HMS Reclaim

Last updated

HMS Reclaim at Portsmouth Navy Day 1980.jpg
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
NameReclaim
BuilderWilliam Simons & Co Ltd, Renfrew [1]
Yard number786
Laid down9 April 1946
Launched12 March 1948
Commissioned1949
Decommissioned1979
FateBroken up, 1982
General characteristics
Displacement1,360 t (1,339 long tons)
Length66 m (216 ft 6 in)
Beam12 m (39 ft 4 in)
Draught5 m (16 ft 5 in)
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement92 (including 12 divers)
Armament4 x 20 mm AA guns (4 x 1)

HMS Reclaim was a deep diving and submarine rescue vessel of the British Royal Navy. She was originally intended to be the King Salvor-class ocean salvage vessel Salverdant [2] and was fitted with specialised equipment including underwater television cameras and sonar and echosounding apparatus. She was also equipped for submarine rescue work.

Contents

At the time of her commissioning in 1949, Reclaim was the Royal Navy's only vessel capable of carrying out deep diving operations. Upon completion Reclaim was attached to HMS Vernon, Portsmouth as a diving tender.

Operational service

Trivia

HMS Reclaim served as a filming location for the Doctor Who serial "The Sea Devils" in 1971. [4]

It was the last British warship to have sails. Although rarely used, they could add half a knot to her speed. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Reclaim". Clyde Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  2. "Reclaim (6122665)" . Miramar Ship Index . Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 "HMS Reclaim". Art to Sea. Hampshire & Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology.
  4. "Locations used in the Sea Devils(DW)".