P 23 patrol boat

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aukepalmhof
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P 23 patrol boat

Post by aukepalmhof » Tue Aug 09, 2011 8:49 pm

Built as a Mark II Swift Class inland patrol boat, built by Sewart Seacraft Ltd in 1968 for the U.S.A. Navy.
1968 Launched as C 6823.
Displacement 22.5 ton full load.
Dimensions 15.6 x 4 x 1,5m.
Powered by two GM 12V-71 diesel engines 680 hp (507 kW), twin shafts, speed 25 knots.
Range by a speed of 18 knot, 400 mile.
Armament 1 – 12.7 mm MG.
Aluminium hulled.
Crew 6.

After completing first used as a training craft in Coronado, California until July 1969, then she was moved to Mare Island, CA.
16 January 1971 she was loaded on the USS WOOD COUNTY (LST 1178) at Little Creek, VA.
19 January the USS WOOD COUNTY left and arrived 06 February 1971 in Valletta’s Grand Harbour, after discharging transferred to the Armed Forces in Malta and her designation changed to C 23.at the official handover ceremony on 05 April 1971.
07 September 1984 by dumping illegal manafactured firework at sea an explosion happened killing 5 soldiers and two policemen, only one man survived and he beached the vessel.
The boat was severe damaged special the forward part and the pilothouse was ripped apart.
She was refloated again and towed to Malta Drydocks Manoel Island Shipyard and repaired.
1992 her C prefix was changed to P.
Between 1998 and 1999 modernized.
She was a unit of the 2nd Regiment Maritime Squadron and was used for inshore patrols, SAR missions and maritime law and safety enforcement duties.
18 March 2010 decommissioned.
The P 23 will stay afloat in Malta and used possible as guard ship by the Maritime Base at Haywharf, and as a memorial for the killed crew on board during the fireworks explosion.

Malta 2011 0.67 Euro sg?, scott?

http://steno.webs.com/112/afm/maritime.htm and various other web-sites. Jane’s Fighting Ships.
Attachments
p23001.jpg
0201108.jpg
MT032.11.jpg

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