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HMS Echo (H87)

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 84.23.140.26 (talk) at 05:08, 23 October 2009 (Undid revision 321518486 by MBK004 (talk) You need source? Check the official United Nations documents on my user talk page!). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Revision as of 05:08, 23 October 2009 by 84.23.140.26 (talk) (Undid revision 321518486 by MBK004 (talk) You need source? Check the official United Nations documents on my user talk page!)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) For other ships with the same name, see HMS Echo.
HMS EchoHMS Echo in Valetta, Malta
History
Royal Navy EnsignUK
Ordered19 June 2000
BuilderAppledore Shipbuilders
Launched4 March 2002
Sponsored byLady Haddacks
Commissioned7 March 2003
HomeportHMNB Devonport, Plymouth
Identificationlist error: <br /> list (help)
Pennant number: H87
International callsign: GAAC
Mottolist error: <br /> list (help)
Latin: Marte et Art
("By Mars and Art")
StatusTemplate:Ship fate box active in service
BadgeShip's badge
General characteristics
Displacement3470 tons
Length90.6 m (297 ft 3 in)
Beam16.8 m (55 ft 1 in)
Propulsionlist error: <br /> list (help)
Diesel-electric
3 × diesel generators (4.8 MW)
2 × 1.7 MW (2,279 hp) azimuth thrusters
1 × 0.4 MW (536 hp) bow thruster
Speed15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Range9,300 nmi (17,200 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Endurance35 days
Boats & landing
craft carried
Survey motor boat
Complement72
Sensors and
processing systems
list error: mixed text and list (help)
Integrated Survey System, comprising:
  • Simrad EM 1002 multi beam echo sounder
  • Mk II Sea Soar Oceanic Profiler
  • Acoustic doppler current profiler
  • Sidescan sonar
  • Remote offshore tide gauges
  • Sub-bottom profiler
  • Bottom grab

HMS Echo is the first of two multi-role hydrographic survey ships commissioned by the Royal Navy. With her sister ship, HMS Enterprise, they form the Echo class of survey vessels. She was built by Appledore Shipbuilders in Devon in 2002 and is the ninth Royal Navy vessel to carry the name.

Design

Echo and Enterprise are the first Royal Navy ships to be fitted with azimuth thrusters. Both azimuth thrusters and the bow thruster can be controlled through the Integrated Navigation System by a joystick providing high manoeuvrability. Complete control and monitoring for power generation and propulsion, together with all auxiliary plant systems, tank gauging and damage control functions is provided through the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), accessible through workstations around the ship.

Role

Echo and her sister ship are designed to conduct survey operations in support of submarines or amphibious operations. She can provide almost real-time tailored environmental information, and also has a secondary role as a Mine Countermeasure Tasking Authority platform, for which she is capable of embarking a dedicated Mine Counter Measures command team.

Manning

Echo operates a lean-manned three-watch rotation system. The total ship's company is 72, with two-thirds of the ship's company on board at any one time. The work cycle of 75 days on followed by 30 days off allows her sailors to take sufficient leave while the ship can remain away from her base port for extended periods, potentially for years at a time.

History

Echo was launched on 2 March 2002 and was named on 4 March by Lady Haddacks, wife of Vice Admiral Sir Paul Haddacks. She was accepted into service on 4 October 2002 and formally commissioned on 7 March 2003.

Persian Gulf deployment 2004 - 2005

Echo deployed to the Persian Gulf to conduct survey operations in 2004, returning to the UK in April 2005.

Far East deployment 2008 - 2011

Exploiting her rotational manning system, Echo is currently deployed on a five-year mission to the Far East, conducting ocean survey and diplomatic visits.

In August 2008 she visited Hong Kong, where her Commanding Officer laid a wreath at the Stanley Military Cemetery. In October of the same year she visited Pusan for the Republic of Korea International Fleet Review. Other visits have been conducted to Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Indonesia.

References

  1. "Royal Navy Bridge Card, February 2009" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  2. ^ "Echoes of a varied history - HMS Echo', ship of the month May 2004". Navy News. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  3. ^ "HMS Echo at the Royal Navy website". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  4. "HMS Echo visits Indonesia at Defence News". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  5. "HMS Echo sets sail on five-year mission". Highbeam Research. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  6. "HMS Echo visit to Hong Kong at the Royal Navy website". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  7. "HMS Echo Attends International Fleet Review – Pusan, Republic of Korea at the Royal Navy website". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  8. "Echo Gets Wet N' Wild In the South China Sea at the Royal Navy website". Retrieved 2009-06-20.
United Kingdom Commissioned ships of the Royal Navy United Kingdom
Aircraft carriers
Queen Elizabeth class
Submarines
Vanguard class
Trafalgar class
Astute class
Destroyers
Type 45
Frigates
Type 23
Amphibious
warfare ships
Albion-class LPD
Mine counter
measures vessels
Sandown class
Hunt class
Patrol vessels
Ice patrol vessel
River class
Archer class
Cutlass class
Survey vessels
Ocean survey vessel
Survey launch
Miscellaneous
Ship of the line
  • Victory (flagship of the First Sea Lord)
Echo-class survey ship (2002)
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