HMS Kingfisher (P260) was a Bird-class patrol vessel of the British Royal Navy.

History
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Kingfisher
BuilderRichard Dunston, Hessle
Laid downJuly 1973
Launched20 September 1974
Commissioned8 October 1975
FateSold 28 February 1996[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeBird-class patrol vessel
Displacement190 long tons (193 t)
Length120 ft (37 m) o/a
Beam23 ft (7.0 m)
Complement4 officers, 19 ratings
Armament
  • 1 × 40mm Bofors gun (mounted aft)
  • 2 × GPMGs

Construction and design

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Kingfisher was laid down at the Richard Dunston shipyard at Hessle, near Kingston upon Hull in July 1973, was launched on 20 September 1974 and commissioned on 8 October 1975.[2]

Service

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In 1978, Kingfisher and sister ship Cygnet were deployed on Operation Grenada, the Royal Navy's standing patrol off the coast of Northern Ireland to stop arms smuggling to paramilitary groups during the Troubles.[3] Kingfisher continued her patrol duties as part of the Northern Ireland Squadron through the 1980s and into the 1990s.[4]

Citations

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  1. ^ "H.M.S. Kingfisher". Oldships.org.uk Archived from the original on 25 November 2009.
  2. ^ Prézelin & Baker 1990, p. 717
  3. ^ Roberts 2009, pp. 104, 128
  4. ^ Roberts 2009, pp. 180, 231

References

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  • Prézelin, Bernard; Baker, A. D. III, eds. (1990). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1990/1991. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-250-8.
  • Roberts, John (2009). Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-812-8.