Name HMS Eastbourne Laid down 13 January 1954 Decommissioned 1984 Construction started 13 January 1954 Draft 5.2 m | Ordered 6 March 1951 Commissioned 9 January 1958 Reclassified Training ship in 1971 Launched 29 December 1955 Builder Vickers-Armstrongs | |
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HMS Eastbourne was a Whitby-class or Type 12 anti-submarine frigate of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.
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Operational service
Early in her career Eastbourne was the leader of the 4th Frigate Squadron and in 1966 was leader of the Dartmouth Training Squadron. In 1972, Eastbourne replaced Rapid as the 'afloat' training ship for the artificer apprentices at HMS Caledonia. During their 14 weeks aboard ship, the apprentices were trained in general engineering and were examined for their auxiliary machinery certificates. She also took part in the Royal Navy's Fleet Review in celebration of HM the Queen's Silver Jubilee.
Harbour training ship
In 1976 she was dispatched to Iceland to assist in the Cod War and was damaged in a collision with the Icelandic Gunboat Baldur. During the subsequent repairs in Rosyth in 1977, a hull inspection found that Eastbourne was no longer fit for sea, though her machinery was still in good condition. Her propellers were removed, and 'brake wheels' were fitted as a replacement. This enabled her to be steamed at full power with no forward movement. This enabled the apprentices to assist in operation of her machinery at full power, with the added benefit of churning the dockyard basin water up to improve its aeration. Officers under training from Royal Naval Engineering College Manadon were also able to be trained onboard before their first sea draft.
In the 1980s, Eastbourne remained moored at Rosyth Dockyard alongside Duncan as harbour training ship for the marine engineering artificer apprentices of Caledonia. Once Caledonia was scheduled to close, both Eastbourne and Duncan were de-stored and paid off for disposal in March 1984. Training of the marine engineering artificer apprentices was transferred to HMS Sultan.