The Echo class is a class of multi-purpose hydrographic survey ships in commission with the Royal Navy. The ships are primarily tasked with conducting survey work in support of submarine and amphibious operations, however, the class also has a secondary role in mine countermeasures.
The two vessels of the class are the most recent additions to the Royal Navy's Hydrographic Squadron. Each ship displaces approximately 3,700 tonnes, and is equipped with a state of the art suite of equipment.
The Echo class are the first Royal Navy ships to be fitted with azimuth thrusters. Both azimuth thrusters and the bow thruster can be controlled through the integrated navigation system by a joystick providing high manoeuvrability.
1. HMS Echo (H87) Commissioned 2003
2. HMS Enterprise (H88) Commissioned 2003
Type:
Hydrographic survey
Mine countermeasures Displacement: 3,740 t (3,680 long tons; 4,120 short tons) Length: 90.6 m (297 ft 3 in) Beam: 16.8 m (55 ft 1 in) Draught: 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in) Propulsion: Diesel-electric
3 × diesel generators (4.8 MW)
2 × 1.7 MW (2,279 hp) azimuth thrusters
1 × 0.4 MW (536 hp) bow thruster Speed: 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) Range: 9,300 nmi (17,200 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) Endurance: 35 days Boats and landing
craft carried: Survey motor boat Crew Complement: 72 Sensors and
processing systems: Integrated survey system Armament:
2 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannons
2 × Miniguns
4 × General purpose machine guns
Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships
Posted: 03 May 2015, 15:02
by marktigger
will they be getting new engines?
Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)
Posted: 17 Jun 2015, 14:51
by GibMariner
HMS Echo captures 3D images of naval battle wrecks
Scans of ships destroyed in the Battle of Jutland 99 years ago have been made for the first time using 21st Century technology.
The colourful three-dimensional images made by Royal Navy survey ship HMS Echo belie the horrors played out off the coast of Denmark one Wednesday afternoon during the First World War.
They show the twisted and battered wreck of HMS Invincible, one of 25 warships – 14 of them British – that were blown up on May 31, 1916.
Ahead of the battle’s centenary next spring – which will form the focal point of the Royal Navy’s Great War commemorations – survey ship HMS Echo spent a week scouring the floor of the North Sea with her state-of-the-art sonar suite.
very interesting, waste of a specialist asset though.
Its about time fisheries protection was farmed out to a civilian organization, and stop wasting military resources on it.
Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)
Posted: 18 Jan 2016, 13:07
by marktigger
at least shes at sea and not being towed back again
Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)
Posted: 18 Jan 2016, 13:09
by shark bait
marktigger wrote:at least shes at sea and not being towed back again
when did that happen?
At least shes at sea, but not using the expense specialist equipment she's designed for, wasteful.
Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)
Posted: 18 Jan 2016, 13:46
by marktigger
even when we had 7 opv's in home water they were still using MCMV's for fishery protection
Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)
Posted: 03 May 2016, 16:13
by marktigger
with all the new MTU diesel generators I wonder will this class finally get new generator sets?
Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)
Posted: 10 Jun 2016, 08:37
by GibMariner
Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)
Posted: 10 Jun 2016, 10:40
by marktigger
shark bait wrote:
marktigger wrote:at least shes at sea and not being towed back again
when did that happen?
its happened a few times.
Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)
Posted: 29 Jun 2016, 11:23
by GibMariner
HMS Echo assists stricken vessel
HMS Echo has assisted a yacht that became stranded in strong winds just off the UK South Coast.
The Plymouth-based Survey Vessel worked together with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Solent Coast Guard station to come to the aid of the yacht which had become distressed and unable to make headway in strong winds.
The Royal Navy warship was conducting Survey Operations in the Western English Channel when it overheard a distress call from the struggling sailor to Solent Coast Guard.
The yacht was unable to get a clear message out, due to being battered by 40 knot squalls whilst attempting to cross Lyme Bay - HMS Echo followed up the call by passing vital information to the Coast Guard, who quickly activated the RNLI.
Making way towards the yacht, as her master struggled against the elements, HMS Echo’s crew continued to provide information to the RNLI helping the Inshore Lifeboat launched from Teignmouth to locate the vessel quickly.
And Echo has now replacing her, guess you'll see her coming you're way soon.
RN maintaining a patrol boat in the med, is that a taste of things to come with the new Rivers? I suppose if that's the case assigning one to Gib would make sense.
Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)
Posted: 05 Dec 2016, 13:17
by marktigger
shark bait wrote:And Echo has now replacing her, guess you'll see her coming you're way soon.
RN maintaining a patrol boat in the med, is that a taste of things to come with the new Rivers? I suppose if that's the case assigning one to Gib would make sense.
Is it?
post Brexit why do we need to maintain Patrol boat, Border Force vessels or Survey ship there?