HMS Elsenham (M2624)

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

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Elsenham
Namesake	Elsenham
Builder	Ailsa Shipbuilding Company
Launched	25 May 1955
Completed	11 January 1956
Identification	Pennant number(s): M2624 / IMS26
Fate	Sold to the Federation of South Arabia 1967. Stricken 1984.
General characteristics
Class & type	Ham-class 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 (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement	2 officers, 13 ratings
Armament	1 × Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun or Oerlikon 20 mm cannon

Their names were all chosen from villages ending in -ham. The minesweeper was named after Elsenham in Essex. Some others include HMS Mickleham, and HMS Petersham.

References

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