Armed Forces - Royal Navy - n3a11 - Ocean Survey Vessels - Coastal Survey Vessels - Hydrographic Survey Vessels - Echo Class Survey Vessels - Scott - HMS Roebuck - Gleaner - Echo

Armed Forces - Royal Navy - n3a11 - Royal Naval Vessels - Survey Ships - Ocean Survey Vessels - Coastal Survey Vessels - Hydrographic Survey Vessels - Echo Class Survey Vessels

ROYAL NAVAL VESSELS

SURVEY VESSELS

OCEAN SURVEY VESSELS

This ship was ordered in January 1995 and entered service in June 1997.

She is equipped with an integrated navigation suite for surveying operations, together with a Sonar Array Sounding System (SASS) and data processing equipment.

She also has gravimeters, a towed proton magnetometer and the Sonar 2090 ocean environment sensor.

The ship is planned to remain at sea for 300 days per year with a crew of 42, 20 personnel being rotated from shore to allow leave and recreation.

HMS SCOTT Specifications
Length	131.1 m
Displacement	13,500 tons full load
Beam	21.5 m
Draught	9.0 m
Engines	3 x Krupp MaK 9M32 9-cylinder diesels
Max Speed	17.5 knots
Complement	62 (12 officers)
Hydrographic sensor fit	Sonar Array Sounding System (SASS) Gravimeters, a towed proton magnetometer and the Sonar 2090 ocean environment sensor.
Helicopters	Platform for 1 x light helicopter

NAME	DATE COMMISSIONED
HMS Scott (H131)	1996

COASTAL SURVEY VESSELS

Commissioned in 1986 HMS Roebuck is designed for hydrographic surveys to modern commercial standards and is fitted with a Differential Global Positioning Systems and integrated digital navigation and survey systems.

The ship also carries a survey motor boat which is fitted with similar sonar suites to the mother ship.

Warfare capability has recently been enhanced by the fit of additional upper deck weapons.

HMS ROEBUCK Specifications
Length	64 m
Displacement	1.350 tons full load
Beam	13 m
Draught	5.5 m
Engines	4 x Mirrlees Blackstone diesel engines 3040hp, 2 shafts with controllable pitch props
Max Speed	16 knots
Range	4,000 km at 10 knots
Complement	52
Armament	4 x 7.62 mm General Purpose Machine Guns 2 x M323 Mk44 7.62mm Miniguns 1 x GAMBO 20 mm canon

NAME	DATE COMMISSIONED
HMS Roebuck (H130)	1985

HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY VESSELS

HMS Gleaner is the smallest commissioned ship in the Royal Navy with a complement of 8.

Gleaner is an advanced survey vessel, which uses multibeam and sidescan sonar to collect bathymetry and seabed texture data and compile an accurate and detailed picture of the seabed.

HMS GLEANER Specifications
Length	14.8 m
Displacement	20 tons standard
Max Speed	14 knots
Complement	8 (2 officers)

NAME	DATE COMMISSIONED
HMS Gleaner (H86)	1983

The Royal Navy's Surveying Service has been operating throughout the world since the formation of the Hydrographic Department in 1795 and the information from oceanographic surveys is used for producing Admiralty charts and nautical publications which have a world-wide sale and are used by ships of many nations.

The Surveying Flotilla consists of ocean-going ships, coastal vessels and inshore craft. In addition to surveying in overseas areas, many of the flotilla are constantly engaged in updating the charts covering the waters around the United Kingdom.

To carry out these wide-ranging tasks the latest surveying techniques are employed, including digitised echo sounders, side scan sonar, automated plotting and recording of position, depth, gravity and magnetic parameters. Satellite and inertial navigation systems are used when out of range of shore-based position fixing systems.

ECHO CLASS SURVEY VESSELS

An order was placed with Vosper Thorneycroft in 2000 for two new Hydrographic Vessels.

This is a 'through life contract' covering support for 25 years. The ships will work with the fleet worldwide, supporting mine warfare and amphibious tasks besides carrying our specialist hydrographic activities.

As with HMS Scott (see previous entry) the ships are planned to work over 300 days per year at sea.

ECHO CLASS Specifications
Length	90 m
Displacement	3,470 tons full load
Beam	16.8 m
Draught	5.5 m
Engines	Diesel electric 4 MW, 2 x azimuth thrusters
Max Speed	15 knots
Range	9,000 miles at 12 knots
Complement	46 with accommodation for 81
Sensors	Hydrographic sensor fit

NAME	DATE COMMISSIONED
HMS Echo (H87)	2003
HMS Enterprise (H88)	2004