HMS Abbotsham was one of 93 ships of the Ham class of inshore minesweepers.

HMS Portisham, another ship of the same class
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Abbotsham
Operator Royal Navy
BuilderWm. Blackmore
Launched16 December 1955
Completed10 January 1957
Out of service1966
FateSold June 1967.resold in 2018 in the Netherlands.
NotesPennant = (M2787), (IMS87)
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeHam class minesweeper
Displacement
  • 120 tons standard
  • 159 tons full
Length
  • 107 ft 6 in (32.77 m) oa
  • 100 ft (30.5 m) pp
Beam22 ft (6.7 m)
Draught5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Propulsion2 shaft Paxman 12YHAXM diesels, 1,100 bhp (820 kW)
Speed14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement2 officers, 13 ratings
Armament1 × 20 mm Oerlikon gun

Their names were all chosen from villages ending in -ham. The minesweeper was named after Abbotsham in Devon. Abbotsham was one of the third series of Ham-class minesweepers, with an all-wooden hull, and was built by William Blackmore, completing on 10 January 1957.[1][2]

The Ham class proved to be too small to carry modern minesweeping gear, and like many of the class, Abbotsham was quickly placed in operational reserve, entering this state in November 1957. She remained in operational reserve at Rosneath until 1966, when she was placed on the disposal list, the ship being sold in 1967.[1][3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Gardiner and Chumbley, 1995, p. 541.
  2. ^ Worth 1986, p. 123.
  3. ^ Worth 1986, p. 125.

Bibliography

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  • Blackman, R.V.B. ed. Jane's Fighting Ships (1953)
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen (1995). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  • Worth, Jack (1986). British Warships Since 1945: Part 4: Minesweepers. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. ISBN 0-907771-12-2.
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