Sandown Class Single Role Minehunters
It was announced in 1983 that Vosper Thornycroft would design and develop a class of up to 20 Single Role Minehunters (SRMs) designed for deep water and ocean operations. The Navy envisaged a simple, cost effective vessel as opposed to the Hunt Class, which had been complex and costly and as a result built in small numbers. The lead ship, HMS Sandown, was ordered in August 1985 and orders for four more units were placed on January 9th 1987. They were constructed in a special modular programme and launched almost complete at the Woolston Yard of Southampton based shipbuilders Vosper Thornycroft.
Unlike the Hunt Class, they are not minesweepers, so do not destroy mines by sweeping with cables. They do however carry clearance divers and two Remote Control Mine Disposal Systems (these are literally small, unmanned, remote control yellow submarines that can destroy underwater mines using explosives). Like the Hunt Class, the Sandown Class was built from Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP)- a material chosen in order to reduce the magnetic signature of the hull, yet withstand the shock and force from explosions. Other parts of the ship were constructed from non-ferrous metals for a similar reason. They are powered by Voth Schneider engines and are extremely maneuverable due to two bow thrusters (a real advantage when working with mines). With a displacement of 450 tonnes they have a length of 52.7 metres, a beam of 10.5 metres and a draught of 2.3 metres. Armed with 30 mm close range gun they have a complement of just 34 and have a speed of 14 knots.
Tenders for a second batch were invited on 27th March 1991 from Vosper Thornycroft, Swan Hunter, Yarrow and VSEL. However the invitations were withdrawn in 1991 and the second batch was eventually built for the Royal Saudi Navy, where they serve as the ‘Al Jawf’Class and are named Al Jawf, Shaqra, Al Kharj, Onaizah, Al Ross and Al Bahan . On July 14th 1994 during a statement on the Fort Line First policy review, it was announced that the contract for the second batch had been awarded to Vosper Thornycroft. However the design of the seven later vessels differed slightly from the initial specification incorporating improvements such as dedicated accommodation for female officers and ratings, a more powerful crane, a larger decompression chamber, air conditioning and more powerful engines.
In 1998 as part of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), the government announced a reduction in minewarfare forces from 25 to 22 vessels . Although the orders for Batch 2 vessels awaiting construction remained unchanged, it was announced that HMS Cromer would decommission in 2001 in order to avoid a £5 million refit in 2001. However it has been suggested she may remain in service and an older Hunt Class minesweeper would be paid off instead, as even if Cromer were to pay off in 2001, she would still have to undergo a £2.5 million refit.
Class Details:
| Ship | Pennant No. | Builder | Launched | Commissioned |
| Sandown | M101 | Vosper Thornycroft (Woolston) | April 16th 1988 | June 9th 1989 |
| Inverness | M102 | Vosper Thornycroft (Woolston) | Febuary 27th 1990 | January 24th 1991 |
| Cromer | M103 | Vosper Thornycroft (Woolston) | October 6th 1990 | April 7th 1992 |
| Walney | M104 | Vosper Thornycroft (Woolston) | November 25th 1991 | Febuary 20th 1993 |
| Bridport | M105 | Vosper Thornycroft (Woolston) | July 20th1992 | November 6th 1993 |
| Batch II Vessels | ||||
| Penzance | M106 | Vosper Thornycroft (Woolston) | March 11th 1997 | May 14th 1998 |
| Pembroke | M107 | Vosper Thornycroft (Woolston) | December 15th 1997 | October 6th 1998 |
| Grimsby | M108 | Vosper Thornycroft (Woolston) | August 10th 1998 | September 25th 1999 |
| Bangor | M109 | Vosper Thornycroft (Woolston) | April 16th 1999 | July 2000 |
| Ramsey | M110 | Vosper Thornycroft (Woolston) | November 25th 1999 | September 2000 |
| Blyth | M111 | Vosper Thornycroft (Woolston) | May 2000 | February 2001 |
| Shoreham | M112 | Vosper Thornycroft (Woolston) | April 9th 2001 | 2002 |
Above: HMS Sandown, the first ship of the class. She was accepted into service in 1989. (© Crown Copyright)
Ship Histories:
| Ship | History |
| Sandown | Launched by the Duchess of Gloucester and accepted into service 18th April 1988. Together with the Hunt Class vessel HMS Atherstone and the survey ship Bulldog, Sandown participated in a NATO-led operation to clear the Adriatic of bombs jettisoned during the Kosovo campaign. On January 16th 2000 Sandown located the wreck of sunken fishing vessel Solway Harvester . |
| Inverness | Launched by Lady Webster, wife of Admiral Sir John Webster and accepted into service 28th February 1991. In the Autumn of 1999 Inverness participated in an international minehunting operation- Latvia99 - sweeping vintage German and Russian laid mines in the entrance to Riga. During the course of the operation Inverness neutralised seven mines. |
| Cromer | Launched by Lady Brown, wife of Admiral Sir Brian Brown and accepted into service on November 14th 1991. Whilst surveying the wreck of trawler Margenta Maria in 1998 her RCMDS became caught. When later released it was recovered by a trawler owner who then claimed salvage rights, much to the Navy's embarrassment. As part of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which aimed at reducing the Mine Warfare fleet from 25 hulls to 22, H.M.S Cromer was to be paid of in 1999 in order to avoid an expensive refit, despite being only eight years old. It was subsequently announced that she would be one of the three ships transferred to Greece in 2000 as part of Strategic Defence Review cutbacks. |
| Walney | Launched by Lady Wilson, wife of Admiral Sir Barry Wilson and accepted 19th August 1992 |
| Bridport | Launched by Lady Deborah Hill and accepted into service June 15th 1993. |
| Grimsby | Launched by Lady Candy Blackman, wife of the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Sir Jeremy Blackman. |
| Bangor | Launched by Mrs Lisa Spencer (wife of Vice Admiral Sir Peter Spencer- Controller of the Navy), Bangor was the first warship to be named after part of Northern Ireland since County Class destroyer HMS Antrim. Accepted into service December 15th 1999- the last warship accepted into service in 20th Century. |
| Ramsey | Launched by Lady Dunt, wife of Chief of Fleet Support, Vice Admiral Sir John Dunt. |
| Blyth | Launched by Lady Garnett, wife of the Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Sir Ian Garnett. |
| Shoreham | Launched April 9th 2001 by Lady Nicola Perowne, wife of Admiral Sir James Perowne, who is NATO Deputy Supreme Commander Atlantic. |
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© Written and researched by Jeremy Olver. Last updated April 10th 2001. Disclaimer.