HMS Blyth (M111)

HMS Blyth is a Sandown-class minehunter formerly of the British Royal Navy. She was the second vessel to bear the name. The first being a Bangor-class minesweeper of the Second World War, pennant number J15. The vessel served in the Middle East as part of the 9th Mine Countermeasures Squadron. In 2021, the minehunter was decommissioned and following a refit, planned to be transferred to an unspecified non-European navy[2] (a plan subsequently altered to transfer her to the Romanian Navy instead).

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Blyth.

HMS Blyth in 2006
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Blyth
BuilderVosper Thornycroft
Launched4 July 2000
Commissioned19 July 2001
Decommissioned4 August 2021
Identification
StatusPending transfer to Romania
General characteristics
Class and typeSandown-class minehunter
Displacement600 t (590 long tons)[1]
Length52.5 m (172 ft 3 in)
Beam10.9 m (35 ft 9 in)
Draught2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Propulsion
Speed13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Complement34 (accommodation for up to 40)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Radar Type 1007 I-Band
  • Sonar Type 2093
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • SeaFox mine disposal system
  • Diver-placed explosive charges
Armament

Service history

Along with her sister ship, Ramsey, she was deployed to the Middle East on Operation Aintree in 2007 and 2008 to test the class capabilities in the hot climate and maintain force operational capability in the region. Crews from other Sandown-class vessels were rotated through the two ships.

HMS Blyth was based at HMS Jufair as one of four minehunters of 9th Mine Countermeasures Squadron[3] supported by a Royal Fleet Auxiliary Bay-class landing ship on Operation Kipion until 2020, when she was replaced in theatre by HMS Penzance.

Both Blyth and Ramsey were decommissioned in a joint ceremony at Rosyth on 4 August 2021.[4] Following a refit by Babcock both vessels were initially earmarked for the Ukrainian Navy to "enjoy a fresh lease of life in the Black Sea".[5][2] However, in October 2022 it was reported that both ships would be transferred to the Romanian Navy instead.[6]

References
  1. "Sandown Class Mine Countermeasures Vessels - Specifications". GlobalSecurity.org. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  2. @NavyLookout (12 September 2022). "The has been a change of plan for ex-HMS Ramsey and Blyth (decommissioned Aug 2021) and originally thought to have been going to Ukraine" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 October 2022 – via Twitter.
  3. "RFA Cardigan Bay's winter in the Gulf". Royal Navy. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  4. McRoberts, Ally. "Rosyth: Royal Navy mine hunters decommissioned at dockyard". Dunfermline Press. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  5. "Thank you Blyth and Ramsey for your service as minehunters pay off". Royal Navy. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  6. @NavyLookout (20 October 2022). "Ex-HMS Ramsey and HMS Blyth have been sold to the Romanian Navy" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 October 2022 – via Twitter.
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