HMS Asheldham
Minesweeper of the Royal Navy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
HMS Asheldham was one of 93 ships of the Ham class of inshore minesweepers.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Asheldham |
| Namesake | Asheldham |
| Builder | Philip and Son |
| Launched | 9 September 1953 |
| Completed | 9 September 1954 |
| Fate | Transferred to Malaysia, 1 April 1959 |
| Notes | Pennant number(s): M2604 / IMS04 |
.svg){kind=small} Malaysia | |
| Name | KD Sri Perlis |
| Acquired | 1 April 1959 |
| Fate | broken up 1967[1] |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Class & type | Ham-class minesweeper |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | |
| Beam | 21 ft (6.4 m) |
| Draught | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 14 knots (16 mph; 26 km/h) |
| Complement | 15 |
| Armament | 1 × Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun |
Their names were all chosen from villages ending in -ham. The minesweeper was named after Asheldham in Essex.
HMS Asheldham (Pennant number M2604) was a member of the first series of Ham-class minesweepers, with composite wood and aluminium construction. It was built by Philip and Son of Dartmouth, Devon and was completed on 9 September 1953.[2][3]
Asheldham served as part of the 232nd Mine Sweeper Squadron at Harwich in Essex from 1954 to 1956, after which it was placed into reserve.[4] The Ham class had proved too small to carry modern minesweeping equipment and most of the class were withdrawn from use or transferred to secondary roles.[2]
The ship was transferred to the Royal Malayan Navy on 1 April 1958, being renamed Sri Perlis.[5] Following transfer, Sri Perlis' 40mm Bofors gun and minesweeping gear was removed and replaced by three 20 mm Oerlikon cannon,[6] although the minesweeping gear was later re-fitted, with the ship retaining a single Oerlikon gun.[7]
