Peacock Class Offshore Patrol Vessels

The five Peacock Class Offshore Patrol Vessels were ordered in 1981 to replace the ageing converted Ton Class Minesweepers as Hong Kong Patrol vessels. Built by Hall Russell in Aberdeen they were not unlike the Castle Class in design, although smaller, faster and better armed. They marked a significant improvement in capability over the vessels they replaced, being capable of operating in the Far East, outside local Hong Kong waters.

Three quarters of the construction coasts were paid for by the Hong Kong government. Upon completion, Peacock and Plover sailed from Portsmouth in autumn 1984 and reached the colony in late November. They were followed joined by Swallow, Swift and Starling and were based at HMS Tamar,

The class was designed specifically for patrol duties in Hong Kong waters. As well as ‘flying the flag’ and providing a constant naval presence in region, they could undertake a number of different roles including Seamanship, Navigation and Gunnery training and Search-and-Rescue duties for which they had facilities to carry divers (including a decompression chamber) and equipment to recover vessels and aircraft. They also worked with the Marine Department of the Hong Kong Police and with Customs & Excise in order to prevent the constant flow of illegal immigrants, narcotics and electronic equipment into the Colony.

With a displacement of 652 tons, the Peacock Class measured 62.2 metres in length, 10 metres in beam and 2.72 metres in draught. Powered by two Crossley Pielstick diesels they had a speed of over 25 knots. The Peacock Class were the first warships fitted with the single 76mm Oto Melera Gun and they were also armed with four General Purpose Machine Guns and two rocket launchers amidships. For anti-smuggling and Search-and-Rescue operations they carried two Avon Searider SR5M craft and a small detachment of Royal Marines. Complement consisted of 6 officers and 38 ratings, of which half were usually recruited from the local Hong Kong Chinese population. For work in tropical climates they were fully air conditioned and capable of remaining at sea during Typhoons.

In 1988, after just three years of service, Swallow and Swift returned to the United Kingdom and in October were sold to the Irish Navy and renamed Ciara and Orla, respectively. The Royal Navy ensured that at least one the remaining three vessels- Peacock, Plover and Starling - was always at sea until the colony reverted to Chinese rule at Midnight on June 30th 1997. During this period each vessel carried out as many as 500 boardings a year. The three vessels then withdrew from the Colony, accompanied the Royal Yacht Britannia and the Type 22 Frigate Chatham. The three vessels returned to the United Kingdom to await their fate. Although there was some suggestion that they should join the Fishery Protection Squadron they were quickly sold to the Philippines.

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© Written and researched by Jeremy Olver. First uploaded 10th February 2001. Updated 10th February 2001. Disclaimer.