M2004 HMS CARRON (1984 – 1993)
HMS CARRON at sea
HMS CARRON [M2004] allocated to Severn Division RNR and commissioned as sea tender. River Class Minesweeper built by Richards, Lowestoft, launched 23 September 1983, 850 tons/890 tons full load; 47m loa; 10.5m beam and 3.1m draught. Propulsion by 2 Ruston 6RKC diesels 3,040 bhp, speed 14 knots. Crew 30. 1 x 40mm Bofor.
Battle Honour: Baltic 1855
Previous ships of the same name:
- Sixth Rate, 460bm, 20 guns. Built by H Adams, Buckler’s Hard. Launched 9 November 1813. 1814 served in the American War. 6 July 1820 wrecked near Puri Bay in India.
- Wooden Paddlewheel Vessel, 294bm – converted on the stocks from a ‘Cherokee’ class brig-sloop, built Deptford Dockyard and launched 9 January 1827. 1837 converted to ta tug. 1846 lent as a coal hulk. 1848 used as a breakwater. 1877 removed from the Navy List. 1855 broken up at Devonport.
- Mortar Vessel, 160bm. Built by Wigram, Blackwall. Launched 28 April 1855. 19 October 1855 renamed MV17.7. 1866 reduced to a hulk. 1884 broken up at Devonport.
- Destroyer from the “CA” group of the “C” class. 1,7210 tons, 4 x 4.5″ and 4 x 40mm AA guns. 8TT. Built by Scotts, Greenock. Launched 28 March 1944. Saw action with 6th Destroyer Flotilla in North Atlantis and off Norway. 1945-6 in Indian Ocean. 1946-54 in Reserve at Chatham. August 1955 completed conversion at Chatham and joined the Dartmouth Training Squadron. July 1960. transferred to Portsmouth as Navigational Training Ship attached to HMS DRYAD. 29 March 1963 paid off for disposal. 4 April 1967 arrived at Inverkeithing to be broken up by T W Ward.
Footnote: Also a Motor Vessel commissioned into the RN for the period of World War 1.
Click on link below to see the Commissioning Service for HMS CARRON:
HMS CARRON Commissioning 29 Sep 1984
See video below to see HMS CARRON at sea off Plymouth in 1991. The video also contains rare footage of the training of the splash target cox’n. ( In days of yon when preparing for a shoot, the greenest newest crew member would be invited to have the honour of being splash target cox’n. He was to sit on the towed splash target, steer it and indicate with flags how far off the shots missed him and to which side. In this case they got really modern and gave him a radio as well. Decent of them to check that his gear was properly waterproof!)
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