The Ton class were coastal minesweepers built in the 1950s for the Royal Navy, but also used by other navies such as the South African Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. They were intended to meet the threat of seabed mines laid in shallow coastal waters, rivers, ports and harbours, a task for which the existing ocean-going minesweepers of the Algerine class were not suited.
Thornham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated on the north Norfolk coast some 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north-east of the seaside resort of Hunstanton, 30 km (19 mi) north of the town of King's Lynn and 70 km (43 mi) north-west of the city of Norwich.
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 Asheldham was one of 93 ships of the Ham class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Damerham 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 Damerham in Hampshire.
HMS Elsenham 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 Isham was a Ham-class minesweeper of the Royal Navy.
HMS Ledsham was one of 93 ships of the Ham class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Pagham was one of 93 ships of the Ham-class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Petersham was a Ham-class minesweeper of the Royal Navy.
HMS Polsham was one of 93 ships of the Ham-class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Puttenham(M2784) was a Ham-class inshore minesweeper of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1956 and entered service in 1958. The 93 ships of the Ham class had names chosen from villages ending in -ham. The minesweeper was named after Puttenham.
HMS Rampisham was one of 93 ships of the Ham-class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Shipham was one of 93 ships of the Ham-class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Sidlesham was one of 93 ships of the Ham-class of inshore minesweepers. Their names were all chosen from villages ending in "-ham". This minesweeper was named after Sidlesham in West Sussex.
HMS Wrentham was one of 93 ships of the Ham-class of inshore minesweepers.
HMS Yaxham was one of 93 ships of the Ham class of inshore minesweepers.
The University Royal Naval Unit East Scotland is one of 17 University Royal Naval Units and a Royal Navy training establishment based in Scotland, accepting roughly 65 Officer Cadets from universities in Edinburgh, Fife and the Tayside region. It is one of the University Service Units and is under the command of Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. The unit's affiliated P2000 ship is HMS Archer, which is predominantly used for training Officer Cadets.
United Kingdom
