HMS Murray (F91)

HMS Murray (F91) was one of a dozen Blackwood-class frigate (also known as the Type 14 class) of second-rate anti-submarine frigates built for the Royal Navy in the 1950s. She was named for George Murray, who served during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

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

HMS Murray (left) visiting Kiel, Germany, in 1967
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Murray
NamesakeGeorge Murray
BuilderAlexander Stephen and Sons, Govan
Laid down30 November 1953
Launched25 February 1954
Commissioned5 June 1956
IdentificationPennant number: F91
FateBroken up 1970
General characteristics
Class and typeBlackwood-class frigate (Type 14 frigate)
Displacement1,456 long tons (1,479 t) full load
Length310 ft (94.5 m)
Beam33 ft (10.1 m)
Draught15 ft (4.6 m)
Installed power
Propulsion1 shaft; 1 steam turbine set
Speed27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range5,200 nmi (9,600 km; 6,000 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement140
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Radar Type 974 navigation
  • Sonar Type 174 search
  • Sonar Type 162 target classification
  • Sonar Type 170 targeting
Armament

Description

The Blackwood class displaced 1,180 long tons (1,200 t) at standard load and 1,456 long tons (1,479 t) at deep load. They had an overall length of 310 feet (94.5 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 15 feet (4.6 m). The ships were powered by one English Electric geared steam turbine that drove the single propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Babcock & Wilcox boilers. The turbine developed a total of 15,000 shaft horsepower (11,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph).[1] The Blackwoods had a range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). Their complement was 140 officers and ratings.[2]

The ships were armed with three Bofors 40 mm guns in single mounts. The mount on the quarterdeck was later removed as it was unusable in heavy seas. They were equipped with two triple-barrelled Limbo Mark 10 anti-submarine mortars. The Blackwood-class ships had the same sonar suite as the larger Whitby-class frigates where the Limbo mortars were controlled by three sonars, the Type 174 search set, Type 162 target-classification set and the Type 170 'pencil beam' targeting set to determine the bearing and depth of the target.[3]

Construction and career

Murray was laid down by Alexander Stephen and Sons at their Govan shipyard on 30 November 1953, launched on 25 February 1954 and completed on 5 June 1956. The ship is featured with other Type 14 frigates in the 1960 Norman Wisdom film The Bulldog Breed. The ship was also shown working with coastal command, practicing submarine hunting, in a coastal command training film from the 1950s.

Notes
  1. Marriott, p. 66
  2. Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon, p. 515
  3. Marriott, pp. 55, 66, 69

Bibliography
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  • Critchley, Mike (1986). British Warships Since 1945: Part 5: Frigates. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. ISBN 0-907771-13-0.
  • Friedman, Norman (2006). British Destroyers and Frigates, the Second World War and After. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-86176-137-6.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  • Marriott, Leo (1983). Royal Navy Frigates 1945-1983. Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1322-5.
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