HMS Falmouth Escort Ship

THE ROTHESAY CLASS

In the early part of the 1950s, the Royal Navy commissioned the Whitby class of six anti-submarine frigates, known as the Type 12s, based on a hull- form with a high, flared forecastle to throw spray aside which was sharp forward, to allow them to be driven hard into a head sea, but which widened to a deep square section amidships, giving a smooth high-speed ride even in rough weather. These ships were very successful, and a repeat class, the nine Rothesays, were soon ordered, largely unchanged save for some internal revision made in the light of experience. HMS Falmouth was the fourth to be laid down, at Swan Hunters in Wallsend, on 23 November 1 957, but the next-to-last to be launched, on 15 December, 1957. She commissioned on 25 July, 1961, was placed in reserve in 1981 but recommissioned briefly in the wake of the Falklands War. She was broken up for scrap in 1989, though one of her sister-ships, HMS Plymouth, was preserved.

MIDLIFE REFIT

In the late 1960s the entire class underwent a major refit, which saw the main deck aft cleared to make way for a hangar and landing pad big enough to handle a lightweight torpedo-armed Westland Wasp helicopter.

TECHNICAL DATA

Type: Escort/ASW frigate
Machinery: 2-shaft geared turbines giving a total of 30,000shp
Dimensions (overall): Length, 112.7m (370ft); beam, 12.5m (41 ft)
Displacement: 2150t (later 2380t) standard, 2560t (later 2800t) deep load
Draught: 3.9m (17ft) standard
Complement: 200-235