HMS Etchingham (M2625)

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Etchingham
Namesake	Etchingham
Builder	Ailsa Shipbuilding Company
Launched	9 December 1957
Completed	27 June 1958
Fate	Sold for breaking in 1967
General characteristics
Class and type	Ham class minesweeper
Type	Minesweeper
Displacement	120 long tons (122 t) standard 164 long tons (167 t) full load
Length	100 ft (30 m) p/p 106 ft 6 in (32.46 m) o/a
Beam	21 ft 4 in (6.50 m)
Draught	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Propulsion	2 shaft Paxman 12YHAXM diesels 1,100 bhp (820 kW)
Speed	14 knots (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Complement	2 officers, 13 ratings
Armament	1 × Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun or Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
Notes	Pennant number(s): M2625 / IMS27

HMS Etchingham was one of 93 ships of the Ham-class of inshore minesweepers.

Their names were all chosen from villages ending in -ham. The minesweeper was named after Etchingham in East Sussex. In the 1960s Etchingham and her sister ship, Cardinham were in service with the Hong Kong Royal Naval Reserve, until the unit was disbanded on 31 March 1967.

References

• Blackman, R.V.B. ed. Jane's Fighting Ships (1953)