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HMS Middleton (M34)

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HMS Middleton in Portsmouth
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Middleton
BuilderYarrow Shipbuilders, Glasgow
Launched27 April 1983[1]
Sponsored byLady Blaker
Commissioned4 July 1984[2]
HomeportHMNB Portsmouth
Identification
StatusShip in active service
General characteristics
Class and typeTemplate:Sclass2-
Displacement750 t (740 long tons; 830 short tons)[3]
Length60 m (196 ft 10 in)
Beam9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
Draught2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)
Propulsion2 × Caterpillar C32 ACERT diesels[4]
Speed17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Complement45 (6 officers & 39 ratings)
Sensors and
processing systems
Sonar Type 2193
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • SeaFox mine disposal system
  • Diver-placed explosive charges
Armament

HMS Middleton is a Template:Sclass2- of the British Royal Navy. She forms part of the Second Mine Countermeasures Squadron based in Portsmouth.

The ship was launched by Lord and Lady Blaker in 1983: Lady Blaker remains the patron of the ship.[5]

Operational history

In 2009, Middleton sailed for the Persian Gulf for a three-year deployment operating out of Bahrain, she returned to Portsmouth on 31 August 2012.[6]

In early 2013, Middleton entered refit in Portsmouth, the work package included replacing her 30-year-old Napier Deltic engines with new more fuel efficient Caterpillar C32 ACERT diesels. Following sea trials, Middleton rejoined the fleet in 2014[7] and took part in that autumn's Exercise Joint Warrior off Scotland.[8]

On 9 November 2015, Middleton sailed from Portsmouth for a second three-year deployment in the Persian Gulf.[9] Alongside sister ship HMS Chiddingfold, the two Hunt-class ships form half of the Royal Navy's minehunter force permanently deployed in the region.

Affiliations

References

  1. ^ "Ship of the Month: Background on HMS Middleton". Navy News. October 2001. Archived from the original on 5 January 2004. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  2. ^ "HMS Middleton". This is Middleton.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Hunt Class Mine Countermeasures Vessels - Specifications". GlobalSecurity.org. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  4. ^ Ministry of Defence (12 March 2012). "Minehunter's upgrade reaches major milestone". Gov.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  5. ^ "'Lucky' lady sees her ship off to the Gulf". Manchester Evening News. 4 February 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  6. ^ "HMS Middleton returns after three years". The News. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  7. ^ "New lease of life for HMS Middleton". Royal Navy. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Exercise Joint Warrior gets underway". Royal Navy. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  9. ^ "HMS Middleton leaves Portsmouth for three years in the Gulf". Royal Navy. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2017.