| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Rackham |
| Namesake | Rackham |
| Builder | Saunders-Roe |
| Launched | 27 April 1956 |
| Completed | 26 June 1956 |
| Fate | Sold July 1967 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Ham-class minesweeper |
| Notes | Pennant number(s): M2722 / IMS59 |
HMS Rackham was one of 93 ships of the Ham-class of inshore minesweepers.
Their names were all chosen from villages ending in -ham. The minesweeper was named after Rackham in West Sussex.
John Rackham, commonly known as Calico Jack, was an English pirate captain operating in the Bahamas and in Cuba during the early 18th century. His nickname was derived from the calico clothing that he wore, while Jack is a nickname for "John".
The Ham class was a class of inshore minesweepers (IMS), known as the Type 1, of the British Royal Navy. The class was designed to operate in the shallow water of rivers and estuaries. All of the ships in the class are named for British place names that end with -"ham". The parent firm that was responsible for supervising construction was Samuel White of Cowes, Isle of Wight.
HMS Abbotsham was one of 93 ships of the Ham class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Altham was one of 93 ships of the Ham class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Asheldham was one of 93 ships of the Ham class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Bedham was one of 93 ships of the Ham class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Chillingham was one of 93 ships of the Ham-class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Flintham was one of 93 ships of the Ham-class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Glentham was one of 93 ships of the Ham-class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Greetham was one of 93 ships of the Ham class of inshore minesweepers. All ships in this class had names chosen from villages ending in -ham. The minesweeper was built by the firm of Herd & McKenzie in Buckie, Moray and was named after Greetham, Lincolnshire. Entering service in 1955, the vessel was transferred to the Libyan Navy in 1962 on loan and permanently in 1966. Renamed Zuara, the minesweeper was used as a patrol vessel until 1973. Zuara was sold to Captain Morgan Cruises of Malta for commercial use and renamed Lady Davinia. The ship was taken out of service in 2007 and laid up at Sliema Creek. Lady Davinia sank at her moorings in 2008 and for a short time became a diving attraction but in 2011 the wreck was partially broken up after being named a navigational hazard.
HMS Haversham was one of 93 ships of the Ham-class of inshore minesweepers.
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HMS Littleham was one of 93 ships of the Ham class of inshore minesweepers.
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HMS Mersham was a Ham-class minesweeper of the Royal Navy. All ships of the class were named after villages ending in -ham. The minesweeper was named after Mersham in Kent. Constructed at Appledore, in Devon, Mersham was launched in April 1954 and completed in January 1955. In April 1955, the ship was transferred to the French Navy and in French service, was known by its pennant number, M773, until it was renamed Violette in 1964. Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, the vessel undertook minesweeping duties from Brest in Brittany, before being laid up in 1965. In 1974, the ship was transferred to the Gendarmerie and undertook patrol duties until finally being decommissioned in 1987.
HMS Ockham was one of 93 ships of the Ham-class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Ottringham was one of 93 ships of the Ham class of inshore minesweepers.
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HMS Thakeham was one of 93 ships of the Ham-class of inshore minesweepers.
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