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HMS Ledbury (M30)

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For other ships of the same name, see HMS Ledbury.
HMS Ledbury depolyed on Op KIPION MOD 45167292
HMS Ledbury on Operation Kipion, 2020
Career (United Kingdom)
Name: HMS Ledbury
Ordered: 31 March 1977[1]
Builder: Vosper Thornycroft
Launched: December 1979
Sponsored by: Lady Elizabeth Berthan[2]
Commissioned: 11 June 1981
Homeport: HMS Jufair, Bahrain
Identification:
Motto: Mors Mina ("Death to Mines")
Honours and
awards:
Status: Ship in active service
General characteristics
Class & type: Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel
Displacement: 750 t (740 long tons; 830 short tons)[3]
Length: 60 m (196 ft 10 in)
Beam: 9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
Draught: 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)
Propulsion: 2 × Caterpillar C32, 2 × FPP – 757 kW (1,015 hp)
Speed: 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried:		 2 × MIB Diving Support Boats
Complement: 45 (5 officers & 39 ratings)
Sensors and
processing systems:
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
  • SeaFox mine disposal system
  • Diver-placed explosive charges
    • Armament:
  • 1 × 30mm DS30B S30GM1
  • 2 × Miniguns (may be replaced by Browning .50 caliber heavy machine guns as of 2023)[4]
  • 3 × General purpose machine guns

    • HMS Ledbury, the second ship of the name, is a Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel of the Royal Navy. She was launched in December 1979 and commissioned on 11 June 1981, the second ship of her class. She cost £65 million at time of building, which was at the time the most expensive cost-per-metre for any class of ship built by the Royal Navy.[2] Most of this cost went into the research and development of Ledbury's glass reinforced plastic hull.[5]

    Operational history[]

    HMS Ledbury in Portsmouth 2007

    HMS Ledbury in Portsmouth 2007

    Ledbury is attached to the Second Mine Countermeasures Squadron, based in Portsmouth.

    1981–1990[]

    Ledbury was not involved in the Falklands Conflict itself but arrived in the South Atlantic in July 1982 with sister ship Brecon to clear the waters around the islands of Argentinian mines.[6]

    2009–2010[]

    Ledbury underwent a docking maintenance period, commencing in June 2009, to fit the new Seafox mine disposal equipment.[7]

    2011–present[]

    In 2013, Ledbury twice joined NATO Mine Countermeasure groups, one deployment taking her to the Mediterranean Sea, the other to the Baltic Sea.[8] In June 2014, Ledbury took part in the commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings.[9]

    Ledbury entered refit in 2015 during which her engines were replaced with newer, more efficient diesels. Following sea trials, Ledbury took part in Exercise Joint Warrior off the west coast of Scotland. It was announced in March 2017 that Ledbury would deploy to the Persian Gulf later 2017 to relieve sister ship HMS Chiddingfold. It was expected that she would remain in the region for at least three years.[10] She returned to the U.K. in 2020.[11]

    References[]

    1. ↑ "Written Question: Service Men (Rehabilitation)". 27 October 1981. https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=1981-10-27.336.5. 
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "HMS Ledbury". http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/mine-countermeasure/hunt-class/hms-ledbury/. 
    3. ↑ "Hunt Class Mine Countermeasures Vessels - Specifications". 11 July 2011. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/hms-hunt-specs.htm. 
    4. ↑ "In focus: the Fleet Solid Support ship design". Navy Lookout. 28 February 2023. https://www.navylookout.com/in-focus-the-fleet-solid-support-ship-design/. 
    5. ↑ "Hunt class: HMS Ledbury: Introduction". http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/mine-countermeasure/hunt-class/hms-ledbury/introduction/introduction. 
    6. ↑ Hoole, Rob (June 2007). "The Forgotten Few of the Falklands". Ton Class Association. http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/the_forgotten_few_of_the_falklands.htm. 
    7. ↑ "Hunt Class Minesweeper / Minehunter". https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/huntclass/. 
    8. ↑ "HMS Ledbury ready for action in the Baltic". 30 October 2013. https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2013/october/30/131031-hms-ledbury-ready-for-action-in-the-baltic. 
    9. ↑ "HMS Ledbury on Ceremonial and training duties". 19 June 2014. https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2014/june/19/140619-ledbury-on-ceremonial-and-training. 
    10. ↑ "Ledbury gears up for Gulf mission with extensive workout in Scotland". 23 March 2017. https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2017/march/23/170323-ledbury-gears-up-for-gulf-mission. 
    11. ↑ Cotterill, Tim (12 September 2020). "Tearful Royal Navy sailors return to Portsmouth on HMS Ledbury after months of Covid quarantine in the Gulf". https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/defence/tearful-royal-navy-sailors-return-to-portsmouth-on-hms-ledbury-after-months-of-covid-quarantine-in-the-gulf-2969042. 

    External links[]

     Royal Navy
     Hellenic Navy
     Lithuanian Naval Force



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