Castle class patrol vessel
- Castle class patrol vessel
The Castle class was intended as a series of six offshore patrol vessels for the Royal Navy, designed in response to criticism of the previous Island class for insufficient speed, non optimal sea keeping and lack of a flight deck for rescue helicopters.
In the event, only two ships were built, HMS "Leeds Castle" and HMS "Dumbarton Castle". Both vessels were built by Hall Russell in Aberdeen. These had significant improvements over the Island class - they are 300 tonnes larger, more stable in heavy seas, convert|3|kn|km/h faster and are fitted with a large flight deck that is capable of supporting a Sea King. For brief periods, the ships can accommodate up to 120 troops. Their primary mission is to serve with the Fishery Protection Squadron, protecting both the fishing fleets and the oil and gas fields of the North Sea. In addition, they can also serve as minelayers, and have detergent spraying facilities on board for dispersing oil slicks.
Since the Falklands War, one ship had been kept long term in the Falkland Islands as a guardship. "Leeds Castle" and "Dumbarton Castle" rotated the role on a three-yearly basis, although the ship's crew usually did a six month rotation.
The Castle-class has now been replaced by a River class-based vessel, HMS "Clyde", and both vessels of the class are now decommissioned.
References
* Conway's "All The World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995"
* D.K. Brown, "The Design of the Castle Class", a personal view in "Warship 2006", Conway's Maritime Press
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