HMS Clyde (P257)

HMS "Clyde" (P257) is the ninth ship in the Royal Navy to bear the name. She was launched on 14 June 2006 in Portsmouth Naval Base by VT Group shipbuilders in Portsmouth, England and is the fourth vessel of the River class and the first of a lengthened variety with a displacement of 1,850 tonnes and a 30 mm Oerlikon KCB gun in place of the 20 mm gun fitted to other "River" class ships.

"Clyde" was the first ship built entirely in Portsmouth Naval base for 40 years and has been constructed alongside the bow and superstructure sections for the new Type 45 destroyers HMS "Daring" (D32) and HMS "Dauntless" (D33). She was named in a ceremony on 7 September 2006 as she had not received a traditional launching ceremony [ [http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.6581 Royal Navy press release on launching of "Clyde"] retrieved 11 September 2006] .

HMS "Clyde" was accepted into the Royal Navy in a ceremony at Portsmouth Naval base on 30 January 2007. The White Ensign will then be raised for the first time in the offshore patrol vessel built by VT Shipbuilding. Since the launch of the vessel VT has been completing the ship's fitting out, followed by contractor's sea trials. [ [http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.7883 Royal Navy press release on acceptance into fleet] retrieved 29 January 2007]

She and her ship's company went through a rigorous series of trials and safety training before undergoing operational sea training in Scotland. After being commissioned into active service she was sent to the South Atlantic to relieve HMS "Dumbarton Castle" as the Royal Navy's patrol vessel in the area based in the Falkland Islands. Unlike predecessors in this role it is anticipated that HMS "Clyde" will be able to stay in Atlantic waters for some five years until 2012 when she will return to the United Kingdom for a refit.

External links

* [http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.5955 Official website]

References