HMS Ledbury (M30)

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.[4]

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Ledbury.

HMS Ledbury in Portsmouth 2007
History
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 and 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:		 Sonar Type 2193
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
  • SeaFox mine disposal system
  • Diver-placed explosive charges
Armament:

Operational history

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.[5]

2001–2010

Ledbury underwent a docking maintenance period, commencing in June 2009, to fit the new Seafox mine disposal equipment.[6]

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.[7] In June 2014, Ledbury took part in the commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings.[8]

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 will deploy to the Persian Gulf later 2017 to relieve sister ship HMS Chiddingfold, it is expected she will remain in the region for at least three years.[9]

Ledbury is now permanently based in Bahrain at HMS Jufair as part of 4 Minehunters of 9th Mine Countermeasures Squadron[10]supported by a Royal Fleet Auxiliary Bay Class on Operation Kipion.

References
  1. "Written Question: Service Men (Rehabilitation)". TheyWorkForYou. 27 October 1981. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  2. "HMS Ledbury". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 10 September 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  3. "Hunt Class Mine Countermeasures Vessels - Specifications". GlobalSecurity.org. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  4. "Hunt class: HMS Ledbury: Introduction". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  5. Hoole, Rob (June 2007). "The Forgotten Few of the Falklands". Ton Talk. No. 126. Ton Class Association. Retrieved 15 March 2019 – via Minewarfare & Clearance Diving Officers' Association.
  6. "Hunt Class Minesweeper / Minehunter". navytechnology.com. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  7. "HMS Ledbury ready for action in the Baltic". Royal Navy. 30 October 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  8. "HMS Ledbury on Ceremonial and training duties". Royal Navy. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  9. "Ledbury gears up for Gulf mission with extensive workout in Scotland". Royal Navy. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  10. "RFA Cardigan Bay's winter in the Gulf". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.


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