Name HMS Hecla (A133) Laid down 6 May 1964 Commissioned 1964 Construction started 6 May 1964 Length 79 m | Builder Blythswood Completed 24 August 1965 Fate Sold 1997 Launched 21 December 1964 Draft 4.9 m | |
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HMS Hecla was the lead ship of the Hecla class, an oceangoing survey ship type in the Royal Navy. She was ordered in the mid-1960s, along with her sister ships HMS Hecate and HMS Hydra. A fourth ship, HMS Herald, was completed in the early 1970s. The ship served for thirty years in this role, and various others, before finally being replaced by HMS Scott in 1997. Hecla was sold to private interests, being renamed "Bligh" after Vice-Admiral William Bligh. After this, the vessel was used in a hydrographic survey of Irish waters, and was based in Waterford, Ireland.
In 1982, Hecla was used as an ambulance ship for the duration of the Falklands War. In this role, she ferried wounded from both sides to the main hospital ship, SS Uganda.
References
HMS Hecla (A133) Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA