HMS Grimsby (M108)

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HMS Grimsby (M108).jpg
HMS Grimsby in Loch Alsh, 2008
Career (United Kingdom)
Name: HMS Grimsby (M108)
Operator: Royal Navy
Builder: Vosper Thornycroft
Launched: 10 August 1998
Commissioned: 25 September 1999
Refit: Rosyth Royal Dockyard 2007
Status: in active service, as of 2012
General characteristics
Class and type: Sandown class minehunter
Tonnage: 600
Displacement: 484 tons full
Length: 52.5 m
Beam: 10.9 m
Draught: 2.3 m
Propulsion: 2 shafts Voith-Schneider propulsors

diesel-electric drive
Paxman Valenta diesels, 1,500 shp
2 Bow Thrusters
Speed: 13 knots diesel, 6.5 knots electric
Boats and landing
craft carried:
Gemini Seaboat and Dive Tender
Complement: 37 (7 officers, 30 ratings)
Sensors and
processing systems:
Type 1007 navigation radar
Type 2093 variable-depth mine hunting sonar
Armament: 1 × Oerlikon 30 mm KCB gun on DS-30B mount

3 × 7.62 mm L7 GPMG machine guns

2 × 7.62 mm Mini-gun
Notes: Mine counter measures equipment:
SeaFox Mine Disposal System


Team of 7 Highly Qualified Mine Clearance Divers

HMS Grimsby (M108) is a Sandown-class minehunter of the British Royal Navy, and the second ship to bear the name.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

Sailing in September 2009 with RFA Lyme Bay and USS Bataan

She was built by Vosper Thornycroft, in Woolston, Hampshire, and commissioned in 1999. The class was originally named as the Single Role Minehunter and was planned to complement the capabilities of the preceding Hunt class and to be cheaper to build. Sandown-class MCMVs are highly manoeuvrable vessels due to being fitted with Voith-Schneider propulsors allowing rapid turning at slow speeds or whilst stationary. They are considered to be amongst the best active minehunters in the world.[by whom?]

On 24 January 2002, while her divers were searching for a 500lb bomb in Gibraltar, she was approached by the Spanish patrol boat Conejera, which refused to leave when asked by the crew of HMS Ranger, claiming they were in Spanish waters.[citation needed]

At 2am on 29 September 2004 the 480-ton craft lost power and drifted into the Duchess M ferry (Gravesend to Tilbury), owned by the Lower Thames and Medway Passenger Boat Company in Gravesend, also damaging their Princess Pocahontas.[2]

[edit] Capabilities

Grimsby is part of Mine Counter Measures Squadron 1[3] based at HMNB Clyde, Faslane, on the Gare Loch. Armament is primarily for self defence against an Asymmetric warfare threat although a Point Defence capability exists. The fit of 2x Mk44 Miniguns has greatly improved the Ship's Force Protection ability.

[edit] Deployments

Berthed in Weymouth in June 2008

Overseas deployments are varied including regular participation in Exercise Cold Response (Norway) and as part of Standing NATO Force Mediterranean (Standing NATO Maritime Group 2). More recently the focus has been in support of OP TELIC Roulement in the Persian Gulf. In 2010 the ship was based in Bahrain.

[edit] Affiliations

She is affiliated to her home town of Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire and with local organisations such as Grimsby Town F.C., and the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Sea Cadet Unit.[4] Other affiliations include the Grimsby Royal British Legion, Grimsby Royal Naval Association and Old Cleethorpes Royal Naval Association.

The Ship's Lady Sponsor is Lady Blackham.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

[edit] News items


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