HMS Hecate (A137)

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HMS Hecate (Penneant Number A137) was a Royal Navy deep ocean survey vessel of the Hecla Class. It was present at the "presentation of fleet colours" review in Torbay on 29 July 1969. The ship was decommissioned in 1990.

[edit] Specifications

Length: 260 ft (79 m)
Beam: 49 ft (14.9 m)
Displacement: 2800 tons
Propulsion: 3 Paxman Ventura V-12 diesel engines
Top speed: 14 knots (26 km)
Range: 12000 nautical miles (22,000 km) at 11 knots (20 km/h)
Crew: 121 (13 officers and 6 scientists)
Armament: 2 Oerlikon 20 mm guns
Air wing: 1 Helipad for a Westland Wasp light helicopter.

During the Falklands Conflict, Hecate, unlike her sister ships, was painted grey and sent south to assume HMS Endurance's role as the Ice Patrol Ship. Arriving on station after the ceasefire, Hecate conducted patrols and surveys in the South Atlantic. Hecate visited British Antarctic Survey bases and spent Christmas in Grytviken, South Georgia, where the crew enjoyed a memorable candlelit Christmas mass in the settlement's old whaling church. The New Year was spent at the Falkland Islands before Hecate became the first Royal Navy ship to visit South America following the hostilities. Hecate embarked a Chilean pilot at Punta Arenas before sailing to Talcahuano, Chile via the Patagonian Channel. Following a brief visit, Hecate took passage through the Panama Canal for a four day visit to Antigua. Hecate returned to the UK in February, 1983. (Rick Barnes - Writer, HMS Hecate 1982 to 1984). In the mid 70's she was in the Persian gulf surveying the entrance areas in the event of conflicts. based in Banada abbas, Iran