Built as a survey vessel under yard No 142 by Yarrow, Scotstoun & Blythwood, Scotstoun, Scotland for the Royal Navy.
14 May 1964 laid down.
14 July 1965 launched as HMS HYDRA (A144), three sisters HMS HECLA, HECATE and HARALD.
Displacement 1.915 tons standard, 2.733 ton maximum. Dim. 79.3 x 15.0 x 4.7m. (draught). Length bpp. 71.6m.
Diesel electric powered by three Paxman Venture turbo-charged 12-cyl. Vee diesels engines, total 3.840 hp., which gives her power to one electro motor of 2000 hp., one screws, speed 14 knots.
Range 2000 miles by a speed of 9 knots.
Hull is strengthened for ice.
Fitted out with a bowtruster built in a transverse tunnel in the bow for better manoeuvrability, and stabilizers for good sea keeping.
Armament: 2 single 20mm Oerlikon AA guns.
Carried one Wasp helicopter, later replaced by a Lynx HAS 2. Had a flight deck and hangar.
Carried two small survey crafts to help with the hydrographical work, and one launch and a land rover.
Crew 120.
05 May 1966 commissioned.
The hull design of this class of vessels was after the lines of the research vessel DISCOVERY.
During the Falkland War in 1982 was she converted to an ambulance ship, and given full Red Cross status.
She ferried up to 100 non-critical patients a time from a hospital ship off the Falklands to Montevideo in four days for the flight home. Carried also wounded from both sides from ships and shore to the hospital vessel UGANDA.
At that time she carried 2 Surgeon-Lieutenants, 4 medical assistants and 30 of the ships crew trained as nurses.
18 April 1986 bought by the Indonesian Navy and handed over the same day at Devonport.
Then towed by the tug SUN LONDON to Southampton for modernization and refit by Vosper Shiprepairs Ltd., stayed there from 24 April till 16 July 1986.
10 September 1986 commissioned under the name DEWA KEMBAR (932).
01 October 1986 sailed from the U.K for Indonesia.
2009 In service as a survey vessel.
Solomon Islands 1981 45c sg432.
Source: Log Book vol. 10 page 90. Marine News. Merchant Ships at War, The Falkland Experience by Capt. Roger Villar. Some web-sites.