HMS HYDRA – Ocean Survey Ship
HMS HYDRA was a Hecla class Survey Ship, constructed by Yarrow & Co shipbuilders at Blythswood, Glasgow.
The Hecla class (3 ships, plus 1 Improved Hecla) were the first RN survey ships to be designed with a combined oceanographical and hydrographic role. The hull was strengthened for navigation in ice. The fore end of the superstructure incorporated a Land Rover garage and, a helicopter hangar at the aft end with adjacent flight deck.
HYDRA was laid down in May 1964, launched on 14th July 1965 and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 5th May 1966.
HYDRA was 260 ft overall length x 49 ft wide and displaced 2733 tons (full load). The ships company was 118 (14 officers and 104 ratings). There was accommodation on board for 123 (19 officers and 104 ratings).
Powered by 3 x Paxman ‘Ventura’ 12-cylinder turbocharged diesels providing 3,840 bhp. Driven by a 2000 shp electric motor through a single propellor. Max speed on trials was 14.5 knots.
Sufficient fuel was carried to give a range of 20,000 miles at 9 knots. H7YDRA had the capability of operating independently of shore support for long periods.
HMS HYDRA was docked at Chatham Dockyard five times between 1967 and 1971 for Refit Docking and DED’s (Docking and Essential Defects) work.
In 1968 HMS HYDRA participated in Chatham Dockyard Navy Days. A record crowd of 65,000 attended the two-day event, and HYDRA was visited by approx. 16,500 members of the public.
HYDRA was placed on RN Disposal list 1986 an handed over to Indonesia 18th April 1986 for refit. On completion of the refit, she was commissioned into Indonesian Navy on 10th September 1986 as Survey Ship “DEWI KEMBAR”.
HYDRA
In Greek and Roman mythology, Hydra is a huge sea serpent-like monster with nine heads, one of which is immortal. It lived in a lake called Lerna, allegedly the entrance to the underworld. Hydra’s blood and breath was deadly poisonous.
Discover More
Warship Wednesday
A small window into our past
Like what you’ve read? Learn more about the work of the Dockyard and the people who not only built ships at Chatham but served on them for 400 years.
Our Collections Online, Digital Exhibitions, Reading Room, Online Dockyard History, and much more are available to help you dive a little deeper into our history.
Sign up to our newsletter
Blogs & Articles
You might also like these …
Dive a little deeper in to life at the Historic Dockyard with our blogs and articles.
Join the conversation
Share your day with us using hashtag #DockyardChatham
Twitter: @DockyardChatham FB:@historic.chatham
