RMAS Colonel Templer (A229)

RMAS "Colonel Templer" (A229) is an acoustic research vessel of the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service department of the Royal Navy, since November 2000 operated under contract by Serco Denholm, based at HMNB Clyde, "Great Harbour", Greenock. Twelve scientists can be carried, and the ship is used in support of trials as well supporting RN diving training.

The ship was named after Colonel James Templer, an early British military pioneer of balloons. [http://archive.falmouthpacket.co.uk/2003/7/25/28913.html]

Built by Hall Russell in 1966 as a stern trawler then converted in 1980 for use by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, her displacement is 1,300 tonnes and dimensions 56 m by 11 m by 5.6 m. Her complement is 14 and speed 12 knots. After a serious fire gutted the ship in 1990 it had a major rebuild, and it was converted in 2001 to support diving training.

References

*cite book
last = Bush
first = Steve
title = British Warships and Auxiliaries
publisher = Maritime Books
date = 2005
location = Liskeard, Cornwall
id = ISBN 1-904459-11-0