Ford-class seaward defence boat

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Ford class
GMS043-33-N.jpg
Droxford at Carrick Castle, Loch Goil 1975
Class overview
NameFord class
BuildersVarious
Operators
Built1950s
In service1952-1967
Completed23
Preserved HMS Gifford
General characteristics
Type Large patrol craft
Displacement
  • 120 long tons (122 t) standard
  • 140 long tons (142 t) full load [1]
Length
  • 117 ft 2 in (35.71 m) o/a [1]
  • 110 ft (34 m) p/p
Beam20 ft (6.1 m) [1]
Draught6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) [1]
Propulsion
  • 1 × Foden diesel (centre shaft) [1]
  • 2 × Davey Paxman 12YHAX 550 hp (410 kW) diesels (outer shafts) [1]
  • 23 tons oil fuel [1]
Speed18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) [1]
Complement19 [1]
Armament Depth charge rails with both large and small charges [1]

The Ford-class seaward defence boats were built for the Royal Navy (with three built for the South African Navy) in the 1950s.

Contents

Development

They were designed to detect and attack hostile submarines, including midget submarines in inshore waters such as the approaches to large ports. [2] [3] They were powered by diesel engines and were planned to be armed with a single barreled Squid anti-submarine mortar. This special version of the Squid was a failure however, with the first Ford-class boat, HMS Shalford being fitted with a normal three-barreled Squid and the remaining vessels with a more conventional anti-submarine armament of depth-charge throwers. A single Bofors 40 mm gun completed the armament. [2]

HMS Droxford served for a time as the tender for Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities Royal Naval Unit, and was administered by RNR Clyde. [1] The vessel was used to train Midshipmen who were students of the universities and participated in fishery protection duties along the west coast of Scotland.[ citation needed ] HMS Beckford (P3104) was renamed HMS Dee and served as the tender to Liverpool University Royal Naval Unit. [3]

Ships

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Jane's Fighting Ships 1983-84. p. 603. ISBN   0-7106-0774-1.
  2. 1 2 Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 536.
  3. 1 2 Blackman 1971, p. 369.
  4. ↑ Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. p. 57. ISBN   978-1-86176-281-8.
  5. ↑ Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. p. 108. ISBN   978-1-86176-281-8.
  6. ↑ "HMS Tilford P3123, Builders - Vosper". TON Class Association. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
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