Ford-class seaward defence boat
 HMS Droxford at Carrick Castle, Loch Goil 1975 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Ford class large patrol craft |
| Builders: | Various |
| Operators: |
 Royal Navy |
| Completed: | 20 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Large patrol craft |
| Displacement: |
|
| Length: | |
| Beam: | 20 ft (6.1 m) [1] |
| Draught: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) [1] |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: | 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)[1] |
| Complement: | 19[1] |
| Armament: | Depth charge rails with both large and small charges[1] |
The Ford class seaward defence boats were built for the Royal Navy in the 1950s. 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-charges 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. HMS Beckford (P3104) was renamed HMS Dee and served as the tender to Liverpool University Royal Naval Unit.[3]
Ships
- HMS Shalford (P3101)
- HMS Aberford (P3102)
- HMS Axford (P3103)
- HMS Beckford (P3104)
- HMS Brayford (P3105)
- HMS Bryansford (P3106)
- HMS Camberford (P3107)
- HMS Desford (P3108)
- HMS Greatford (P3109)
- HMS Gifford (P3111)
- HMS Droxford (P3113)
- HMS Mayford (P3114)
- HMS Hinksford (P3115)
- HMS Ickford (P3116)
- HMS Dubford (P3119)
- HMS Glassford (P3120)
- HMS Kingsford (P3121)
- HMS Marlingford (P3122)
- HMS Tilford (P3123)
- HMS Montford (P3124)
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Jane's Fighting Ships 1983-84. p. 603. ISBN 0-7106-0774-1.
- 1 2 Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 536.
- 1 2 Blackman 1971, p. 369.
- 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.