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HMS Bangor (M109)
Organisation / Units & Squadrons

HMS Bangor (M109)

HMS Bangor is one of seven Sandown Class Mine Counter-Measures Vessels (MCMV) in the Royal Navy. With a complement of 39 personnel, including Mine Warfare Specialists and Mine Clearance Divers, it is based at Clyde Naval Base in Faslane, Scotland.

HMS Bangor

Role

HMS Bangor is one of the Royal Navy’s seven Sandown Class Mine Counter-Measures Vessels. Its primary responsibility is to seek out, detect and destroy mines, using the SeaFox unmanned underwater vehicle and a team of highly skilled Mine Clearance Divers.

It plays an important role in protecting the security and prosperity of our nation. By keeping global trade routes safe, HMS Bangor helps secure the UK’s access to fuel, energy and consumer goods such as cars and clothing. 

 

Capability

The personnel of HMS Bangor 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 Chris Chew, HMS Bangor is one of seven Sandown Class Mine Counter-Measures Vessels (MCMV) in the Royal Navy. With a complement of 39 personnel, including Mine Warfare Specialists and Mine Clearance Divers, it is based at Clyde Naval Base in Faslane, Scotland.

Unit history

1940

The First Bangor

The first HMS Bangor was launched on 23 May 1940, commissioned on 19 October 1940 and allocated to the 9th Minesweeping Flotilla, Orkney and Shetland Command.
1940

The First Bangor

The first HMS Bangor was launched on 23 May 1940, commissioned on 19 October 1940 and allocated to the 9th Minesweeping Flotilla, Orkney and Shetland Command.
1941

Bombings

On 12 February 1941, she was bombed whilst in the Moray Firth. No damage was done, but her wireless telegraph was out of action and she retired to Aberdeen for repairs.
1942

Battle honours

In August 1942, HMS Bangor was involved in Operation Jubilee – the raid on Dieppe. The minesweepers helped prepare for the raid by sweeping a broad swathe of the channel.
1944

Battle honours

As part of Task Force 129, the Naval component of the D-Day landings, HMS Bangor provided fire support against German positions in Cherbourg.
1945

Royal Norwegian Navy

In May 1945, Bangor was involved in minesweeping operations to Norway, and in June was one of five minesweepers loaned to the Royal Norwegian Navy. She was transferred on 11 November 1945.
1999

HMS Bangor today

The current HMS Bangor was commissioned by the Royal Navy in 1999. Since then, the ship has undertaken minesweeping missions, security patrols and training exercises across the world.

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