Ford-class seaward defence boat
Class of anti-submarine inshore patrol boat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ford-class seaward defence boats were built for the Royal Navy (with three built for the South African Navy) in the 1950s.
Droxford at Carrick Castle, Loch Goil 1975 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ford class |
| Builders | Various |
| Operators | |
| Built | 1950s |
| In service | 1952–1967 |
| Completed | 23 |
| Preserved | HMS Gifford |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Large patrol craft |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | |
| Beam | 20 ft (6.1 m) [1] |
| Draught | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) [1] |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)[1] |
| Complement | 19[1] |
| Armament | Depth charge rails with both large and small charges[1] |
Development
They were designed to detect and attack hostile submarines, including midget submarines in inshore waters such as the approaches to large ports.[2][3] They were powered by diesel engines and were planned to be armed with a single barreled Squid anti-submarine mortar. This special version of the Squid was a failure however, with the first Ford-class boat, HMS Shalford being fitted with a normal three-barreled Squid and the remaining vessels with a more conventional anti-submarine armament of depth-charge throwers. A single Bofors 40 mm gun completed the armament.[2]
HMS Droxford served for a time as the tender for Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities Royal Naval Unit, and was administered by RNR Clyde.[1] The vessel was used to train Midshipmen who were students of the universities and participated in fishery protection duties along the west coast of Scotland.[citation needed] HMS Beckford (P3104) was renamed HMS Dee and served as the tender to Liverpool University Royal Naval Unit.[3]
Ships
- HMS Shalford (P3101)
- HMS Aberford (P3102) – Transferred to Kenyan Navy as KNS Nyati
- HMS Axford (P3103) – Transferred to Nigerian Navy as NNS Kaduna
- HMS Beckford (P3104)
- HMS Brayford (P3105) – Transferred to South African Navy, initially as HMSAS Gelderland – Renamed to SAS Gelderland[citation needed]
- HMS Bryansford (P3106) – Transferred to Nigerian Navy as NNS Ibadan II.[4]
- HMS Camberford (P3107)
- HMS Desford (P3108) – Transferred to Royal Ceylon Navy as HMCyS Kotiya[5]
- HMS Greatford (P3109)
- HMS Gifford (P3111) – Transferred to Nigerian Navy as NNS Bonny
- HMS Droxford (P3113)
- HMS Mayford (P3114)
- HMS Hinksford (P3115) – Transferred to Nigerian Navy as NNS Benin
- HMS Ickford (P3116)
- HMS Dubford (P3119) – Transferred to Nigerian Navy as NNS Sapele
- HMS Glassford (P3120) – Transferred to South African Navy, initially as HMSAS Nautilus – Renamed to SAS Nautilus[citation needed]
- HMS Kingsford (P3121)
- HMS Marlingford (P3122)
- HMS Tilford (P3123) Sold in Singapore 1967.[6]
- HMS Montford (P3124) – Transferred to Nigerian Navy as NNS Ibadan. Captured by Biafran forces during the Nigerian Civil War and put into Biafran navy as BNS Vigilance. Sunk by Nigerian Navy on 9 October 1967 at Port Harcourt.[citation needed]
- HMSAS Rijger (P3125) – Renamed SAS Rijger
- HMSAS Haerlem (P3126) – Renamed SAS Haerlem
- HMSAS Oosterland (P3127) – Renamed SAS Oosterland
See also
Equivalent patrol vessels of the same era