HMS Vidal
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 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Vidal |
| Builder | Chatham Dockyard |
| Laid down | 5 July 1950 |
| Launched | 31 July 1951 |
| Completed | 29 March 1954 |
| Commissioned | 1954 |
| Fate | Broken up in June 1976 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Survey ship |
| Displacement | 1,885 long tons full load |
| Length | 297 ft (91 m) |
| Beam | 40 ft (12 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 16 knots |
| Complement | 161 |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 1 × Westland Dragonfly helicopter |
HMS Vidal was a survey ship of the Royal Navy. She was designed specifically as a surveying vessel, and was the first survey ship to carry a helicopter. In 1955, a group from Vidal formally annexed Rockall in the North Sea to the United Kingdom.
Vidal was built at Chatham Dockyard,[1] and was the last surface vessel built at the Dockyard.[citation needed] She was also the first survey ship designed to carry a helicopter.[2] Vidal was laid down on 5 July 1950, was launched on 31 July 1951 and completed on 29 March 1954 at a cost of £1,345,000.[3] In common with most of the survey ships of the period, she was named after an influential surveyor or explorer of the Royal Navy. In her case, this was the nineteenth century surveyor Alexander Thomas Emeric Vidal, who had surveyed much of the coast of Africa, and ranged into the Atlantic to survey the tiny islet of Rockall.[4] So far she has been the only ship of the Navy to bear the name.[5]
Vidal was 315 feet (96 m) long overall and 297 feet (91 m) between perpendiculars, with a beam of 40 feet (12 m) and a draught of 13 feet (4.0 m). The ship was designed to displace 1,565 long tons (1,590 t) standard and 1,885 long tons (1,915 t) full load, but was heavier as built, with a standard displacement of 1,940 long tons (1,970 t) standard and 2,200 long tons (2,200 t) full load.[3] She was powered by four Admiralty Standard Range (ASR-1) Diesel engines, giving a total of 2,940 shaft horsepower (2,190 kW) and driving two shafts, giving a speed of 15.9 knots (18.3 mph; 29.4 km/h).[6] The ship was air conditioned to ease operations in extreme temperatures, and was the first Royal Navy ship built with cafeteria messing.[3] Helicopters operated included the Hiller HT.1, the Westland Dragonfly and the Westland Wasp.[7]
The ship was armed with four 3-pounder (47 mm) saluting guns, and could carry depth charges. She had a crew of 161.[3]
