HMS Vidal
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
|
|
| Name: | HMS Vidal |
| Builder: | Chatham Dockyard |
| Laid down: | 5 July 1950 |
| Launched: | 31 July 1951 |
| Completed: | 29 March 1954 |
| Commissioned: | 1954 |
| Fate: | Broken up in June 1976 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Survey ship |
| Displacement: | 1,940 tonnes |
| Length: | 297 ft (91 m) |
| Beam: | 40 ft (12 m) |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: | 16 knots |
| Complement: | 161 |
| Armament: |
|
| Aircraft carried: | 1 × Westland Dragonfly helicopter |
HMS Vidal was a survey ship of the Royal Navy.
Vidal was built at Chatham Dockyard, and was the last surface vessel, and the last oceanographic survey vessel built at the Dockyard. She was also the first small ship designed to carry a helicopter. She was launched on 31 July 1951 and commissioned into service in 1954. In common with most of the survey ships of the period, she was named after an influential surveyor or explorer of the Royal Navy. In her case, this was the nineteenth century surveyor Alexander Thomas Emeric Vidal, who had surveyed much of the coast of Africa, and ranged into the Atlantic to survey the tiny islet of Rockall. So far she has been the only ship of the Navy to bear the name.
Vidal spent her career carrying out surveys for the Navy, and supporting scientific work for the British government. The development of the Cold War led the British government to decide to formally annex Rockall. This was authorised on 14 September 1955, with orders from Queen Elizabeth II transmitted to the Vidal detailing
On arrival at Rockall you will effect a landing and hoist the Union flag on whatever spot appears most suitable or practicable and you will then take possession of the island on our behalf.
The Vidal arrived in position the following day, but were unable to land any men as poor weather prevented the helicopter from flying.
On 18 September 1955 at precisely 10.16 am, Lieutenant-Commander Desmond Scott RN, Sergeant Brian Peel RM, Corporal AA Fraser RM, and James Fisher (a civilian naturalist and former Royal Marine), were deposited on the island by a Royal Navy helicopter from HMS Vidal. The team cemented in a brass plaque on Hall's Ledge and hoisted the Union Flag to stake the UK's claim.
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Wikipedia