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H.M.S. Dumbarton Castle

Commanding Officer: Lt. Cdr. Iain Cull RN.

HMS Dumbarton Castle is an Offshore Patrol Vessel Mark 2, built by Hall Russell Ltd of Aberdeen. She was launched on 3 June 1981 and accepted into service with the Royal Navy on 9 March 1982. The Ships main role is the protection of the offshore assets of the United Kingdom, including our oil and gas installations and fisheries out to the 200 mile limit.

The current Dumbarton Castle is the third ship of that name to see service with the Royal Navy. The first was a 6th rate frigate which saw action against the French early in the 18th century. Originally of the Scots Navy she was added to the list of the Royal Navy in 1707. The second was a Castle Class corvette built at Dundee in 1944. She spent most of the war in the North Atlantic, employed in anti-submarine operations against the German U-boats. After the war the ship was engaged for a while in Air-Sea Rescue duties before going into reserve in 1946 and subsequently being sold for scrap.

From this predecessor, the present Dumbarton Castle has inherited the battle honour "Atlantic 1944-45" to add to her own "South Atlantic 1982" following her participation in the Falklands conflict. (Crown Copyright - MOD)


DC Montage	Alongside at Mare Harbour	P265	Under the watchful eye of the RAF

Specifications:

Displacement: 1,427 tonnes
Length: 81 m (266 ft)
Beam: 11.5 m (37 ft)
Draught: 3.6 m (11 ft)
Propulsion: 2 x Ruston 12RKC 5640 hp (4.2 MW) diesels, 2 shafts
Speed: 18 knot (33 km/h) max, 12 knot (22 km/h) cruise
Range:
Complement: 45 (Temporary accommodation for an additional twenty-five Royal Marines)
Armament: 30 mm Cannon, 4 x General Purpose Machine Guns
Aircraft: One Lynx or Westland Sea King

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