Peacock-class corvette
{{Short description|1982 class of British corvettes}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2013}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = BRP Artemio Ricarte PS37.jpg | Ship caption = BRP Artemio Ricarte (ex-HMS Starling) }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name = Peacock class | Builders = Hall, Russell & Company, Aberdeen | Operators = * {{navy|United Kingdom}}
| Class before = {{sclass2|Castle|patrol vessel|4}} | Class after = *{{sclass2|River|patrol vessel|4}} (United Kingdom)
| Subclasses = {{sclass2|Jacinto|patrol vessel|4}} | Cost = | Built range = | In service range = | In commission range = 1982 - present | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = | Total ships completed = 5 | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = *Philippine Navy: 3
| Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = | Ship type = Corvette | Ship tonnage = | Ship displacement = 712 tons full load | Ship length = {{convert|62.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|10|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|2.72|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = 2 diesels, 2 shafts, {{convert|14,188|bhp|abbr=on}} | Ship speed = {{convert|25|kn|abbr=on}} sustained max speed | Ship range = | Ship endurance = | Ship complement = 30 - 40 | Ship sensors = | Ship EW = | Ship armament = *1 × Oto Melara 76 mm/62cal Compact gun
| Ship armour = | Ship aircraft = | Ship aircraft facilities = | Ship notes = }} |
The Peacock class is a class of patrol corvette built for the Royal Navy. Five were constructed, and by 1997 all had been sold to the Irish Naval Service or the Philippine Navy.
Original use
The five ships of this class were originally part of the Hong Kong Squadron of the Royal Navy.{{cite book |title=Peacocks unite for final patrol |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/images/navynews/archivepdfs/1990s/1997/navy-news-august-1997-issue-517.pdf |accessdate=23 August 2024 |publisher=Navy News |page=19 |date=August 1997 |archive-date=3 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203172018/https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/images/navynews/archivepdfs/1990s/1997/navy-news-august-1997-issue-517.pdf |url-status=live }} The ships were built by Hall, Russell & Company of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom and were commissioned into Royal Navy service between 1983 and 1985. They were specifically built for service in Hong Kong with the 6th Patrol Craft Squadron; for work in tropical climates they were fully air conditioned and were capable of remaining at sea during typhoons. As well as ‘flying the flag’ and providing a constant naval presence in region, they could undertake a number of different roles including Seamanship, Navigation and Gunnery training and Search-and-Rescue duties for which they had facilities to carry divers (including a decompression chamber) and equipment to recover vessels and aircraft. They also worked with the Marine Department of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force and with Customs & Excise to decrease the constant flow of illegal immigrants, narcotics and electronic equipment into the colony. For these roles each vessel could carry two Avon Searider SR5M rigid-hulled inflatable boats and a small detachment of Royal Marines.Royal Navy Postwar. [https://web.archive.org/web/20061212183300/http://www.btinternet.com/~warship/Postwar/Patrol/index.htm Peacock Class Offshore Patrol Vessels].
Philippine Navy
HMS Peacock (P239), HMS Plover (P240), and HMS Starling (P241) were sold to the Philippines and were officially turned over to the Philippine Navy on 1 August 1997 after Hong Kong was returned to China. In Philippine service they are designated {{sclass|Emilio Jacinto|corvette|1}}s, and have been considerably 'up-gunned' with a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster and two 20 mm Oerlikon guns.
The Philippine Navy undertook several phases of upgrades on the three corvettes, with the first one completed in 2005 replacing the old radar and navigation systems. The second upgrade involved the improvements on its marine engineering systems, and a third upgrade included the improvement of combat systems.{{cite web |url=http://maxdefense.blogspot.com/2016/03/propmech-and-saab-wins-jacinto-class.html |title=Propmech and Saab Wins Philippine Navy's Jacinto-class Patrol Vessel Upgrade Phase 3B Project |author=Montero, Max |publisher=MaxDefense Philippines |date=14 March 2016 |accessdate=21 October 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://maxdefense.blogspot.com/2015/10/updates-on-sensors-fire-control-system.html |title=Updates on the Sensors, Fire Control System, and Weapon Systems Upgrade of the Philippine Navy's Jacinto-class Vessels |author=Montero, Max |publisher=MaxDefense Philippines |date=21 October 2015 |accessdate=21 October 2018}}
Irish Naval Service
File:Chatham Navy Days 2002, St Mary's Island. - geograph.org.uk - 170875.jpg in Chatham in 2002]]
HMS Swallow (P242) and HMS Swift (P243) were both sold to the Irish Naval Service in 1988. They were respectively renamed as {{ship|LÉ|Ciara|P42|6}} (P42) and {{ship|LÉ|Orla|P41|6}} (P41), and were commissioned under their current names by the Taoiseach Charles Haughey on 16 January 1989.
The two ships take their names from traditional Irish mythology: Órla, a grand niece (great niece) of Brian Boru, the 11th-century High King of Ireland.;[http://www.military.ie/naval/flotilla/p41/orla.htm Irish Naval Service the LÉ Órla webpage] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016014349/http://www.military.ie/naval/flotilla/p41/orla.htm |date=16 October 2007 }} and Ciara, a saint born in Tipperary around the year 611 AD. They replaced the three {{sclass2|Ton|minesweeper|1}}s, the last of which the Irish Navy had recently retired before the delivery of the Peacock class.
The two ships were decommissioned on 8 July 2022 {{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/one-third-of-naval-service-fleet-to-be-decommissioned-1.4838532 | title=One-third of Naval Service fleet to be decommissioned | newspaper=The Irish Times }} and are due to be replaced by ex-HMNZS Lake-class inshore patrol vessels, ex Rotoiti and Pukaki IPV in 2023.{{cite web | url=https://www.naval-technology.com/news/new-zealand-defence-force-babcock-decomissioned-vessels-sold-irealnd/ | title=New Zealand sells two retired vessels to Ireland | date=15 March 2022 }} They are planned to be scrapped by the Irish Department of Defense rather than sold to another country like the Philippine Navy.{{Cite web |last=MacSweeney |first=Tom |date=February 1, 2023 |title=Naval Vessels to be Scrapped Rather Than Sold? |url=https://afloat.ie/port-news/navy/item/57713-naval-vessels-to-be-scrapped-rather-than-sold |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230325084748/https://afloat.ie/port-news/navy/item/57713-naval-vessels-to-be-scrapped-rather-than-sold |archive-date=March 25, 2023 |access-date=March 25, 2023 |website=Afloat}}
Operators
- {{flagicon|Ireland}} Irish Navy (ex-RN 1988–2022)
- {{flagicon|Philippines}} Philippine Navy (ex-RN 1997–)
- {{flagicon|United Kingdom|naval}} Royal Navy (former 1982–1997)
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/asiapac/philip.htm#patr2 List of patrol vessels in service]
- [http://www.military.ie/naval-service/fleet/coastal-patrol-vessel/le-orla-p-41 Irish Naval Service LÉ Orla webpage]
{{Peacock patrol vessel}}