Name HMS Herald (H138) Decommissioned 31 May 2001 Draft 4.9 m Operations Falklands War, Gulf War | Commissioned 1974 Length 79 m Builders Henry Robb, Leith | |
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Out of service Sold to private hydrographic company in 2001 Refit Fitted with a strengthened and extended flight deck for Lynx helicopter, 1988 Status In service as the civilian vessel Somerville | ||
HMS Herald was a Hecla-class ocean survey ship that served with the Royal Navy during both the Falklands War and Gulf War. She was built by Robb Caledon Shipbuilders in Leith, Scotland.
In December 2000, Herald answered a Mayday call and took part in a joint operation with the Royal Air Force to rescue the crew of the Cypriot ferry Royal Prince. The 35-metre ship sank in rough seas, but the crew were rescued by a RAF helicopter from RAF Akrotiri and landed on HMS Herald.
Herald was paid off on 12 April 2001 and decommissioned on 31 May 2001, having been replaced by the two new survey vessels of the Echo class, HMS Echo and HMS Enterprise.
After de-commissioning, Herald joined her sister HMS Hecla in Waterford after a brief re-fit in Cork dockyard. She was renamed Somerville after Admiral James Somerville and was used for a hydrographic survey in Irish waters.