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ROYAL NAVY - UNITED KINGDOM

MINE WARFARE SHIPS

"HAM" inshore minesweepers (INGLESHAM) (1953 - 1960)

Inglesham 1953

Arlingham 1963

Warmingham 1979

Name

No

Yard No

Builder

Laid down

Launched

Comp

Fate

Inglesham (ex-Red Bantam)

M2601

  White, Southampton   23.4.1952 4.1953 sold 8.1966
Altham (ex-Blue Bantam) M2602   Camper & Nicholson, Gosport   2.12.1952 7.1953 to Malaysia 4.1959 (Sri Johor)
Arlingham M2603   Camper & Nicholson, Gosport   1.4.1953 11.1953 sold 9.1977
Asheldham M2604   Philip, Dartmouth   9.9.1953 9.1954 to Malaysia 4.1959 (Sri Perlis)
Bassingham (ex-Red Bullfinch) M2605   Vosper, Portsmouth   24.6.1952 10.1953 sold 1966
Bedham M2606   Bolson, Poole   29.7.1953 12.1953 to Malaysia 4.1959 (Lanka Suka)
Bisham M2607   Bolson, Poole   6.3.1954 7.1954 fire 29.9.1956
Blunham (ex-Blue Chaffinch) M2608   Brooke, Lowestoft   12.6.1952 6.1953 sold 1967
Bodenham (ex-Green Chaffinch) M2609   Brooke, Lowestoft   21.8.1952 9.1953 to South Yemen 3.1968
Boreham (ex-Golden Chaffinch) M2610   Brooke, Lowestoft   21.10.1952 10.1953 to Malaysia 3.1966 (Jerong)
Bottisham (ex-Red Crow) M2611 473 Ailsa, Troon   17.1.1953 10.1953 to Air Ministry 1.1966 (No 5001)
Brantingham M2612 474 Ailsa, Troon   16.2.1953 7.1953 to Malaysia 1959 (Temasek)
Brigham M2613   Berthon Boat, Lymington   4.12.1953 12.1953 sold 12.1968
Bucklesham (ex-Blue Crow) M2614 414 Ardrossan DYd   8.8.1952 4.1954 sold 1981
Cardingham (ex-Green Crow) M2615 121 Herd & McKenzie, Buckie   24.6.1952 7.1953 sold 4.1967
Chelsham (ex-Golden Crow) M2616 57 Jones, Buckie   9.7.1952 7.1953 to RAF 12.1965 (No 5000), sold 1977
Chillingham (ex-Red Cuckoo) M2617 3904 McLean, Renfrew   19.12.1952 6.1953 sold 8.1969
Cobham M2618   Fairlie Yacht   14.5.1953 7.1953 sold 5.1966
Darsham M2619 58 Jones, Buckie   19.11.1952 12.1953 sold 4.1966
Davenham M2620   Weatherhead, Cockenzie   23.9.1953 12.1953 sold 4.1966
Dittisham M2621   Fairlie Yacht   23.10.1953 6.1954 Sea Cadet TS 4.1983
Downham M2622   White, Southampton   1.9.1955 3.1956 TS 1967, sold 1982
Edlingham M2623   Weatherhead, Cockenzie   21.7.1955 9.1956 fire 29.9.1956
Elsenham M2624 483 Ailsa, Troon   25.5.1955 1.1956 sold 10.1967
Etchingham M2625 484 Ailsa, Troon   9.12.1957 6.1958 sold 1967
Everingham M2626   Philip, Dartmouth   4.3.1954 7.1954 sold 1983
Felmersham M2627   Camper & Nicholson, Gosport   24.9.1953 5.1954 to Malaysia 3.1966 (Todak)
Flintham M2628   Bolson, Poole   10.3.1955 11.1955 sold 3.1983
Damerham M2629   Brooke, Lowestoft   15.6.1953 3.1954 sold 9.1966
Fritham M2630   Brooke, Lowestoft   24.9.1953 7.1954 sold 1980
Glentham M2631 421 Ardrossan DYd   29.4.1957 5.1958 sold 4.1966
Greetham M2632 123 Herd & McKenzie, Buckie   19.4.1954 2.1955 to Libya 1962 (Greetham)
Halsham M2633 59 Jones, Buckie   9.1953 7.1954 to Air Ministry 1966 (No 5002)
Harpham M2634 63 Jones, Buckie   14.9.1954 12.1954 to Libya 1962 (Harpham)
Haversham M2635 4981 McLean, Renfrew   3.6.1954 10.1954 TS 1964-1979, BU 10.1985
Lasham M2636   Weatherhead, Cockenzie   31.5.1954 9.1954 sold 1981
Hovingham M2637   Fairlie Yacht   24.5.1956 7.1956 sold 9.1966
Cranham M2701   White, Southampton   24.11.1953 7.1954 sold 6.1966
Frettenham M2702   White, Southampton   18.5.1954 9.1954 to France 12.1954 (Tulipe)
Isham M2703   White, Southampton   13.9.1954 1.1955 to France 4.1955 (Oilette)
Kingham M2704   White, Southampton   26.1.1955 6.1955 to France 1955 (Paquerette)
Hildersham M2705   Vosper, Portsmouth   5.2.1954 11.1954 to India 1955 (बिम्लिपतन [Bimlipatan])
Ledsham M2706   Bolson, Poole   30.6.1954 3.1955 sold 4.1971
Littleham M2707   Brooke, Lowestoft   4.4.1954 10.1954 to India 6.1955 (बस्सैन [Bassein])
Ludham M2708   Fairlie Yacht   16.6.1954 3.1956 sold 3.1967
Mersham M2709   Harris, Appledore   5.4.1954 1.1955 to France 4.1955 (Violette)
Mickleham M2710   Berthon Boat, Lymington   11.3.1954 5.1955 sold 8.1966
Mileham M2711   Weatherhead, Cockenzie   1.7.1954 3.1955 to France 1955 (Hortensia)
Neasham M2712   White, Southampton   14.3.1956 11.1957 to Australia 1968 (Porpoise)
Nettleham M2713   White, Southampton   19.12.1956 2.1958 sold 11.1967
Ockham M2714 487 Ailsa, Troon   12.5.1959 11.1959 sold 9.1967
Ottringham M2715 488 Ailsa, Troon   22.1.1958 12.1958 to Ghana 10.1959 (Afadzato)
Pagham M2716 68 Jones, Buckie   4.10.1955 3.1956 Sea Cadet TS 1983
Fordham (ex-Pavenham) M2717 72 Jones, Buckie   7.8.1956 12.1956 sold 1981
Petersham M2718 4189 McLean, Renfrew   12.1.1955 3.1955 to France 1955 (Capucine)
Pineham M2719 4190 McLean, Renfrew   9.5.1955 7.1955 to France 11.1955 (Petunia)
Powderham M2720   White, Southampton   27.11.1958 5.1960 survey vessel Waterwitch 1964
Pulham M2721   Saunders-Roe, Beaumaris   10.1.1956 1956 sold 8.1966
Rackham M2722   Saunders-Roe, Beaumaris   27.4.1956 6.1956 sold 7.1967
Reedham M2723   Saunders-Roe, Beaumaris   19.8.1958 11.1958 sold 8.1966
Rendlesham M2724 767 Brooke, Lowestoft   13.10.1954 2.1955 to France 1955 (Aubepine)
Riplingham M2725 768 Brooke, Lowestoft   11.1.1955 7.1955 to France 1955 (Myosotis)
Shipham M2726 769 Brooke, Lowestoft   14.7.1955 2.1956 sold 1986
Saxlingham M2727   Berthon Boat, Lymington   17.10.1955 1.1957 sold 4.1968
Shrivenham M2728   Bolson, Poole   28.3.1956 8.1956 sold 2.1969
Sidlesham M2729   Harris, Appledore   25.3.1955 11.1955 sold 7.1967
Stedham M2730   Blackmore, Bideford   12.1.1955 7.1955 to France 1955 (Jasmine)
Sparham M2731   Vosper, Portsmouth   14.10.1954 7.1955 to France 9.1955 (Hibiscus)
Sulham M2732   Fairlie Yacht   24.3.1955 7.1955 to France 1955 (Jonquille)
Thakeham M2733   Fairlie Yacht   9.9.1957 11.1957 sold 1977
Tibenham M2734   McGruer, Clynder   10.3.1955 4.1955 to France 1955 (Geranium)
Tongham M2735   J. Miller, St. Monance   30.11.1955 6.1957 sold 1980
Tresham M2736   Morgan Giles, Teignmouth   11.5.1954 11.1955 sold 1966
Warmingham M2737   Thornycroft, Woolston   23.4.1954 11.1956 sold 1983
Wexham M2738   J. Taylor, Shoreham   3.4.1954 1.1955 to France 1955 (Armoise)
Whippingham M2739   J. Taylor, Shoreham   28.8.1954 6.1955 to France 1955 (Dahlia)
Wintringham M2777   White, Southampton   24.5.1955 12.1955 to Australia 1967 (Seal)
Woldingham M2778   White, Southampton   30.11.1955 7.1957 sold 9.1966
Wrentham M2779   Dorset Yacht, Poole   8.2.1955 7.1955 sold 8.1966
Yaxham M2780   White, Southampton   21.1.1958 3.1959 survey vessel Woodlark 1964
Portisham M2781   Dorset Yacht, Poole   3.11.1955 3.1956 RNXS 1980, sold 1.1989
Popham M2782   Vosper, Portsmouth   11.1.1955 10.1955 to Australia 1967 (Otter)
Odiham M2783   Vosper, Portsmouth   21.7.1955 7.1956 sold 1980
Puttenham M2784   Thornycroft, Woolston   25.6.1956 5.1958 sold 1980
Birdham M2785   J. Taylor, Shoreham   19.9.1955 3.1957 sold 1980
Rampisham M2786   Bolson, Poole   1.5.1957 10.1957 survey vessel Squirrel 12.1957, minesweeper Rampisham 12.1959, sold 8.1966
Abbotsham M2787   Blackmore, Bideford   16.12.1955 1.1957 sold 6.1967
Georgeham M2788   Harris, Appledore   15.2.1957 11.1957 sold 11.1967
Malham M2789   Fairlie Yacht   29.8.1958 12.1958 to Ghana 10.1959 (Yogada)
Thatcham M2790 77 Jones, Buckie   25.9.1957 4.1958 sold 1986
Sandringham M2791 4233 McLean, Renfrew   16.4.1957 9.1957 sold 1986
Polsham M2792   Morgan Giles, Teignmouth   13.10.1958 4.1960 sold 2.1967
Thornham M2793   J. Taylor, Shoreham   18.3.1957 6.1958 BU 5.1985

 

Displacement standard, t

120

Displacement full, t

159

Length, m

M2601-2637, 2701-2739: 30.5 pp 32.5 oa

M2777-2793: 30.5 pp 32.8 oa

Breadth, m

M2601-2637: 6.40

M2701-2739: 6.60

M2777-2793: 6.70

Draught, m

1.67 - 1.75

No of shafts

2

Machinery

2 Davey Paxman diesels

Power, h. p.

1100

Max speed, kts

14

Fuel, t

diesel oil 15

Endurance, nm(kts) 2350(9)

Armament

1 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 7 or 1 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 7, LL mechanical/magnetic/acoustic minesweeping gear

Electronic equipment

type 978 radar

Complement

15

Project history: In parallel with the coastal minesweeper programme, thirty-seven inshore sweepers were laid down, to operate in estuarine waters. J. Samuel White acted as the lead-yard and as in the CMSs wooden and aluminium construction was adopted. A second series (mine disposal craft) followed, M2701-2739, with 0.23m more beam and slightly deeper draught, while the third, all-wood series, M2777-2793, were 0.3m longer and 0.3m beamier. Reedham was fitted with fin stabilizers and these were so successful that the rest of the class were similarly retrofitted. Series 2 and Series 3 vessels had a prominent rubbing strake.

    Although sturdy and seaworthy craft they were found to be too small to cope with the latest electrical and acoustic sweep gear, as they lacked generating capacity. They were accordingly downgraded to subsidiary duties within a few years, serving as diving tenders, torpedo recovery vessels, degaussing vessels, etc.

Modernizations: None.

Naval service: Bisham and Edlingham burnt 29.9.1956 by accident in Haslar Creek.

Dittisham 1979

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.

© Ivan Gogin, 2015