HMS Lowestoft in 1979
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History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name | HMS Lowestoft |
Builder | Alex Stephens & Sons |
Laid down | 9 June 1958 |
Launched | 23 June 1960 |
Commissioned | 26 September 1961 |
Decommissioned | 1985 |
Identification | Pennant number: F103 |
Fate | Sunk as target 8 June 1986 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Rothesay-class frigate |
Displacement | 2,800 tons |
Length | 370 ft (110 m) |
Beam | 41 ft (12 m) |
Draught | 17 ft 4 in (5.28 m) |
Propulsion | 2 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers operating at 550lb sq. in, 850 °F (454 °C) English Electric geared turbines, 2 shafts, 30000 shafts horsepower |
Speed | 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
Complement | 235 |
Armament |
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Aircraft carried | 1 × Wasp helicopter |
HMS Lowestoft was a Rothesay-class or Type 12M class anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy. Lowestoft was reconstructed in the late 1960s to largely the same pattern as the third group of Leander-class frigates, with new radar and fire control and a hangar and pad for a Westland Wasp helicopter for longer range, anti-submarine, engagement. In the late 1970s it was converted as the prototype towed array frigate for the Royal Navy, but retained its full armament. Lowestoft was sunk as a target on 8 June 1986 by HMS Conqueror using a Tigerfish torpedo. She was the last Royal Naval target to be sunk still displaying her pennant number.