HMS Penzance (M106)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Penzance.

HMS Penzance off Bahrain, 2021
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Penzance
Operator	Royal Navy
Builder	Vosper Thornycroft
Launched	11 March 1997
Commissioned	14 May 1998
Homeport	HMNB Clyde
Identification	MMSI number: 234626000 Callsign: GCUI Pennant number: M106
Motto	Diligenter Pensa "Diligent thought"
Status	in active service
General characteristics
Class and type	Sandown-class minehunter
Displacement	600 t (590 long tons; 660 short tons)
Length	52.5 m (172 ft 3 in)
Beam	10.9 m (35 ft 9 in)
Draught	2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Propulsion	Paxman Valenta 6RP200E diesels 1523 shp, diesel-electric drive, Voith Schneider Propellers, Schottel bow thrusters
Speed	13 kn (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Complement	34 (accommodation for up to 40)
Sensors and processing systems	Radar Type 1007 I-Band Sonar Type 2093
Electronic warfare & decoys	SeaFox mine disposal system Diver-placed explosive charges
Armament	1 × 30mm DS30M Mk2 gun 2 × Miniguns 3 × General purpose machine guns

HMS Penzance is a Sandown-class minehunter commissioned by the Royal Navy in 1998. She is named after the seaside town of Penzance in Cornwall, and is the fourth vessel to bear the name.

In 2020 HMS Penzance deployed long-term to the Persian Gulf, operating as part of 9 Mine Countermeasures Squadron from HMS Jufair in Bahrain. In this role, crews for HMS Penzance rotate every four months.

In April 2021 HMS Penzance was involved in a collision with HMS Chiddingfold in Mina Salman, Bahrain, both vessels remained afloat and were able to berth safely.

References

HMS Penzance near Kinlochbervie, 2009

External links

• "HMS Penzance". Royal Navy.