NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Ledbury 1981

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Brecon	M29	4240	Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston	15.9.1975	21.6.1978	21.3.1980	retired 9.2005
Ledbury	M30	4241	Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston	5.10.1977	5.12.1979	11.6.1981	in service (2019)
Cattistock	M31	4242	Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston	20.6.1979	22.1.1981	16.6.1982	in service (2019)
Cottesmore	M32	1025	Yarrow SB, Scotstoun	27.9.1979	9.2.1982	24.6.1983	retired 9.2005, to Lithuania (Skalvis)
Brocklesby	M33	4243	Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston	8.5.1980	12.1.1982	3.2.1983	in service (2019)
Middleton	M34	1026	Yarrow SB, Scotstoun	1.7.1980	27.4.1983	15.8.1984	in service (2019)
Dulverton	M35	4244	Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston	1.6.1981	3.11.1982	4.11.1983	retired 9.2005, to Lithuania (Kuršis)
Bicester	M36	4254	Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston	2.1.1985	4.6.1985	14.2.1986	to Greece 6.2000 (Ευρώπη [Evropi])
Chiddingfold	M37	4245	Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston		6.10.1983	26.10.1984	in service (2019)
Atherstone	M38	4255	Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston	9.1.1984	1.3.1986	30.1.1987	stricken 12.2017
Hurworth	M39	4246	Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston	1.1983	25.9.1984	19.7.1985	in service (2019)
Berkeley	M40	4256	Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston	9.9.1985	3.12.1986	14.1.1988	to Greece 2.2001 (Καλλιστώ [Kallisto])
Quorn	M41	4257	Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston	2.6.1986	23.1.1988	21.4.1989	stricken 12.2017

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	625
Displacement full, t	725
Length, m	56.6 pp 60.0 oa
Breadth, m	9.85
Draught, m	2.20 hull 3.40 max
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Ruston-Paxman Deltic 9-59K diesels
Power, h. p.	1900
Max speed, kts	17
Fuel, t	diesel oil
Endurance, nm(kts)	1500(12)
Armament	1 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 9, 2 x 1 - 7.6/90, equipment for 6 - 7 divers, 2x PAP 104 Mk 3 USV, TA.6 or MSSA Mk 1 acoustic, M.Mk 11 or MS14 magnetic, M.Mk 8 Oropesa mechanical minesweeping gear, decompression chamber; provision for 2 x 1 - 20/90 GAM-B01
Electronic equipment	type 1006(4) or type 1007 radar, type 193M Mod.1 sonar; provision for UAR Matilda ECM suite, 2x DLJ(2) floating decoy launchers, 2x DLK decoy launchers, DBA(4) CAAIS CCS
Complement	45

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Concurrent with the building of Wilton, work began on a new generation of MCMVs or mine countermeasures vessels, a new term signifying that the vessels were capable of both sweeping and hunting. They were the largest GRP ships in the world, with Plessey Type 193M sonar, elaborate position-fixing gear, hydraulic drive and a bow-thruster to permit manoeuvring at low speed. Every effort was made to eliminate the magnetic 'signature' and to cut out radiated noise (including a near non-magnetic version of the Deltic diesel) but at the same time providing a ship capable of deep-sea passages. On a cost per ton basis, they were some of the most expensive warships ever built, £24m for Brecon and £15m for the rest.

Modernizations

1991, Middleton, Chiddingfold, Hurworth, Berkeley, Quorn: + 2 x 1 - 20/90 GAM-B01

1992, Middleton, Chiddingfold, Hurworth, Berkeley, Quorn: - 2 x 1 - 20/90

early 1990s, all: - 1 x 1 - 40/60; + 1 x 1 - 30/75 DES-30B

1997, Cottesmore; 1998-2000, Brecon, Dulverton, for patrol duties: - all minesweeping gear and USVs; + 2 articulating cranes, 3 RIBs

2003, Ledbury, Brocklesby (temporarily only for deployment): + SWIMS minesweeping system

2003, Hurworth; 2004, Cattistock, Brocklesby, Chiddingfold; 2005, Quorn; 2006, Ledbury, Middleton, Atherstone: - 2x PAP-104 Mk 3 USV, type 193M Mod. 1 sonar, CAAIS CCS; + 2 Seafox USV, type 2193 sonar (with type 2059 submersible tracking set), Mil Cross sonar, NAUTIS III mine warfare CCS

2009, Ledbury; 2009-2016, others: + control equipment for REMUS 600 or 2 FAST minesweeping drones

2012, Chiddingfold; 2014, Middleton; 2015, Ledbury; 2012-2016, others: re-engined with 2 Caterpillar C-32 ACERT diesels (2000hp)

Naval service

No significant events.