View source for Ham-class minesweeper

{{short description|1954 class of minesweeper of the Royal Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=February 2013}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin|sclass=2}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMS Portisham (26782178757).jpg
|Ship caption=HMS ''Portisham''
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=
|Builders=
|Operators=*{{navy|United Kingdom}}
*{{navy|Australia}}
*{{navy|France}}
*{{navy|Ghana}}
*{{navy|Libya}}
*{{navy|India}}
*{{navy|Malaysia}}
*{{navy|Saudi Arabia}}
*{{navy|Yugoslavia}}
|Class before=
|Class after=
|Subclasses=
|Cost=
|Built range=1954–1959
|In service range=
|In commission range=
|Total ships building=
|Total ships planned=
|Total ships completed=93
|Total ships cancelled=
|Total ships active=
|Total ships laid up=
|Total ships lost=
|Total ships retired=
|Total ships preserved=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type=[[Minesweeper]]
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|120|LT|t|0}} standard
*{{convert|164|LT|t|0}} full load
|Ship length=*{{convert|100|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[Length between perpendiculars|p/p]]
*{{convert|106|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} [[length overall|o/a]], except third sub-group {{convert|107|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam=*''26-group:'' {{convert|21|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on}}
*''27-group:'' {{convert|22|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship height= 
|Ship draught=*''26-group:'' {{convert|5|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
*''27-group:'' {{convert|5|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship depth=
|Ship propulsion=*2 shaft [[Paxman (engines)|Paxman]] 12YHAXM diesels
*{{convert|1100|bhp|abbr=on}}
|Ship speed= {{convert|14|kn}}
|Ship range= 15 tons diesel fuel, ?
|Ship endurance=
|Ship complement=2 officers, 13 ratings
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament= 1 × [[Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun]] ''or'' [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon]]
|Ship armour=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
The '''Ham class''' was a [[ship class|class]] of inshore [[minesweeper]]s (IMS), known as the Type 1, of the British [[Royal Navy]]. The class was designed to operate in the shallow water of [[river]]s and [[Estuary|estuaries]]. All of the ships in the class are named for British place names that end with [[List of generic forms in British place names|-"ham"]]. The parent firm that was responsible for supervising construction was [[J. Samuel White|Samuel White]] of [[Cowes]], Isle of Wight.

==Description==
The class consisted of 93 ships, launched between 1954 and 1959. {{HMS|Inglesham|M2601|6}} was the first. They were built in three slightly different sub-groups, the first sub-group, the 26-group, is distinguished by [[pennant number]]s 26xx, and the second and third sub-groups, the 27-group, are distinguished by pennant numbers 27xx. The 26-group was of wood and [[non-ferrous metal]] composite construction and the 27-group was of all-wood construction. The third sub-group is distinguished by a prominent rubbing strake around the hull and slightly larger dimensions.

Unlike traditional minesweepers, they were not equipped for sweeping moored or magnetic mines. Their work was to locate individual mines and neutralise them. This was a then-new role, and the class was configured for working in the shallow water of [[river]]s, [[Estuary|estuaries]] and [[shipping channel]]s.

The vessels displaced {{convert|164|LT}} fully laden and were armed with one [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40 mm Bofors]] or [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm Oerlikon]] gun. They were {{convert|32.5|m}} long overall with a {{convert|6.4|m|adj=on}} beam. The construction was of wood to minimise the magnetic signature. The crew complement was 15, rising to 22 in wartime.

The engines of this class were [[Paxman (engines)|Paxman]] [[diesel engine|diesels]], some of which were built under licence by [[Ruston (engine builder)|Ruston and Hornsby]] of [[Lincoln, Lincolnshire|Lincoln]]. Each vessel had: two 12YHAXM (intercooled) for main propulsion, rated at {{convert|550|bhp|abbr=on|lk=in}} at 1,000 rpm, plus one 12YHAZ for pulse generation. Maximum speed was {{convert|14|kn}} dropping to {{convert|9|kn}} when mine hunting.

The class shared the same basic hull as the {{sclass2|Ley|minehunter}} and the {{sclass|Echo|survey ship (1957)|0}} inshore survey craft. 
{{Clear}}

==Ships==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* {{HMS|Abbotsham}} (IMS87)
* {{HMS|Altham}} (IMS02)
* {{HMS|Arlingham}} (IMS03)
* {{HMS|Asheldham}} (IMS04)
* {{HMS|Bassingham}} (IMS05)
* {{HMS|Bedham}} (IMS06)
* {{HMS|Birdham}} (IMS85)
* {{HMS|Bisham}} (IMS07)
* {{HMS|Blunham}} (IMS08)
* {{HMS|Bodenham}} (IMS09)
* {{HMS|Boreham}} (IMS10)
* {{HMS|Bottisham}} (IMS11)
* {{HMS|Brantingham}} (IMS12) (later HMMS ''Temasek'')<ref>{{cite book|title=Malaysia|author1=British Association of Malaysia|author2=British Association of Malaysia and Singapore|year=1958|page=51|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WHkZAAAAMAAJ&q=%22hms+brantingham%22|access-date=9 January 2018}}</ref>
* {{HMS|Brigham}} (IMS13)
* {{HMS|Bucklesham}} (IMS14)
* {{HMS|Cardinham}} (IMS15)
* {{HMS|Chelsham}} (IMS16)
* {{HMS|Chillingham}} (IMS17)
* {{HMS|Cobham}} (IMS18)
* {{HMS|Cranham}} (IMS19)
* {{HMS|Damerham}} (IMS31)
* {{HMS|Darsham}} (IMS21)
* {{HMS|Davenham}} (IMS22)
* {{HMS|Dittisham}} (IMS23)
* {{HMS|Downham}} (IMS24)
* {{HMS|Edlingham}} (IMS25)
* {{HMS|Elsenham}} (IMS26)
* {{HMS|Etchingham}} (IMS27)
* {{HMS|Everingham}} (IMS28)
* {{HMS|Felmersham}} (IMS29)
* {{HMS|Flintham}} (IMS30)
* {{HMS|Fordham}} (IMS54)
* {{HMS|Frettenham}} (IMS20)
* {{HMS|Fritham}} (IMS32)
* {{HMS|Georgeham}} (IMS88)
* {{HMS|Glentham}} (IMS33)
* {{HMS|Greetham}} (IMS34)
* {{HMS|Halsham}} (IMS35)
* {{HMS|Harpham}} (IMS36)
* {{HMS|Haversham}} (IMS37)
* {{HMS|Hildersham}} (IMS42)
* {{HMS|Hovingham}} (IMS39)
* {{HMS|Inglesham}} (IMS01)
* {{HMS|Isham}} (IMS40)
* {{HMS|Kingham}} (IMS41)
* {{HMS|Lasham}} (IMS38)
* {{HMS|Ledsham}} (IMS43) (burnt to hull, London 2017)
* {{HMS|Littleham}} (IMS44)
* {{HMS|Ludham}} (IMS45)
* {{HMS|Malham}} (IMS89)
* {{HMS|Mersham}} (IMS46)
* {{HMS|Mickleham}} (IMS47)
* {{HMS|Mileham}} (IMS48)
* {{HMS|Neasham}} (IMS49)
* {{HMS|Nettleham}} (IMS50)
* {{HMS|Ockham}} (IMS51)
* {{HMS|Odiham}} (IMS83)
* {{HMS|Ottringham}} (IMS52)
* {{HMS|Pagham}} (IMS53)
* {{HMS|Petersham}} (IMS55)
* {{HMS|Pineham}} (IMS56)
* {{HMS|Polsham}} (IMS92)
* {{HMS|Popham}} (IMS82)
* {{HMS|Portisham}} (IMS81)
* {{HMS|Powderham}} (IMS57) (later HMS ''Waterwitch'')
* {{HMS|Pulham}} (IMS58)
* {{HMS|Puttenham}} (IMS84)
* {{HMS|Rackham}} (IMS59)
* {{HMS|Rampisham}} (IMS86)
* {{HMS|Reedham}} (IMS60)
* {{HMS|Rendlesham}} (IMS61)
* {{HMS|Riplingham}} (IMS62)
* {{HMS|Sandringham|M2791|6}} (IMS91)
* {{HMS|Saxlingham}} (IMS64)
* {{HMS|Shipham}} (IMS63)
* {{HMS|Shrivenham}} (IMS65)
* {{HMS|Sidlesham}} (IMS66) (beached and abandoned, Battersea London 2017)
* {{HMS|Sparham}} (IMS68)
* {{HMS|Stedham}} (IMS67)
* {{HMS|Sulham}} (IMS69)
* {{HMS|Thakeham}} (IMS70)
* {{HMS|Thatcham}} (IMS90)
* {{HMS|Thornham}} 
* {{HMS|Tibenham}} (IMS71)
* {{HMS|Tongham}} (IMS72)
* {{HMS|Tresham}} (IMS73)
* {{HMS|Warmingham}} (IMS74)
* {{HMS|Wexham}} (IMS75)
* {{HMS|Whippingham}} (IMS76)
* {{HMS|Wintringham}} (IMS77)
* {{HMS|Woldingham}} (IMS78)
* {{HMS|Wrentham}} (IMS79)
* {{HMS|Yaxham}} (IMS80) (later HMS ''Woodlark'')
{{div col end}}

In 1964 Ten of the vessels were allocated to the [[Royal Naval Auxiliary Service]]

{| class="wikitable"
|Name
|Call sign
|Pennant No
|Completed
|Builders
|Joined RNXS
|Disposal
|-
|Birdham
| 
|M.2785
|5-Mar-57
|J.Taylor
|1964
|May 1980 - Arrived Great Wakering, Essex for Breaking
|-
|Odiham
| 
|M.2783
|27-Jul-56
|Vospers
|1964
|1978 -  on disposal list., May 1980 sold to Sutton & Smith, Great Wakering, Essex
|-
|Pagham
| 
|M.2716
|22-Mar-56
|Jones,  Buckie
|1964
|to 1974.1982, RNR Tender
|-
|'''Portisham'''
|'''GTDG'''
|'''M.2781'''
|'''26-Mar-56'''
|'''Dorset Yacht'''
|'''1964'''
|'''to 1983 at HMS ''Vernon'',  Portsmouth'''
|-
|Puttenham
| 
|M.2784
|9-May-58
|Thorneycroft
|1964
|to 1978 at Plymouth
|-
|Saxlingham
| 
|M.2727
|29-Jan-57
|Berthon Boat
|1964
|to 1965.  Approved to scrap 1966. 2 May 1968 sold to Ross & Cromarty CC for Lewis Sea School
|-
|'''Shipham'''
|'''MTMW'''
|'''M.2726'''
|'''3-Feb-56'''
|'''Brooke Marine'''
|'''1964'''
|'''to 1983 at Gillingham'''
|-
|Shrivenham
| 
|M.2728
|11-Aug-56
|Bolson
|1964
|to 1965. For disposal in 1966. Sold to PLA, 21 Feb 1969. Approved to scrap 1966.  2 May 1968 sold to Ross & Cromarty CC for Lewis Sea School
|-.
|'''Thakeham'''
|'''GTJC'''
|'''M.2733'''
|'''15-Nov-57'''
|'''Fairlee Yacht'''
|'''1964'''
|'''to 1978. 1979 for disposal'''
|-
|Tongham
| 
|M.2735
|18-Jun-57
|J.Miller
|1964
|to 1978, also PAS. 1979 for disposal
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}
* ''Warships of the Royal Navy'', Captain John. E. Moore RN, Jane's Publishing, 1979

{{Ham class minesweeper|others}}
{{Yugoslav Ships |state=collapsed}}
{{Ship classes of the Indian Navy}}

[[Category:Ham-class minesweepers| ]]
[[Category:Mine warfare vessel classes]]
[[Category:Ship classes of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Mine warfare vessels of the Yugoslav Navy]]