List of survey vessels of the Royal Navy

Active ships

Antarctic patrol vessel

• HMS Protector (A173) (2011–) which carries the survey motor boat (SMB) James Caird IV.^[1][2]

Ocean survey vessels

• HMS Scott (H131) (1997–)

Coastal survey vessels

• Echo class multi–purpose survey vessels
  • HMS Echo (H87) (2003–) which carries SMB Sapphire.^[3]
  • HMS Enterprise (H88) (2003–) which carries SMB Spitfire.^[4]
• Survey Motor Launch
  • HMS Gleaner (H86) (1983–)

Decommissioned ships

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Antarctic patrol vessels

• HMS Protector (1955–70)
• HMS Endurance (1968–91)
• HMS Endurance (1991–2008)

Ocean survey vessels

• Hecla class
  • HMS Hecla (1964–97)
  • HMS Hecate (1965–90)
  • HMS Hydra (1966–86)
  • HMS Herald (1974–2001)

Coastal survey vessels

• Bulldog class
  • HMS Beagle (1968–2002)
  • HMS Bulldog (1968–2001)
  • HMS Fawn (1968–91)
  • HMS Fox (1968–89)
• HMS Roebuck (1986–2010)

Inshore survey vessels

• Echo class
  • HMS Echo (1958–85)
  • HMS Egeria (1959–85)
  • HMS Enterprise (1959–85)
• Ham class
  • HMS Waterwitch (ex–HMS Powderham) (1964–86)
  • HMS Woodlark (ex–HMS Yaxham) (1964–86)
• Ton class
  • HMS Mermaid (ex–HMS Sullington) (1964–68)
  • HMS Myrmidon (ex–HMS Edderton) (1964–68)

Survey Motor Launches (SML)

• SML 2^[5]
• SML 6^[5]
• SML 322^[5]
• SML 323^[5]
• SML 324^[5]
• SML 325^[5]
• SML 326^[5]
• HMS Meda (ex–HDML 1301) (1945–1966)^[6]
• HMS Medusa (ex–HDML 1387) (1952–1965)^[7]

Earlier survey vessels

• HMS Hecate (1839–65)
• HMS Myrmidon (1867–88)
• HMS Fantome (1906–14, 1920–24)
• HMS Endeavour (1913–42)
• HMS Melisande (1918–19)
• HMS Challenger (1932–53)
• HMS White Bear (1939–45)
• HMS Vidal (1954–71)
• Hunt class
  • HMS Beaufort (1920–35)
  • HMS Fitzroy (1920–38)
  • HMS Flinders (1920–38)
  • HMS Kellett (1920–38)
• 24 class
  • HMS Iroquois (1923–31)
  • HMS Herald (ex–HMS Merry Hampton) (1924–39)
  • HMS Ormonde (1924–36)
• Bittern class
  • HMS Stork (1936–39)
• Hastings class
  • HMS Folkestone (1938)
  • HMS Scarborough (1938)
• Halcyon class
  • HMS Franklin (1938–52)
  • HMS Gleaner (1938–39)
  • HMS Jason (1938–39)
  • HMS Scott (1939–64)
  • HMS Seagull (1946–50)
  • HMS Sharpshooter (1946–62) – renamed HMS Shackleton, 1955
• Bay class
  • HMS Dampier (1948–68)
  • HMS Owen (1949–65)
  • HMS Cook (1950–64)
  • HMS Dalrymple (1950–66)

References

1. "HMS Protector". Royal Navy -British MOD. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
2. "Mustang delivers SMB for Royal Navy". Maritime Journal. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
3. "HMS Echo finds 18 wrecks off Libya". www.gov.uk Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
4. "HMS Enterprise". Royal Navy -British MOD. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
5. "Survey Ship List" (PDF). Survey Ships Association. 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
6. "HDML Boats, 1300-1349". The Medusa Trust. 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
7. "HMS Medusa History". The Medusa Trust. 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2012.

• Mason, Geoffrey B. (2007). "Hydrographic Survey Work in the Royal Navy up to the 1980's". naval-history.net.