HMS Keppel (F85)
{{short description|1956 Type 14 or Blackwood-class frigate of the Royal Navy}}
{{other ships|HMS Keppel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
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{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=File:HMS Keppel, 1972(IWM).jpg |Ship caption=Blackwood-class frigate HMS Keppel, February 1972 }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=United Kingdom |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}} |Ship name= HMS Keppel |Ship namesake=Augustus Keppel |Ship ordered= |Ship awarded= |Ship builder=Yarrow, Scotstoun |Ship original cost= |Ship yard number= |Ship way number= |Ship laid down= 27 March 1953 |Ship launched= 31 August 1954 |Ship sponsor= |Ship christened= |Ship completed= |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned= 6 July 1956 |Ship recommissioned= |Ship decommissioned= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship renamed= |Ship reclassified= |Ship refit= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship homeport= |Ship identification=Pennant number: F85 |Ship motto= |Ship nickname= |Ship honours= |Ship captured= |Ship fate=Scrapped 1979 |Ship notes= |Ship badge= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class={{sclass|Blackwood|frigate}} (Type 14 frigate) |Ship displacement={{convert|1456|LT|t|abbr=on|lk=in}} full load |Ship length={{convert|310|ft|m|abbr=on|1}} |Ship beam={{convert|33|ft|m|abbr=on|1}} |Ship draught={{convert|15|ft|m|abbr=on|1}} |Ship power=*2 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers
|Ship propulsion=1 shaft; 1 steam turbine set |Ship speed={{convert|27|kn|lk=in}} |Ship range={{convert|5200|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|12|kn}} |Ship complement=140 |Ship sensors=*Radar Type 974 navigation
|Ship EW= |Ship armament=*3 × 40 mm Bofors guns
|Ship notes= }} |
HMS Keppel (F85) was one of a dozen Blackwood-class frigate (also known as the Type 14 class) of second-rate anti-submarine frigates built for the Royal Navy in the 1950s. She was named for Augustus Keppel, who served during the Seven Years' War and was admiral of the Western Squadron during the American War of Independence.
Description
The Blackwood class displaced {{convert|1180|LT|t}} at standard load and {{convert|1456|LT|t}} at deep load. They had an overall length of {{convert|310|ft|1}}, a beam of {{convert|33|ft|1}} and a draught of {{convert|15|ft|1}}. The ships were powered by one English Electric geared steam turbine that drove the single propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Babcock & Wilcox boilers. The turbine developed a total of {{convert|15000|shp|lk=in}} and gave a maximum speed of {{convert|27|kn|lk=in}}.Marriott, p. 66 The Blackwoods had a range of {{convert|4500|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|12|kn}}. Their complement was 140 officers and ratings.Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon, p. 515
The ships were armed with three Bofors 40 mm guns in single mounts. The mount on the quarterdeck was later removed as it was unusable in heavy seas. They were equipped with two triple-barrelled Limbo Mark 10 anti-submarine mortars. The Blackwood-class ships had the same sonar suite as the larger {{sclass|Whitby|frigate}}s where the Limbo mortars were controlled by three sonars, the Type 174 search set, Type 162 target-classification set and the Type 170 'pencil beam' targeting set to determine the bearing and depth of the target.Marriott, pp. 55, 66, 69
Construction and career
Keppel was laid down by Yarrow Shipbuilders at their Scotstoun shipyard on 27 March 1953, launched on 31 August 1954 and completed on 6 July 1956.Marriott, p. 69.
On commissioning, Keppel joined the Second Training Squadron, based at Portland Harbour.{{cite news |title=Ships of the Royal Navy: No. 248: 'Old' Keppel Back With the Fleet |newspaper=Navy News |date= July 1976 |page=5 |url=https://issuu.com/navynews/docs/197607 |accessdate=16 November 2019}} She paid off for an extended refit in March 1958, during which her hull was strengthened as a result of operating experience of ships of the class in heavy seas.Critchley, p. 88, 91.Marriott, p. 66. In September 1960, Keppel returned to the Portland Training Squadron, and from June 1963 to April 1964 served with the Fishery Protection Squadron.Critchley, p. 91.
In February 1973, Keppel was reduced to reserve, joining the Standby Squadron at Chatham. She was listed for disposal when a boiler explosion on sister ship {{HMS|Hardy|F54|2}}, serving with the 2nd Frigate Squadron at Portland, caused Keppel to return to active service to replace Hardy in July 1975.Critchley, pp. 90–91. Keppel remained with the 2nd Frigate Squadron, serving in the training role, until November 1976.
She was again placed on the disposal list in 1977 and was scrapped at Sittingbourne in 1979.Marriott, p. 68
Notes
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{Cite Colledge2006}}
- {{cite book|last=Critchley |first=Mike |date=1986 |title=British Warships Since 1945: Part 5: Frigates |location=Liskeard, UK |publisher=Maritime Books |isbn=0-907771-13-0}}
- {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Destroyers and Frigates, the Second World War and After|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2006|isbn=1-86176-137-6}}
- {{cite book|last1=Gardiner|first1=Robert|last2=Chumbley|first2=Stephen|last3=Budzbon |first3=Przemysław|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995|year=1995|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=1-55750-132-7|name-list-style=amp}}
- {{cite book|last=Marriott |first=Leo |date=1983 |title=Royal Navy Frigates 1945–1983|location=Shepperton, Surrey, UK |publisher=Ian Allan |isbn=0-7110-1322-5}}
{{Blackwood class frigate}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Keppel}}
Category:Blackwood-class frigates
Category:Ships of the Fishery Protection Squadron of the United Kingdom