HMS Mersey (P283)

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Mersey.

History
HMS Mersey, 2009
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Mersey
Operator:	Royal Navy
Ordered:	April 2001
Builder:	Vosper Thornycroft
Launched:	14 June 2003
Sponsored by:	Mrs Jennie Reeve
Commissioned:	28 November 2003
Homeport:	HMNB Portsmouth
Identification:	Pennant number: P283
Status:	in active service, as of 2016
General characteristics
Class & type:	River-class patrol vessel
Displacement:	1,700 tonnes^[1]
Length:	79.5 metres
Beam:	13.6 metres
Draught:	3.8 metres
Installed power:	4,125 kW (5,532 hp) at 1,000 rpm
Propulsion:	2 × Ruston 12RK 270 diesel engines
Speed:	20 kn (37 km/h)
Range:	7,800 nautical miles (14,400 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Boats & landing craft carried:	2 × rigid inflatable boats
Complement:	30 (accommodation for up to 50)
Armament:	1 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannon 2 × General purpose machine guns

The fifth and current HMS Mersey is a River-class offshore patrol vessel of the British Royal Navy. Named after the River Mersey, the ship is the first to bear the name in 84 years.

She was built by Vosper Thornycroft in Southampton to serve as fishery protection units within the United Kingdom's waters along with her two sister ships Tyne and Severn. All three were commissioned into service in 2003 to replace the five older Island-class patrol vessels. She was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 28 November 2003. At that time, Mersey was not expected to commence duties until February 2004.

Mersey was the last Royal Navy ship to be launched from Vosper Thornycroft at its Woolston shipyard; Jennie Reeve, wife of Rear-Admiral Jonathon Reeve, Chief of Fleet Support, was the ship's sponsor. The first ship launched at the yard was the Tribal-class destroyer Tartar on 25 June 1907.^[2]

Mersey departing from Portsmouth Naval Base 12 November 2008

Affiliations

HMS Eaglet
TS Ardent
Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Liverpool.

References

↑ BAE Systems Offshore Patrol Vessels, baesystems.com, Retried 8 June 2014
↑ HMS Mersey to be final RN ship launched from Woolston

External links

Royal Navy HMS Mersey (royalnavy.mod.uk)
Media related to HMS Mersey (P283) at Wikimedia Commons

River-class patrol vessels

Royal Navy	Mersey Severn Tyne Clyde Forth Medway Trent

Royal Thai Navy	Krabi

List of patrol vessels of the Royal Navy

Commissioned ships of the Royal Navy

Submarines

Vanguard class	Vanguard Victorious Vigilant Vengeance

Trafalgar class	Torbay Trenchant Talent Triumph

Astute class	Astute Ambush

Destroyers

Type 45	Daring Dauntless Diamond Dragon Defender Duncan

Frigates

Type 23	Argyll Lancaster Iron Duke Monmouth Montrose Westminster Northumberland Richmond Somerset Sutherland Kent Portland St Albans

Amphibious
warfare ships

Albion-class LPD	Albion Bulwark

Ocean-class LPH	Ocean

Mine counter
measures vessels

Sandown class	Penzance Pembroke Grimsby Bangor Ramsey Blyth Shoreham

Hunt class	Ledbury Cattistock Brocklesby Middleton Chiddingfold Atherstone Hurworth Quorn

Patrol vessels

Ice patrol vessel	Protector

River class	Mersey Severn Tyne Clyde

Archer class	Archer Biter Smiter Blazer Puncher Charger Ranger Trumpeter Express Example Explorer Exploit Tracker Raider Pursuer Dasher

Scimitar class	Scimitar Sabre

Survey vessels

Ocean survey vessel	Scott

Echo class	Echo Enterprise

Survey launch	Gleaner

Miscellaneous
vessels

Type 82	Bristol (static training vessel)

Ship of the line	Victory (flagship of the First Sea Lord)

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