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Navy's In
Sat. 14th Oct., 2000
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As often happens, the Royal Navy came to Newcastle. Two ships tied up at the Quayside and attracted many Saturday afternoon
visitors.They were the frigate HMS Richmond, and the minesweeper HMS Hurworth, part of the submarine countermeasures force. The two ships are intended to work together. Richmond is a technological
marvel employing the latest top secret gizmos, and bristles with listening and detection gear as well as offensive armour. Hurworth, named after a village south of Darlington in Co. Durham, is a non-ferrous
Minesweeper. |
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HMS Richmond, named after the market town in North Yorkshire, is a Type 23 Duke Class frigate. She entered service in 1995 and is
primarily an anti submarine vessel, and is fitted with a wide suite of weapons which greatly enhance her capabilities. Propelled by the unique diesel electric and gas turbine combination, she is capable of near silent
running. She is fitted with the latest computer assisted sonar gear together with advanced sensor and communications equipment. Richmond is the modern face of the Royal Navy. |
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Note the helicopter on deck, ready for sub spotting and fleet co-ordination. Richmond is well capable of communicating with satellite
tracking and surveillance as well as high flying AWACS. Those big holes in the stern are handy for dumping depth charges, and the huge central hole and spoiler guide are for towing hawsers. Listening and detection gear
is dragged along underwater to track submarine activity. |
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There were no subs in the Tyne today, but those with little boats came up river for a waterside look. Here little Olwyn and its
passengers were treated to magnificent view of the visitors. |
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HMS Hurworth, part of the 2nd Countermeasures Squadron, is a Hunt Class vessel, following the tradition of the famous Hunt
Class Destroyers of the Second World War.These are the largest vessels in the world to be made of Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP). They combine the roles of minehunting and minesweeping, neutralising mines
in three ways:
(1) severing cables on moored mines, so they surface and can be destroyed by gunfire;
(2) using acoustic or influence sweeps to trigger mines on the seabed; and
(3) identifying mines on the sonar and then deploying divers to place explosive charges on them. |
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Although not possessing the high tech equipment of HMS Richmond, Hurworth carries winch and towing gear for surveillance and
recovery.She also carries the Remote Control Mine Disposal System, a small, unmanned, remote control yellow submarine that can destroy underwater mines using explosives. HMS Hurworth was built by Vosper
Thornycroft at a cost of 35 million pounds sterling, was launched on September 25th 1984 and finally commissioned on July 2nd 1985. She participated in the Gulf War during which she narrowly escaped an enemy
Silkworm missile. In May 1996 Hurworth suffered a major fire, which caused her funnel to collapse. |
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HMS Hurworth has a displacement of 685 tons, is 57 metres long, and has a draught of 3 metres. She carries a complement of 42 and for its
secondary role as a patrol ship it is armed with a 30 mm close range gun, positioned forward of the bridge. She is powered by two Deltic 9-59k diesel engines that give her a speed of 15 knots. |
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