Quorn’s divers ‘at the sharp end’ ahead of massive exercise
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Quorn’s divers ‘at the sharp end’ ahead of massive exercise
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Christmas Diving from HMS Quorn
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Christmas Diving from HMS Quorn
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Lt Cdr Dennis Receiving his MBE
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Lt Cdr Dennis
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Lt Cdr Dennis
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100819-N-8959T-056 CENTRAL ARABIAN GULF (Aug. 17, 2010) Visit to HMS Middleton during MCMEX-10. Cmdr. David Bence, Commander, United Kingdom Mine Countermeasures Force is coordinating the mine countermeasures exercise from flagship RFA Lyme Bay (L3007). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Cassandra Thompson/UNRELEASED).
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Lt Cdr Dennis
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100819-N-8959T-066 CENTRAL ARABIAN GULF (Aug. 17, 2010) Visit to HMS Middleton during MCMEX-10. Cmdr. David Bence, Commander, United Kingdom Mine Countermeasures Force is coordinating the mine countermeasures exercise from flagship RFA Lyme Bay (L3007). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Cassandra Thompson/UNRELEASED).
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Lt Cdr Dennis Receiving his MBE
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Lt Cdr Dennis
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Preparing for All the Bells, LS (MW) Broomfield polishes the Ship's bell
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LS(MW) Broomfield rings the bell in unison with thousands of others across the UK
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HMS Quorn
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HMS Quorn
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Lord Astor gets introduced to SeaFox aboard HMS Quorn
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HMS Quorn
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HMS QUORN and HMS BLYTHE in Alto Norway from 20th - 24th March 2006.LA(Phot) Kelly WhybrowFRPU(E)
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HMS Quorn conducting training with RFA Lyme Bay, HMS Pembroke, HMS Ramsey and USS Gladiator (Aug 11)
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HMS Quorn at Sea in the Gulf (Aug 11)
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RAdm Steele (NAVSEC) visits Quorn in advance of her deploying to the Gulf (15 May 11)
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Royal Navy minehunter HMS Quorn left her Portsmouth home on Sunday (May 15) for the Middle East where she will spend three years on security patrols.The vessel will be taking over duties from sister ship HMS Chiddingfold which is currently stationed in the Northern Arabian Gulf as part of the UKâs commitment to maintain a mine countermeasures presence in the region.As one of four minehunters based in the Gulf, HMS Quorn will operate for the next three years conducting maritime security operations and training with the UKâs regional partners and coalition nations. Her crew will change approximately every six months.Quornâs Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Phil Dennis, said following a demanding training programme over the last three months the shipâs 45 crew had been trained to a high standard in all aspects of mine countermeasures and maritime operations.âFollowing our successful training under the guidance of the Royal Navyâs Operational Sea Training staff, the crew of HMS Quorn is looking forward to the challenge of deploying to the Middle East and operating in the Arabian Gulf.â *** Local Caption *** The Naval Secretary Rear Admiral Steele shakes the hand of HMS Quorn's Commanding Officer, Lt Cdr Phil Dennis, as he comes onboard prior to the ship sailing.
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HMS Quorn departs Portsmouth harbour (15 May 11)
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Royal Navy minehunter HMS Quorn left her Portsmouth home on Sunday (May 15) for the Middle East where she will spend three years on security patrols.The vessel will be taking over duties from sister ship HMS Chiddingfold which is currently stationed in the Northern Arabian Gulf as part of the UKâs commitment to maintain a mine countermeasures presence in the region.As one of four minehunters based in the Gulf, HMS Quorn will operate for the next three years conducting maritime security operations and training with the UKâs regional partners and coalition nations. Her crew will change approximately every six months.Quornâs Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Phil Dennis, said following a demanding training programme over the last three months the shipâs 45 crew had been trained to a high standard in all aspects of mine countermeasures and maritime operations.âFollowing our successful training under the guidance of the Royal Navyâs Operational Sea Training staff, the crew of HMS Quorn is looking forward to the challenge of deploying to the Middle East and operating in the Arabian Gulf.â
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HMS Quorn
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Hunt Class
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HMS Quorn alongside in Portsmouth with RADM Steele's flag flying as she prepares to sail for the Gulf
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Royal Navy minehunter HMS Quorn left her Portsmouth home on Sunday (May 15) for the Middle East where she will spend three years on security patrols.The vessel will be taking over duties from sister ship HMS Chiddingfold which is currently stationed in the Northern Arabian Gulf as part of the UKâs commitment to maintain a mine countermeasures presence in the region.As one of four minehunters based in the Gulf, HMS Quorn will operate for the next three years conducting maritime security operations and training with the UKâs regional partners and coalition nations. Her crew will change approximately every six months.Quornâs Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Phil Dennis, said following a demanding training programme over the last three months the shipâs 45 crew had been trained to a high standard in all aspects of mine countermeasures and maritime operations.âFollowing our successful training under the guidance of the Royal Navyâs Operational Sea Training staff, the crew of HMS Quorn is looking forward to the challenge of deploying to the Middle East and operating in the Arabian Gulf.â *** Local Caption *** HMS Quorn alongside just before she sailed.
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UNITS IN TIME
HMS Quorn HISTORY
TRACK THE HISTORY OF SHIPS NAMED HMS Quorn
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