HMS Redpole (P259)

History
Royal Air Force
NameSea Otter
OperatorRoyal Air Force Marine Branch
Ordered26 March 1973
BuilderFairmile, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Laid down29 July 1974
Launched20 September 1974
Commissioned25 March 1975
Out of service1985
IdentificationIMO number8654314
FateTransferred to Royal Navy
Royal Navy
NameHMS Redpole
NamesakeRedpoll
In service1985
Out of service1994
IdentificationIMO number8654314
FateSold in 2000 and renamed MV Badtz Maru[1]
Notes[2]
General characteristics
Class and typeBird-class patrol vessel
Displacement159 long tons (162 t)
Length120 ft (37 m) o/a
Beam23 ft (7.0 m)
Draught6.5 ft (2.0 m)
PropulsionTwo diesel engines, one to each shaft, all giving 4,000 brake horsepower (3,000 kW)
Speed21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Range2,200 nautical miles (4,100 km; 2,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement17
Notes[2]

HMS Redpole (P259) was built in 1974 by Fairmile Marine at Berwick-upon-Tweed as RAFV Sea Otter, the third Seal class Long Range Recovery and Support Craft of the Royal Air Force Marine Branch. The Seal class was similar to the Bird-class patrol vessels of the British Royal Navy. .[2]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Seal Class was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c Cocker, Maurice (2006). Coastal Forces Vessels of the Royal Navy from 1865. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. p. 241. ISBN 075243862X.