Castle class patrol vessel
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Hall, Russell & Company |
| Preceded by: | Island class patrol vessel |
| Succeeded by: | River class patrol vessel |
| Built: | 1979–1981 |
| In commission: | 1982-2008 |
| Planned: | 6 |
| Completed: | 2 |
| Laid up: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 1,427 tons full load |
| Length: | 246 ft (75 m) (overall) |
| Beam: | 37 ft 9 in (11.5 m) |
| Draught: | 11 ft 3 in (3.4 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 shafts, 2 Paxman diesels, 2,820 hp |
| Speed: | 20 knots (37 km/h) |
| Range: | 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) |
| Complement: | 40 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
Type 1006 Radar Simrad RU sidescan sonar |
| Armament: | 1 × Bofors 40 mm gun Mark III, replaced by 1 × 30 mm gun |
| Aviation facilities: | Flight deck capable of supporting a Sea King helicopter |
The Castle class was intended as a series of six offshore patrol vessels for the Royal Navy, designed in response to criticism of the previous Island class for insufficient speed, non optimal sea keeping and lack of a flight deck for rescue helicopters.
In the event, only two ships were built, HMS Leeds Castle and HMS Dumbarton Castle. Both vessels were built by Hall Russell in Aberdeen. These had significant improvements over the Island class - they are 300 tonnes larger, more stable in heavy seas, 3 knots (5.6 km/h) faster and are fitted with a large flight deck that is capable of supporting a Sea King. For brief periods, the ships can accommodate up to 120 troops. Their primary mission is to serve with the Fishery Protection Squadron, protecting both the fishing fleets and the oil and gas fields of the North Sea. In addition, they can also serve as minelayers, and have detergent spraying facilities on board for dispersing oil slicks.
Since the Falklands War, one ship had been kept long term in the Falkland Islands as a guardship. Leeds Castle and Dumbarton Castle rotated the role on a three-yearly basis, although the ship's crew usually did a six month rotation.
The Castle-class has now been replaced by a River class-based vessel, HMS Clyde, and both vessels of the class are now decommissioned.
[edit] References
- Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995
- D.K. Brown, The Design of the Castle Class, a personal view in Warship 2006, Conway's Maritime Press
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