| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Thatcham |
| Namesake | Thatcham |
| Builder | Jones Slip |
| Launched | 25 September 1957 |
| Completed | 17 April 1958 |
| Fate | Sold 1986 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Ham-class minesweeper |
| Notes | Pennant number(s): M2790 / IMS90 |
HMS Thatcham 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 Thatcham in Berkshire.
Thatcham is a market town and civil parish in the West Berkshire, England. It is situated in the valley of the River Kennet 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Newbury, 14 miles (23 km) west of Reading and 54 miles (87 km) west of London. The town has a long history dating back to prehistoric times, a claimant to the title of oldest continuously inhabited place in Great Britain. As of 2021, it had a population of 25,464, though it is part of a built-up area comprising itself and neighbouring Newbury of over 70,000 residents. It is on the route of the A4 Bath Road, the historic main road between London and Bristol.
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 Fordham 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.
HMS Hildersham was one of 93 ships of the Ham class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Ledsham was one of 93 ships of the Ham class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Littleham was one of 93 ships of the Ham class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Ludham was one of 93 ships of the Ham-class of inshore minesweepers.
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.
HMS Petersham was a Ham-class minesweeper of the Royal Navy.
HMS Thakeham was one of 93 ships of the Ham-class of inshore minesweepers.
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