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Current Location
British coastal waters
10:07 GMT - 21 December 2011
Search and Rescue
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HMS Gleaner
HMS Gleaner is the Royal Navy’s smallest commissioned vessel – but small does not mean insignificant.
The survey motor launch is an advanced survey vessel, using multi beam and sidescan sonar to collect data on the nature of the sea bed and the depth of water. Gleaner – which carries the prefix Her Majesty’s Survey Motor Launch or HMSML – was built at Emsworth in Hampshire and launched on 18 October 1983.
She was designed to carry out inshore survey work along the South Coast of England, but has since carried out surveys around the coast of the UK, as well as making visits to overseas ports.
Gleaner is also believed to be the only Royal Navy ship to have paid a visit to Switzerland, having travelled up the Rhine for a visit to Basle in 1988.
COMMANDING OFFICER
John Winn
- RANK:
- Commander
- JOINED:
- 1996
- SPECIALISATION:
- Warfare
- PREVIOUS UNITS:
- HMS Scott, HMS Roebuck
Military experience
Born in Hannover, where his father was serving with Baor, Lieutenant Commander John Winn joined the Royal Navy in September 1996. After completing his Initial Officer Training at BRNC, he undertook Fleet Training in HM Ships Brecon, Northumberland and Leeds Castle prior to completing his OOW Course at HMS Dryad. He was subsequently appointed as an Officer of the Watch in HMS Cumberland, during which time he deployed twice to the Arabian Gulf. He was then selected to sub-specialise as a Hydrographer and Meteorologist.
After passing his Basic HM Course he joined the staff of Captain F2 as the Squadron Metoc Officer before moving across to the inaugural Fleet HM Teams. During his time with the HM Teams he deployed as the Force Metoc Officer to STANAVFORMED during the initial stages of Operation Active Endeavour, as well as undertaking Towed Array patrols. In 2003, he was appointed to the training staff at BRNC where he was responsible for the welfare New Entry Officer Cadets as well as delivering Naval General Training and Navigation training.
He was then appointed as Navigating Officer of HMS Scott, the RN’s largest survey vessel. During this time he took part in notable events such as “Trafalgar 200” and New York Fleet Week and helped conduct surveys in the North Atlantic and Indian Oceans. After leaving HMS Scott he undertook 3 months of warfare training in HMS Montrose before joining HMS Roebuck as the Executive Officer. As he joined, HMS Roebuck was undertaking duties as the Command Platform for SNMCMG1 and, as a consequence, visited a number of northern European and Baltic ports. It was during this appointment that he passed the Advanced Survey course and qualified as an H1. He then oversaw the regeneration of HMS Roebuck from Command Platform into fully functioning Survey Vessel. Unfortunately, his last task in HMS Roebuck was to plan and oversee her de-commissioning.
Promoted to Lieutenant Commander in October 2009, he assumed Command of HMS Gleaner in May 2010.
Lieutenant Commander Winn lives in Plymouth and has two young daughters. His interests include Military History, walks on the Moor and spending time with his girls.
ABOUT THE UNIT
KEY STATISTICS
- Pennant
H86
- Displacement
26tonnes
- Complement
8personnel
- Length
14.8Metres
- Beam
4.7metres
- Draught
1.6metres
- Top Speed
14knots
- Launch Date
18/10/83
- Commissioned date
5/12/83
- HMS Gleaner
Smallest Commisioned Vessel In The Royal Navy
TAKE A LOOK
UNITS IN TIME
HMS Gleaner HISTORY
TRACK THE HISTORY OF SHIPS NAMED HMS Gleaner
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