HMS Asheldham was one of 93 ships of the Ham class of inshore minesweepers.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Asheldham |
| Namesake | Asheldham |
| Builder | Philip and Son |
| Launched | 9 September 1953 |
| Completed | 9 September 1954 |
| Fate | Transferred to Malaysia, 1 April 1959 |
| Notes | Pennant number(s): M2604 / IMS04 |
.svg){kind=small} Malaysia | |
| Name | KD Sri Perlis |
| Acquired | 1 April 1959 |
| Fate | broken up 1967[1] |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Class and type | Ham-class minesweeper |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | |
| Beam | 21 ft (6.4 m) |
| Draught | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 14 knots (16 mph; 26 km/h) |
| Complement | 15 |
| Armament | 1 × Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun |
Their names were all chosen from villages ending in -ham. The minesweeper was named after Asheldham in Essex.
HMS Asheldham (Pennant number M2604) was a member of the first series of Ham-class minesweepers, with composite wood and aluminium construction. It was built by Philip and Son of Dartmouth, Devon and was completed on 9 September 1953.[2][3]
Asheldham served as part of the 232nd Mine Sweeper Squadron at Harwich in Essex from 1954 to 1956, after which it was placed into reserve.[4] The Ham class had proved too small to carry modern minesweeping equipment and most of the class were withdrawn from use or transferred to secondary roles.[2]
The ship was transferred to the Royal Malayan Navy on 1 April 1958, being renamed Sri Perlis.[5] Following transfer, Sri Perlis' 40mm Bofors gun and minesweeping gear was removed and replaced by three 20 mm Oerlikon cannon,[6] although the minesweeping gear was later re-fitted, with the ship retaining a single Oerlikon gun.[7]
References
editSources
edit- Blackman, Raymond V.B., ed. Jane's Fighting Ships 1952–1953. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1953.
- Blackman, Raymond V. B. (1960). Jane's Fighting Ships 1960–61. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd.
- Blackman, Raymond V. B. (1962). Jane's Fighting Ships 1962–63. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd.
- 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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