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
Name: HMS Murray
Namesake: George Murray
Builder: Alexander Stephen and Sons, Govan
Laid down: 30 November 1953
Launched: 25 February 1954
Commissioned: 5 June 1956
Identification: Pennant number: F91
Fate: Broken up 1970
General characteristics
Class and type: Blackwood-class frigate (Type 14 frigate)
Displacement: 1,456 long tons (1,479 t) full load
Length: 310 ft (94.5 m)
Beam: 33 ft (10.1 m)
Draught: 15 ft (4.6 m)
Installed power:
  • 2 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers
  • 15,000 shp (11 MW)
Propulsion: 1 shaft; 1 steam turbine set
Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range: 5,200 nmi (9,600 km; 6,000 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement: 140
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.

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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