Ford-class seaward defence boat

Ford class
Droxford at Carrick Castle, Loch Goil 1975
Class overview
NameFord class
BuildersVarious
Operators
Built1950s
In service1952-1967
Completed23
PreservedHMS Gifford
General characteristics
TypeLarge patrol craft
Displacement
  • 120 long tons (122 t) standard
  • 140 long tons (142 t) full load[1]
Length
  • 117 ft 2 in (35.71 m) o/a[1]
  • 110 ft (34 m) p/p
Beam20 ft (6.1 m) [1]
Draught6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) [1]
Propulsion
  • 1 × Foden diesel (centre shaft)[1]
  • 2 × Davey Paxman 12YHAX 550 hp (410 kW) diesels (outer shafts)[1]
  • 23 tons oil fuel[1]
Speed18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)[1]
Complement19[1]
ArmamentDepth charge rails with both large and small charges[1]

The Ford-class seaward defence boats were built for the Royal Navy (with three built for the South African Navy) in the 1950s.

Development

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They were designed to detect and attack hostile submarines, including midget submarines in inshore waters such as the approaches to large ports.[2][3] They were powered by diesel engines and were planned to be armed with a single barreled Squid anti-submarine mortar. This special version of the Squid was a failure however, with the first Ford-class boat, HMS Shalford being fitted with a normal three-barreled Squid and the remaining vessels with a more conventional anti-submarine armament of depth-charge throwers. A single Bofors 40 mm gun completed the armament.[2]

HMS Droxford served for a time as the tender for Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities Royal Naval Unit, and was administered by RNR Clyde.[1] The vessel was used to train Midshipmen who were students of the universities and participated in fishery protection duties along the west coast of Scotland.[citation needed] HMS Beckford (P3104) was renamed HMS Dee and served as the tender to Liverpool University Royal Naval Unit.[3]

Ships

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Jane's Fighting Ships 1983-84. p. 603. ISBN 0-7106-0774-1.
  2. ^ a b Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 536.
  3. ^ a b Blackman 1971, p. 369.
  4. ^ 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. p. 57. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  5. ^ 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. p. 108. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  6. ^ "HMS Tilford P3123, Builders - Vosper". TON Class Association. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  • Blackman, Raymond V. B. Jane's Fighting Ships 1971–72. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1971. ISBN 0-354-00096-9.
  • Gardiner, Robert and Stephen Chumbley. Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland USA: Naval Institute Press, 1995. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.