The Hunt Class are the largest warships ever constructed out of Glass Reinforced Plastic. Although orginally built as dual purpose Minesweepers and Minehunters, the class are currently configured to function only in the Minehunter role. As Minehunters they 'hunt' for mines with a high definition sonar and then destroy them using explosives placed either by the Mine Clearance Divers or by the Sea Fox Mine Disposal System . In addition they are equiped with: a single 30mm gun, two Miniguns and three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs). This equipment fit enables the Hunt class to function in a Secondary Role as very potent patrol Craft.
HMS Ledbury is the second of the Hunt Class Mine Counter Measures Vessels to be built. The ship was launched by her Sponsor, Lady Elizabeth Berthan in December 1979 and was commissioned into Naval Service on 11th June 1981. She cost £65 Million at time of building, the most expensive cost for a class of ship per metre ever built by the Royal Navy.
The Hunt Class is unique in the Royal Navy for its dual functions of 'Sweeping' and 'Hunting' on the same platform and can be rolled from one function to the other in minutes
HMS Ledbury leaving Leith for a commital at sea 30th July 2007
HMS Middleton
HMS Middleton was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd., Glasgow and launched on 4 July 1984 by Lady Blaker. She has a close affiliation with the town of Middleton in the Borough of Rochdale.
Seen here arriving Leith 26th September 2007
HMS Quorn
Seen here arriving Leith 17th February 2006
Sandown Class - Single Role Minehunter
HMS Penzance
Launched by HRH Princess Michael of Kent on the 11th March 1997, the current HMS Penzance was commissioned on 14th May 1998 and is the fourth to bear the name.
Seen here arriving Leith 10th November 2006
