HMS Beaver (F93)

HMS Beaver
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Beaver
Operator:	Royal Navy
Builder:	Yarrow Shipbuilders
Laid down:	20 June 1980
Launched:	8 May 1982
Commissioned:	13 December 1984
Decommissioned:	1 May 1999
Identification:	Pennant number: F93
Fate:	Sold for scrap 21 February 2001
General characteristics
Displacement:	4,800 tons
Length:	146.5 m (481 ft)
Beam:	14.8 m (49 ft)
Draught:	6.4 m (21 ft)
Propulsion:	2-shaft COGOG 2 × Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B high-speed gas turbines (54,000 shp / 40 MW) 2 × Rolls-Royce Tyne RM1C cruise gas turbines (9,700 shp / 7.2 MW)
Speed:	18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) cruise 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) (56 km/h) full
Range:	8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi)
Complement:	273
Armament:	2 × 6 GWS25 Sea Wolf SAM launchers 4 × 1 Exocet SSM launchers 2 × triple Ship-launched Torpedo Weapons System (STWS) - Stingray Torpedo Launch Tubes 2 × Twin 30 mm AA guns 2 × 20 mm AA guns 4 × 7.62 mm GPMGs
Aircraft carried:	2 × Lynx MK 8 helicopters

HMS Beaver was one of 10 Type 22 missile frigate of the Broadsword Class ordered by the Royal Navy.^[1]

The ship was laid down at the Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd., Scotstoun, on 20 June 1980 and finally commissioned on 13 December 1984. Originally 22 ships of the class were planned to be built, but after the Falklands War, it was decided 10 was enough.^[2]

Power & Complement

With a maximum displacement of 4800 tons and a crew complement of 273 hands,^[3] HMS Beaver had a propulsion of 54,000HP from 2 Rolls Royce gas turbine Olympus TM3B and 2 Rolls Royce gas turbine Tyne RM1C engines, a maximum speed of 30 Knots and a range of 4,500 Nautical Miles.^[2]

Armaments & Equipment

The Exocet MM38 Missile launcher

Armaments included:

• 4 × Exocet MM38 missiles^[3]
• 2 Seawolf SAM missiles
• 4 30 mm GCM-A03 guns
• 2 20 mm GAM-B01 guns
• 6 × 324 mm ASW torpedo tubes^[2]

On top of this HMS Beaver could carry 2 Lynx HMA 8 helicopters.^[3]

Other equipment included:

• Radar Type 1006 for navigation
• Radar Type 967 / 968 for searching at air level
• Radar Type 911 for weapons guidance
• Sonar type 2016 for the bow
• Sonar type 2031 for towing from the stern^[2]

Bolton's Adoption

HMS Beaver was the adopted ship of the town of Bolton. Despite being many miles inland the town has a proud naval tradition based on the fact that during one week in the Second World War it raised one million pounds for the Royal Navy. The sixth HMS Dido was officially adopted by the town during the war to mark this honour.

Prior to decommissioning, it was possible for Beaver Scouts to become honorary members of the crew.

Decommissioning and fate

On 1 May 1999, HMS Beaver was decommissioned and then sold for scrap on 21 February 2001.^[2]

Commanding officers

^[4]

References

Publications

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.