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HMS Mersey (P283)
Encyclopedia
The fifth and current HMS Mersey is a River class offshore patrol vessel
of the British
Royal Navy
. Named after the River Mersey
, the ship is the first to bear the name in 84 years.
She was built by Vosper Thornycroft
in Southampton
to serve as fishery protection units within the United Kingdom's waters along with her two sister ships Tyne
and Severn
. All three were commissioned into service in 2003 to replace the five older Island class patrol vessel
s. She was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 28 November 2003. At that time, Mersey was not expected to commence duties until February 2004.
HMS Mersey was the final Royal Navy ship to be launched from Vosper Thornycroft at its Woolston shipyard
. The first was the Tribal Class
destroyer
HMS Tartar
on 25 June 1907.
River class patrol vessel
The River class is a class of three offshore patrol vessels in the Royal Navy, replacing the seven ships of the Island class. A fourth, modified vessel based on the River class has also been built for the Royal Navy, replacing the Castle class, for duties in the Falklands...
of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. Named after the River Mersey
River Mersey
The River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
, the ship is the first to bear the name in 84 years.
She was built by Vosper Thornycroft
VT Group
VT Group plc was a British defence and services company, formerly known as Vosper Thornycroft. The Company had diversified from shipbuilding into various engineering and support services, becoming involved in many areas of provision through five main operating groups: VT Communications, VT...
in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
to serve as fishery protection units within the United Kingdom's waters along with her two sister ships Tyne
HMS Tyne (P281)
HMS Tyne is the sixth Royal Navy ship to carry the name Tyne. She is a River class offshore patrol vessel built by Vosper Thornycroft in Southampton to serve as a fishery protection unit within the United Kingdom's waters along with her two sister ships Mersey and Severn...
and Severn
HMS Severn (P282)
The ninth and current HMS Severn is a River class offshore patrol vessel of the British Royal Navy. Named after the River Severn, the ship is the first to bear the name in 56-years....
. All three were commissioned into service in 2003 to replace the five older Island class patrol vessel
Island class patrol vessel
The Island-class patrol vessel was first designed and built for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency. As a result of the Royal Navy's experiences in the so-called Cod War with Iceland, and the success of FPV Jura in fishery protection patrols, the Navy built a further seven...
s. She was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 28 November 2003. At that time, Mersey was not expected to commence duties until February 2004.
HMS Mersey was the final Royal Navy ship to be launched from Vosper Thornycroft at its Woolston shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
. The first was the Tribal Class
Tribal class destroyer (1905)
The Tribal or F class was a class of destroyer built for the Royal Navy. Twelve ships were built between 1905 and 1908 and all saw service during World War I, where they saw action in the North Sea and English Channel as part of the 6th Flotilla and Dover Patrols.-Design:The preceding River or E...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
HMS Tartar
HMS Tartar (1907)
thumb|right|300px|Engine room of the HMS Tartar. Photo caption from [[Popular Mechanics]] magazine March 1909HMS Tartar was a Tribal class destroyer of the Royal Navy launched in 1907 and sold in 1921. During the First World War she served in the North Sea and the English Channel with the 6th...
on 25 June 1907.