Tenacity Class Patrol Craft

Tenacity was privately built by Vosper Thornycroft as a speculative venture in 1969 . Her design was based on that of the Brave Class Fast Patrol Boats, although Tenacity was significantly larger. In 1971 Tenacity was twice chartered by the Royal Navy and was purchased outright in January the following year for service with the Fishery Protection Squadron.

Tenacity displaced 220 tons and measured 44 metres in length, 8 metres in breadth and 2 metres in draught. She had a complement of 32. Powered by three Rolls-Royce Proteus Gas Turbine Engines, Tenacity could achieve speeds in excess of 40 knots. Additionally, she was fitted with two Paxman Ventura Diesel Engines for cruising below 16 knots. Although Tenacity was designed for heavy armaments, such as Exocet anti-ship missiles, she received no weaponry except a 40mm Bofor Gun fitted in 1978.

In addition to fishery protection duties, Tenacity participated in Fleet exercises and undertook anti-terrorist operations in Northern Ireland. Tenacity was sold in 1985. Whilst being converted into a yacht at Portishead in October 1996, an explosion and fire occurred at the Avonmouth premises of Albright and Wilson Ltd. Work was halted and then Tenacity was dismantled altogether.*

An improved Tenacity Class design was produced by Vosper Thornycroft and two vessels- Indpendencia and Libertad - were built for Mexico for customs & excise, anti-shipping attacks and fishery protection duties.

Craft Details

Craft	Pennant	Deck Code	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Commissioned
Tenacity	P276	TY	Vosper Thornycroft		February 18th 1969	1972

* I recently recived this email regarding HMS Tenacity:

The chemical company Rhodia have imformed me that the damage to the tenacity was not caused by an explosion or fire they have said the chemical leak was far too small to cause the damage claimed...in fact the case was thrown out of court...I have enclosed the exact text from the Bristol Evenig Post.

Extract from Evening Post No. 19,789. Friday May 16th 1997. By John Thompson.

Work has stopped on a £3 million luxury yacht near Bristol - after builders complained they were hit by hit-out from a neighbouring chemical factory. They say they suffered burns while working on converting the former Royal Navy fast attack boat for an overseas millionaire. The work, at Portishead docks, has been shrouded in secrecy since it started four years ago. Now there are doughts that the yacht will ever be finished. The builders say they downed tools after the vessel was hit three times by clouds of phosphorus from the docks-based Albright and Wilson chemical works. The millionaire owner, who is beleived to live in the South of France, is now taking legal action against the chemical giant. He claims the fall-out damaged the yacht's fibre-glass super-structure and has consulted his lawyer and loss adjusters. Workers employed by Heron boat builders, based in the docks, are also seeking compensation for skin burns they say they from the phosphorus. The work on the former Royal Navy boat HMS Tenacity started with builders repairing and adding extra steel plates to the 150ft structure. They then started to turn it into an ocean-going luxury cruiser. The inside has been converted to accommodate cabins,bedrooms, lounges and a galley. A diving stage has been built at the stern. A large slipstreamed bridge has been fitted and vast sun docks and two huge 2,000 horsepower diesel engines. The yacht was about to be painted and fitted out when work was haulted. One of the Heron team said "work stopped after the yacht was engulfed in three clouds of phosphorus on November 26 and 27, and on December 12. Both the owner, who I cannot identify, and men working on the yacht are taking legal advice to decide". A Health & Safety Excecutive spokeswoman confirmed there were three small escapes of phosphorus from the Albright and Wilson site in November and December. She said "The incidents were investigated and the company has been told to take steps to ensure it does not happen again. But no action is being taken against Albright and Wilson because they were small emissions and not deemed to be serious" But if people working near the site are concerned about their health they should contact us and there doctors". A spokeswoman for Albright and Wilson said "We accept there was a small emission of phosphorus pentoxide on November 26. But we do not accept it was significantly large enough to cause any damage" She added "Their solicitors have written to our solicitors, who have handed the matter over to our insurance company"

There was an explosion at Albright and Wilson's Portishead works in 1990 which sent a cloud of phosphorus over the town. The site is being turned into a marina including 1000 new homes. An explosion at the Albright and Wilson complex in Avonmouth last year was heard across Bristol.

Regards Steve Moores Ex Tenacity first crew 1972

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