UBS Mayu
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| Image:UBSMayu.jpg UBS Mayu of Myanmar/Burma Navy |
|
| General Characteristics | Image:Myanmarnavalensign.jpg |
|---|---|
| Displacement: | 1,460 tons standard; 2,170 tons full |
| Length: | 283 ft (86.25 m) p/p ; 301.25 ft (91.82 m) o/a |
| Beam: | 36.5 ft (11.1 m) |
| Draught: | 9 ft (2.75 m); 13 ft (4 m) full load |
| Propulsion: |
2 x Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, reciprocating vertical triple expansion; Parsons Single reduction steam turbines, 6,500 shp |
| Speed: | 20 kts (37km/h) (20.5 kts in turbine ships) |
| Range: | 440 tons oil fuel; 7,200 nm (13,334 km) at 12 kts (22 km/h) |
| Complement: | 177 Officers & enlisted |
| Armament: | 2 x QF 4 in /40 Mark XIX on 2 single mounts CP Mk. XXIII 4 x 40 mm Bofors A/A on single mounts Mk.VII |
UBS MAYU is the first flag ship of the Burmese Navy. She was commisioned on 25 May, 1947 and saw 32 years of active service during which she participated in many counter insurgency campaigns, safe guarding Myanmar (Burma) territorial water and also served as training ship the officers and ratings of Myanmar (Burma) Navy.
[edit] History
UBS Mayu, formerly HMS FAL is a River Class frigate. Her keel was laid down on 20 May 1942 in United Kingdom. She was first commissioned by the Royal Navy on 2 July 1943. She was handed over by the British Government to Burma Royal Naval Voulnteer Reserve force on 25 May 1947 on loan to Burma. General Aung San accepted the transferred of the ship on behalf of the Governement of Burma. During his acceptance speech, he renamed her to HMBS Mayu, after River Mayu in Arakan state to hounour officers and men of Burma Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who fought against Imperial Japanese forces at the river during the second world war. Lieutenant Commander Khin Maung Bo was the first command officer of HMBS Mayu. She took part in 25 guns salute along with HMS Birmingham on 4 January, 1948 to mark Burma's independance from the British colonial rule.[1]
On 29 August 1948, was transferred permanently to the Burmese Navy as a free gift and she was officially renamed as UBS Mayu.[2]
UBS Mayu fought along side other ships of Burma Navy and units of Burma Army in various battles during the turbulent years that follow Burmese independance in 1948. She was involved in the following famous battles:
- Battle of Insein
- Battle of Pathein
- Battle of Kyauk Phyu
- Battle of Mawlamyaing
- Battle of Thanhlyin-KyiteKhout
She served as flagship Burma Navy through out her service and was decommissioned on 28th September, 1979 after 32 years of active service.
Following her decommising, she was designated as historic war vassel and has been preserved as Museum ship at Myanmar Naval Training Headquaters, Seikkyi.
[edit] General Aung San's acceptance speech
The following is the transcript of General Aung San's acceptance speech for the hand over of HMS FAL.[3]
I accept on behalf of the Burma Government the free loan of HMS "FAL" generously offered by His Majesty's Government. This is an auspicious occasion as, with the hand-over of this frigate, the Burma Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve will have for the first time a Major Warship fit to withstand all weather conditions. In keeping with the national status of the country it will be desirable to rename this ship while she is being used by the Burma Navy. I propose to rename her after the River Mayu in Arakan with which the officers and men of the Burma Royal Naval Voluteer Reserve in active service during the last war had proud associations. As you are all aware it was along the beaches of this river that the Burma Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve played a prominent part in the active operations against the Japanese during the famous Arakan Campaigns. Their courage, determination and resolut during these operations have won for them a well-deserved praise and I as a Burman take pride in their achievements.
I wish to thank, on behalf of my government, Lt. Commander Mitchell, his officers and men for bringing this ship safely to our hands. I now rename the ship HMBS Mayu and hand over to Lt. Commader Khin Mg Bo to take charge of its command under the orders of the officer commanding, Burma Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and the Burma Government.
25th May 1947
