Editing Echo-class survey ship (2002)

{{for|the earlier class of the same name|Echo-class survey ship (1957)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = HMS Echo (H87) 2015.jpg
| Ship caption = HMS ''Echo'', 2011
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
| Name = 
| Builders = [[Appledore Shipbuilders]], [[Bideford]] (Subcontracted from [[Vosper Thornycroft]])
| Operators = {{navy|United Kingdom}}
| Class before = 
| Class after = 
| Subclasses = 
| Cost = 
| Built range = 2000–2003
| In service range = 
| In commission range = 2003–2023
| Total ships building = 
| Total ships planned = 
| Total ships completed = 2
| Total ships cancelled = 
| Total ships active = 
| Total ships laid up = 
| Total ships lost = 
| Total ships retired = 2<ref name="nlook">{{cite tweet |url=https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1542492921844350978 |title=@HMSEcho formally decommissioned today in Portsmouth after 20 years in service. |user=NavyLookout |number=1542492921844350978 |date=30 June 2022 |access-date=4 July 2022}}</ref>
| Total ships preserved = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Ship type=
*[[Hydrographic survey]]
*[[Mine countermeasures vessel|Mine countermeasures]]{{#tag:ref|Secondary role as a mine countermeasures command vessel. Capable of embarking a dedicated mine countermeasures team and supporting other MCM vessels.<ref name=NN/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/surface-fleet/survey/echo-class/hms-enterprise |title=HMS ''Enterprise'' |website=Royal Navy |access-date=27 June 2014}}</ref>|group=N}}
| Hide header = 
| Header caption =<ref name="Janes">{{cite book |title=Jane's Fighting Ships, 2004-2005 |publisher=Jane's Information Group Limited |isbn=0-7106-2623-1}}</ref>
| Ship displacement ={{convert|3,740|t|LT|abbr=on}}<ref name="navaltechnology">{{cite web |url=http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/echoclasssurveyvesse/ |title=Echo Class Hydrographic / Oceanographic Survey Vessels, United Kingdom |website=Naval-Technology.com |access-date=27 June 2014}}</ref>
| Ship length ={{convert|90.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam ={{convert|16.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship draught ={{convert|5.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship propulsion =*[[Diesel-electric]]
*3 × diesel generators (4.8 MW)
*2 × 1.7 MW (2,279 hp) [[azimuth thruster]]s
*1 × 0.4 MW (536 hp) [[bow thruster]]
| Ship speed ={{convert|15|kn|lk=in}}
| Ship range ={{convert|9300|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|12|kn|abbr=on}}
| Ship endurance =35 days
|Ship boats=[[Survey motor boat]]
| Ship complement =72
| Ship sensors =Integrated survey system{{#tag:ref|Side-scan sonar; Multi-beam echo sounder; Single-beam echo sounder; Undulating oceanographic profiler; Doppler current log; Sub-bottom profiler; Bottom sampling equipment|group=N}}
| Ship armament = 
*2 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon]]s
*2 × [[Minigun]]s
*4 × [[FN MAG|General purpose machine guns]]
}}
|}
The '''''Echo'' class''' was a class of multi-purpose [[hydrography|hydrographic]] survey ships in commission with the [[Royal Navy]]. The ships were primarily tasked with conducting survey work in support of submarine and amphibious operations, however, the class also has a secondary role in [[Mine countermeasures vessel|mine countermeasures]]. The two vessels of the class were the most recent additions to the Royal Navy's [[Hydrographic Squadron]]. Each ship displaced approximately 3,700 tonnes, and was equipped with a state of the art suite of equipment. The lead ship of the class, HMS ''Echo'', was retired in 2022 and her sister ship in 2023.<ref name="enterpriseretired">{{cite web |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2023/march/30/230330-hms-enterprise-is-decommissioned |title=HMS Enterprise is decommissioned |publisher=Royal Navy |date=30 March 2023 |access-date=30 March 2023}}</ref>

==Design==
''Echo'' and ''Enterprise'' were the first Royal Navy ships to be fitted with [[azimuth thruster]]s. Both azimuth thrusters and the bow thruster can be controlled through the integrated navigation system by a joystick providing high manoeuvrability. Complete control and monitoring for power generation and propulsion, together with all auxiliary plant systems, tank gauging and damage control functions is provided through the integrated platform management system (IPMS), accessible through workstations around the ship. The range of equipment carried includes the following:<ref name="Janes" />

* Multi beam echo sounder
* Single beam echo sounder
* Survey Planning and Processing Systems
* Side-scan sonar
* Oceanographic Probe and sensors
* Undulating Oceanographic Profiler
* Doppler Current Log
* Sub-bottom Profiler
* Bottom Sampling Equipment
* [[Survey motor boat]] fitted with multi-beam sonar and sidescan sonar

The vessels were armed. They carried a GAM-B01 20 mm cannon (a naval version of the [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon]]), two [[minigun]]s and four [[FN MAG#British versions|General Purpose Machine Guns]].<ref name="navaltechnology" />

==Role==
The vessels were designed to conduct survey tasks in support of submarines or amphibious operations. They provided almost real-time tailored environmental information, and also have a secondary role as a mine countermeasure tasking authority platform, for which they were capable of embarking a dedicated mine counter measures command team, and supporting other [[Minesweeper|mine warfare]] vessels.<ref name=NN>{{cite news |url=http://www.navynews.co.uk/ships/echo.asp |title=Echoes of a varied history: HMS ''Echo'', ship of the month May 2004 |newspaper=[[Navy News]] |access-date=20 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719190122/http://www.navynews.co.uk/ships/echo.asp |archive-date=19 July 2008}}</ref>

==Manning==
The two ships followed the same type of crew rotation pattern as {{HMS|Scott|H131|6}}, in that two-thirds of their crew was needed to keep the ship operational, with the remaining one-third ashore. This allowed each ship to be available for deployment for up to 330 days a year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ginfo.pl/more/301211,navy,,39,s,new,survey,vessel,named,enterprise.html |title=Navy's new survey ship named ''Enterprise'' |date=2 May 2002 |website=The Defence Procurement Agency Press Office |access-date=20 June 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910174159/http://www.ginfo.pl/more/301211,navy,,39,s,new,survey,vessel,named,enterprise.html |archive-date=10 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The ship's crew consisted of 72 personnel, with 48 on board at any one time, working a cycle of 75 days on, 30 days off. The ships were able to accommodate 81 personnel if necessary. In support of this high availability, all accommodation and recreational facilities were designed for an unusual (in a warship) degree of comfort. All personnel shared double cabins with private facilities, except the captain and executive officer who both had single cabins.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/hydrographic-vessels/multi-role-survey-vessels/ |title=Multi-Role Survey Vessels Hydrographic/Oceanographic (SVHOs) |publisher=Royal Navy |access-date=20 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604210700/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/hydrographic-vessels/multi-role-survey-vessels/ |archive-date=4 June 2009}}</ref>

==Ships in the class==
{| class="wikitable"
!Name
![[Pennant number|Pennant No.]]
!Builder
!Ordered
!Launched
!Date of Commission
!Decommission 
!Status
|-
|{{HMS|Echo|H87|2}}
|H87
|rowspan=2|[[Appledore Shipbuilders]], [[Bideford]]<ref name="Janes" />
|rowspan=2|19 June 2000<ref name="Janes" />
|4 March 2002<ref name="Janes" />
|7 March 2003<ref name="Janes" />
|30 June 2022<ref name="nlook"/>
|Awaiting disposal
|-
|{{HMS|Enterprise|H88|2}}
|H88
|2 May 2002<ref name="Janes" />
|17 October 2003<ref name="Janes" />
|30 March 2023<ref name="enterpriseretired"/>
|TBC
|}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=N}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Echo class survey ships}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/echoclasssurveyvesse/ |title=Echo Class Hydrographic / Oceanographic Survey Vessels |website=Naval-Technology.com}}

{{Echo class Survey ship}}

[[Category:Mine warfare vessels of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Auxiliary research ship classes]]
[[Category:Echo-class survey vessels (2002)| ]]
[[Category:Ship classes of the Royal Navy]]