- HMS Herald (H138)
HMS "Herald" was the last A-class ocean
survey ship in Service with the RN, and is a veteran of both theFalklands War andGulf War . "Herald" been replaced by two new survey vessels, HMS|Echo|H87 and HMS|Enterprise|H88. "Herald" was paid off on12 April 2001 and decommissioned on31 May 2001 . "Herald" was built by Robb Caledon Shipbuilders inLeith ,Scotland .In December 2000, "Herald" answered a Mayday call and took part in a joint operation with the RAF to rescue the crew of the Cypriot
ferry Royal Prince . The 35-metre ship sank in rough seas, but the crew were plucked to safety and taken to HMS "Herald" by an RAFhelicopter fromRAF Akrotiri .After de-commissioning, Herald joined her sister HMS|Hecla|A133 in
Waterford after a brief re-fit in Cork dockyard. She was renamed "Somerville" after Admiral Somerville and was used for a hydrographic survey in Irish waters.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.