HMS Eastbourne (F73)

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Eastbourne.
Career (United Kingdom)
Name: HMS Eastbourne
Ordered: 6 March 1951
Builder: Vickers Armstrongs, Newcastle-on-Tyne (completed at Barrow)
Laid down: 13 January 1954
Launched: 29 December 1955
Commissioned: 9 January 1958
Decommissioned: 1984
Reclassified: Training ship in 1971
Identification: Pennant number: F73
Fate: Sold for scrapping in 1985
General characteristics
Class and type:Whitby-class frigate
Displacement:2,150 tons (2,185 tonnes)
2,560 tons full load (2,600 tonnes)
Length:360 ft (109.7 m) w/l
370 ft (112.8 m) o/a
Beam:41 ft (12.5 m)
Draught:17 ft (5.18 m)
Propulsion:Y-100 plant; 2 Babcock and Wilcox boilers, 2 English Electric steam turbines, 2 shafts, 30,000 shp (22 MW)
Speed:30 kn (56 km/h)
Range:370 tons oil fuel, 4,200 nmi (7,780 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement:152, later 225
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Radar Type 293Q target indication, later;
    • Radar Type 993
  • Radar Type 277Q height finding (later removed)
  • Radar Type 275 fire control on director Mark 6M
  • Radar Type 262 fire control on STAAG
  • Radar Type 974 navigation
  • Type 1010 Cossor Mark 10 IFF
  • Sonar Type 174 search
  • Sonar Type 162 target classification
  • Sonar Type 170 attack
Armament:
  • 1 x twin 4.5 in (114 mm) gun Mark 6
  • 1 x twin 40 mm Bofors gun Mark 2 STAAG, later;
    • 1 x single 40 mm Bofors gun Mark 7
  • 2 x Limbo A/S mortar Mark 10
  • 12 x 21 in A/S torpedo tubes (removed or never shipped)

HMS Eastbourne was a Whitby-class or Type 12 anti-submarine frigate of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.

Operational Service

Early in her career Eastbourne was the leader of the 4th Frigate Squadron and in 1966 was leader of the Dartmouth Training Squadron.[1]

In 1972, Eastbourne replaced Rapid as the 'afloat' training ship for the artificer apprentices at HMS Caledonia. During their 14 weeks aboard ship, the apprentices were trained in general engineering and were examined for their auxiliary machinery certificates. She also took part in the Royal Navy's Fleet Review in celebration of HM the Queen's Silver Jubilee.[2]

Harbour training ship

In 1976 she was dispatched to Iceland to assist in the Cod War and was damaged in a collision with the Icelandic Gunboat Baldur. During the subsequent repairs in Rosyth in 1977, a hull inspection found that Eastbourne was no longer fit for sea, though her machinery was still in good condition. Her propellers were removed, and 'brake wheels' were fitted as a replacement. This enabled her to be steamed at full power with no forward movement. This enabled the apprentices to assist in operation of her machinery at full power, with the added benefit of churning the dockyard basin water up to improve its aeration. Officers under training from Royal Naval Engineering College Manadon were also able to be trained onboard before their first sea draft.

In the 1980s, Eastbourne remained moored at Rosyth Dockyard alongside Duncan as harbour training ship for the marine engineering artificer apprentices of Caledonia. Once Caledonia was scheduled to close, both Eastbourne and Duncan were de-stored and paid off for disposal in March 1984. Training of the marine engineering artificer apprentices was transferred to HMS Sultan.

Commanding officers

FromToCaptain
19581959Lieutenant Commander Richard Clinton Mayne RN
19591961Captain John R G Trechman RN
19651966Captain C B H Wake-Walker RN
19711971 Commander Wright RN
19771977Lieutenant Commander C K D Cobley RN

References

  1. ↑ The Navy List, (HMSO, Spring 1966)
  2. ↑ Official Souvenir Programme, 1977. Silver Jubilee Fleet Review, HMSO

Publications