RMAS Newton (A367)

RMAS Newton on Southampton Water
History
United Kingdom
Name	1976–2008 Newton 2008–2012 SD Newton
Namesake	Isaac Newton
Owner	1976–2008 RMAS 2008–2012 Serco
Builder	Scott Lithgow
Yard number	739
Launched	25 June 1975
Commissioned	18 June 1976
Identification	Pennant number: A367 IMO number:  7342940
Fate	Scrapped 2012
General characteristics
Type	Research vessel
Displacement	4,510 t (4,440 long tons; 4,970 short tons)
Length	99 m (324 ft 10 in)
Beam	16 m (52 ft 6 in)
Draught	6 m (19 ft 8 in)
Propulsion	Diesel-electric
Speed	13.5 kn (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph)

RMAS Newton was an underwater research vessel with limited provision for cable laying. She was originally used for sonar propagation trials. ^[1]

History

RMAS Newton was built at Scott Lithgow Ltd's yard at Greenock. She had three Mirrlees Blackstone 1,450 hp (1,080 kW) diesel engines driving GEC generators for propulsion through a single screw and the ship's electrical supply. This gave her a service speed of 13.5 kn (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph). ^[2] To aid manoeuvrability at low speed she had a nozzle rudder and a bow thruster. ^[3] She was launched on 25 June 1975 and taken into service one year later, on 18 June 1976. ^[2]

In 2000, she underwent a major refit which included replacing her Mirlees engines with Ruston RK 215 units. ^[2] At the same time her cable handling equipment was removed. Subsequently, she was used as a training and support vessel for special forces. ^[3] In 2005, she underwent a further refit at Birkenhead. ^[2]

On 1 April 2008, she was taken over by Serco who operated her until 2010 when she was replaced by SD Victoria . ^[3] In 2012 she was sent to Ghent for scrapping. ^[2]

References

1. Critchley, Mike (1979). British Warships and Auxiliaries. Liskeard: Maritime Books. p. 79. ISBN   0-9506323-0-9.
2. "Newton". Scottish Built Ships. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
3. Glover, Bill. "RMAS Newton / SD Newton". History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2022.