CONFIDENTIAL
2ND DRAFT
by Messrs Yarrow.
Four more Type 42s and four more
Type 21s are under construction, and further orders
of Type 42s and 22s are planned 7.
(iv) Mine Countermeasures Vessels
The first ship of a new class of glass-reinforced
plastic mine countermeasures vessels has been ordereä
from Messrs Vosper Thorneycroft.
This vessel will be the
largest ship ever built in glass-reinforced plastic and
is designed for both mine-hunting and minesweeping.
(v) Other Ships
A survey ship and two small Fleet tankers have been
accepted into service.
The Royal Navy has also acquired
an ocean-going tug, commissioned as the submarine tender, HMS Wakeful, for duties in the Clyde area. ThreeBird
class patrol craft and an underwater research vessel are
planned to enter service this year. Another Bird class
patrol craft and two fleet replenishment ships are
under construction,
Helicopters
(i) Sea Kings
H'S Hermes now carries a squadron of anti-submarine
ea Kings in addition to a Wessex Naval Air Commando
squadron.
(ii) Wasps
The number of Wasps deployed at sea will
increase as the Type 42 destroyers and Type 21 frigates,
the latest ships equipped to operate them, enter service.
اف
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CONFIDENTIAL
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