HMS Echo

Echo was launched at Appledore in Devon in 2002, and was designed to carry out a wide range of survey work, including support to submarine and amphibious operations, through the collection of oceanographic and bathymetric (analysis of the ocean, its salinity and sound profile) data.

HMS Echo

HMS Echo, a Plymouth based Survey Ship, sails into Portsmouth for the first time. She is in Portsmouth for a watch rotation. The ship has recently returned to the Fleet after a period in re-fit in Plymouth. She is due to return to sea after a short period alongside for sea trials.
HMS Echo
HMS Echo

HMS ECHO RETURNS TO DEVONPORTThe survey vessel HMS Echo returns to Plymouth tomorrow (Thursday) after 18 months based in the South China Sea on successful military data gathering operations. HMS Echo also conducted diplomatic visits, in countries including Algeria, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Hong Kong and South Korea. The multi-role hydrographic and oceanographic survey ship was the first Royal Navy warship to visit Bangladesh in 12 years. The shipâs executive officer Lieutenant Commander Derek Rae: âHMS Echo has maintained a continuous Royal Navy presence in the Far East for nearly 18 months, conducting important military data gathering operations in demanding environmental conditions, and often a long distance from shore support. To achieve this has required team work from the whole shipâs company who can be justifiably proud of what we have achieved and all have performed in the finest traditions of the Service.â A highlight of the lengthy time away was taking part in an International Maritime Festival when HMS Echo represented the UK at the Indonesian Navy fleet review, culminating in an impressive sail-past off the coast of Sulawesi. More than 40 warships from across the world took part in the festival including vessels from Malaysia, Thailand, China, Australia and an American aircraft carrier battle-group. Throughout the fleet review the Indonesians proved to be excellent hosts offering a fascinating insight into the more rural areas of this relatively youthful country. HMS Echo then visited Brunei and Singapore before commencing the 9,000 mile return journey to Devonport via Cyprus. Having visited Singapore on 12 occasions over the previous 18 months, it was with sadness that HMS Echo bid farewell for the final time during this deployment. LA(Phot) Alex Cave

COMMANDING OFFICER

Matt Syrett

RANK:
Commander

JOINED:
1995

SPECIALISATION:
Warfare

PREVIOUS UNITS:
HMS Ledbury, St Albans, Gleaner,

Military experience

Born in Plymouth and educated at Plymouth and Tavistock Colleges, Matt Syrett joined the Royal Navy as a University Cadet in 1990.

Following basic training he read Geographical Information Systems (GIS) at Kingston University, graduating in 1995. Training appointments during this period led to service in the Falklands, the Mediterranean and off the Arctic coast of Russia primarily in the Type 22 Frigate, HMS Sheffield and the Offshore Patrol Vessels, HMS Orkney and HMS Leeds Castle.

Between 1995 and 1997 he completed his first warfare appointment as the Navigation Officer of the Mine Countermeasures Vessel, HMS Ledbury. This period encompassed participation in the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group and saw Operations in the Arctic, Baltic and Mediterranean seas.

Qualifying as a Frigate Navigating Officer, and as a Hydrographic and Meteorological warfare sub-specialist, he navigated the Survey Ships HMS Herald and HMS Scott, both of which conducted survey work and acted as the Mine Countermeasures Tasking Authority (MCMTA) for national and multi-national Operations in the Mediterranean.

A brief period in the Indian Ocean and survey operations in the Seychelles preceded selection for Specialist Navigator’s Course and short appointments as the Staff Operations Officer to Captain HM and as the Staff Navigation Officer to FOST(MPV). During this period he also acted as the Navigation Officer of the Type 23 Frigate, HMS St Albans, for constructor’s Sea Trials.

Subsequently selected for Minor War Vessel Command, between 2002 and 2004 he Commanded the Royal Navy’s smallest commissioned vessel HMS Gleaner, and enjoyed conducting inshore survey operations in the UK’s coastal waters. Thereafter he joined FOST Devonport where he worked as the Staff Warfare Officer (CST) as Commander Sea Training’s Deputy, and as a Navigation and HM sea rider.

He also led the FOST Transformation Project, which acted as a pilot study for wider adoption within the Naval Service. In 2006 he became an Officer’s Career Manager and was responsible for the career development and appointing of over 250 Warfare Officers. He also managed the Royal Navy’s Standards, Training and Certification of Watch keepers (STCW).

Selected for a second Minor War Vessel Command, between 2007 and 2009 he Commanded the survey vessel HMS Roebuck. For 13 months during this period he acted as the Flag Captain to the Commander of the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group One and oversaw live mine disposal Operations in the Baltic, Northern European waters, the Mediterranean and West Africa.

In the Commander’s absence he assumed Command of the multi-national force of NATO vessels. During this period he was selected for promotion to Commander and for the Advanced Command and Staff Course which he completed in 2010.

An appointment to the Permanent Joint Head Quarters (PJHQ) at Northwood followed and saw him responsible for the management and co-ordination of all Strategic Messaging for Operations within the Commander of Joint Operations’ (CJO) domain.

Working across Divisions he was primarily responsible for the coherent delivery of the communications strategy for the Afghanistan and Libyan Campaigns, but also led communications strategies for the Falklands Theatre, Counter-Piracy Operations and Operational Security.

A first hand witness to the unfolding Arab Spring of 2011 the perspective he gained from his role in the high tempo Joint Operational Head Quarters was invaluable.

Selected for his third Sea Command, Commander Syrett joined HMS Echo in Mumbai in early April 2012.

OPERATIONS

Maritime security

CURRENT STATUS: active

MISSION SUMMARY

British ships and units are committed to operations around the world. Operations focus on maritime security, reassurance and wider regional engagement to build regional maritime capability.

Cougar 12

CURRENT STATUS: COMPLETED

MISSION SUMMARY

Cougar is an amphibious task force exercising in the Mediterranean. The Response Force Task Group (RFTG) is the Royal Navy’s High Readiness Task Group. It has a number of units assigned to it including a helicopter carrier, an assault ship, two frigates, as well as a Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship and Commando units, and several Fleet Air Arm squadrons.

ABOUT THE UNIT

KEY STATISTICS

Pennant: H87

Displacement: 3470tonnes

Complement: 60at sea

Length: 90Metres

Complement: 81full

Beam: 16.8metres

Draught: 5.5metres

Top Speed: 15knots

Range (Nautical): 9000Miles

Launch Date: 04/03/02

Commissioned date: 07/03/03

Depth Limit Of Sensors: 1000Meters

TAKE A LOOK

- Veterans Enthrall At BOA70 Liverpool Launch Event
  
  Rear Admiral Hockley, Flag Officer Regional Forces, chats to crew members
- Veterans Enthrall At BOA70 Liverpool Launch Event
  
  Rear Admiral Hockley, Flag Officer Regional Forces, chats to crew members
- Veterans Enthrall At BOA70 Liverpool Launch Event
  
  Rear Admiral Hockley, Flag Officer Regional Forces, chats to crew members
- Veterans Enthrall At BOA70 Liverpool Launch Event
  
  Rear Admiral Hockley, Flag Officer Regional Forces, chats to crew members
- Veterans Enthrall At BOA70 Liverpool Launch Event
  
  HMS Echo
- Royal Navy assists injured fisherman
  
  Fishing Vessel Alf battles through the rough sea.
- Royal Navy assists injured fisherman
  
  Fishing Vessel Alf battles through the rough sea with the RNLI in close support
- Royal Navy assists injured fisherman
  
  The RAF SAR helicopter struggled against the weather to get a winchman onboard the fishing vessel.
- Royal Navy assists injured fisherman
  
  With such a rough sea, the fishing vessel was a very difficult platform to rescue an injured crewman from.
- Royal Navy assists injured fisherman
  
  The winchman prepares to transfer onto the fishing vessel.
- Budding navigators tested on Echo
- Budding navigators tested on Echo
- Budding navigators tested on Echo
- Budding navigators tested on Echo
- Budding navigators tested on Echo
- Budding navigators tested on Echo
- Cdr Syrett welcomes families aboard
  
  On 23rd August 2012, HMS Echo conducted a Families sea day for the families of HMS Echo Ships' company. The ship departed HMNB Devonport at 16 Wharf and sailed to Falmouth. VIP Fleet Commander Adm was present and undertook an exciting transfer to HMS Echos sister ship HMS Enterprise during the trip by being winched by 771 Sqn. On 23rd August 2012, HMS Echo conducted a Families sea day for the families of HMS Echo Ships' company. The ship departed HMNB Devonport at 16 Wharf and sailed to Falmouth. VIP Fleet Commander Adm was present and undertook an exciting transfer to HMS Echos sister ship HMS Enterprise during the trip by being winched by 771 Sqn. Images shows the CO give the families a saftey breif before departure.
- On 23rd August 2012, HMS Echo conducted a Families sea day for the families of HMS Echo Ships' company. The ship departed HMNB Devonport at 16 Wharf and sailed to Falmouth. VIP Fleet Commander Adm was present and undertook an exciting transfer to HMS Echos sister ship HMS Enterprise during the trip by being winched by 771 Sqn. On 23rd August 2012, HMS Echo conducted a Families sea day for the families of HMS Echo Ships' company. The ship departed HMNB Devonport at 16 Wharf and sailed to Falmouth. VIP Fleet Commander Adm was present and undertook an exciting transfer to HMS Echos sister ship HMS Enterprise during the trip by being winched by 771 Sqn. Images shows CPO(WE) and his family.
- Callum Doyle listens as his dad chats with the Fleet Commander
  
  On 23rd August 2012, HMS Echo conducted a Families sea day for the families of HMS Echo Ships' company. The ship departed HMNB Devonport at 16 Wharf and sailed to Falmouth. VIP Fleet Commander Adm was present and undertook an exciting transfer to HMS Echos sister ship HMS Enterprise during the trip by being winched by 771 Sqn.
- Callum Doyle with his dad CPO(SR) Stevie Doyle
  
  On 23rd August 2012, HMS Echo conducted a Families sea day for the families of HMS Echo Ships' company. The ship departed HMNB Devonport at 16 Wharf and sailed to Falmouth. VIP Fleet Commander Adm was present and undertook an exciting transfer to HMS Echos sister ship HMS Enterprise during the trip by being winched by 771 Sqn. On 23rd August 2012, HMS Echo conducted a Families sea day for the families of HMS Echo Ships' company. The ship departed HMNB Devonport at 16 Wharf and sailed to Falmouth. VIP Fleet Commander Adm was present and undertook an exciting transfer to HMS Echos sister ship HMS Enterprise during the trip by being winched by 771 Sqn. Image shows CPO(SR) with his son.
- Ops officer Lt Matt Lindeyer with his son Barnabus
  
  On 23rd August 2012, HMS Echo conducted a Families sea day for the families of HMS Echo Ships' company. The ship departed HMNB Devonport at 16 Wharf and sailed to Falmouth. VIP Fleet Commander Adm was present and undertook an exciting transfer to HMS Echos sister ship HMS Enterprise during the trip by being winched by 771 Sqn. On 23rd August 2012, HMS Echo conducted a Families sea day for the families of HMS Echo Ships' company. The ship departed HMNB Devonport at 16 Wharf and sailed to Falmouth. VIP Fleet Commander Adm was present and undertook an exciting transfer to HMS Echos sister ship HMS Enterprise during the trip by being winched by 771 Sqn. Images shows the LT's son trying out the admirals cap for size.
- Ops officer Lt Matt Lindeyer with his son Barnabus
  
  On 23rd August 2012, HMS Echo conducted a Families sea day for the families of HMS Echo Ships' company. The ship departed HMNB Devonport at 16 Wharf and sailed to Falmouth. VIP Fleet Commander Adm was present and undertook an exciting transfer to HMS Echos sister ship HMS Enterprise during the trip by being winched by 771 Sqn.
- Cdr Matt Syrett receives the Fleet Efficiency Trophy from Admiral Zambellas
  
  On 23rd August 2012, HMS Echo conducted a Families sea day for the families of HMS Echo Ships' company. The ship departed HMNB Devonport at 16 Wharf and sailed to Falmouth. VIP Fleet Commander Adm was present and undertook an exciting transfer to HMS Echos sister ship HMS Enterprise during the trip by being winched by 771 Sqn.
- A stirring flypast from a 771 NAS Sea King
  
  On 23rd August 2012, HMS Echo conducted a Families sea day for the families of HMS Echo Ships' company. The ship departed HMNB Devonport at 16 Wharf and sailed to Falmouth. VIP Fleet Commander Adm was present and undertook an exciting transfer to HMS Echos sister ship HMS Enterprise during the trip by being winched by 771 Sqn.
- 771 NAS lay on a winching demonstration
  
  On 23rd August 2012, HMS Echo conducted a Families sea day for the families of HMS Echo Ships' company. The ship departed HMNB Devonport at 16 Wharf and sailed to Falmouth. VIP Fleet Commander Adm was present and undertook an exciting transfer to HMS Echos sister ship HMS Enterprise during the trip by being winched by 771 Sqn. On 23rd August 2012, HMS Echo conducted a Families sea day for the families of HMS Echo Ships' company. The ship departed HMNB Devonport at 16 Wharf and sailed to Falmouth. VIP Fleet Commander Adm was present and undertook an exciting transfer to HMS Echos sister ship HMS Enterprise during the trip by being winched by 771 Sqn. Image show winching of VIP.
- HMS Echo as she enters HMNB Devonport's Dockyard on return from her deployment
  
  HMS Echo returns to homeThe Royal Navy survey ship HMS Echo returns to home to HM Naval Base, Devonport, Plymouth, today (16 Aug 2012) after a 19 month deployment.The ship has been away for 593 days with 421 actually at sea and has sailed about 74,000 miles â 2.5 times around the equator. The ship made 24 stops in 11 nations and 13 different ports including Valletta, Salalah, Limassol, Gibraltar, Bahrain, Mina Rashid, Dubai, Jebel Ali, Mombasa, Mumbai, Seychelles, Haifa (the first RN ship to visit Israel in four years) and Tripoli (a rare visit by a Royal Naval ship).Image shows HMS Echo as she enters HMNB Devonport's Dockyard on return from her deployment
- PO Andrew Lane welcomed by daughter Matilda, 3
  
  HMS Echo returns to homeThe Royal Navy survey ship HMS Echo returns to home to HM Naval Base, Devonport, Plymouth, today (16 Aug 2012) after a 19 month deployment.The ship has been away for 593 days with 421 actually at sea and has sailed about 74,000 miles â 2.5 times around the equator. The ship made 24 stops in 11 nations and 13 different ports including Valletta, Salalah, Limassol, Gibraltar, Bahrain, Mina Rashid, Dubai, Jebel Ali, Mombasa, Mumbai, Seychelles, Haifa (the first RN ship to visit Israel in four years) and Tripoli (a rare visit by a Royal Naval ship).Image shows a Petty Officer receving a welcome home kiss from his daughter *** Local Caption *** Left- Matilda Lane 3yoRight- PO Andy Lane
- The Morgan family group waiting for Sub Lt Hywell (SIC) Morgan
  
  HMS Echo returns to homeThe Royal Navy survey ship HMS Echo returns to home to HM Naval Base, Devonport, Plymouth, today (16 Aug 2012) after a 19 month deployment.The ship has been away for 593 days with 421 actually at sea and has sailed about 74,000 miles â 2.5 times around the equator. The ship made 24 stops in 11 nations and 13 different ports including Valletta, Salalah, Limassol, Gibraltar, Bahrain, Mina Rashid, Dubai, Jebel Ali, Mombasa, Mumbai, Seychelles, Haifa (the first RN ship to visit Israel in four years) and Tripoli (a rare visit by a Royal Naval ship).Image shows a group of family members waiting for their sons return. *** Local Caption *** The Morgan family groupWaiting for Sub Lt Hywell (SIC) Morgan
- Petty Officer John Farrington & family holds grandson Myles
  
  HMS Echo returns to homeThe Royal Navy survey ship HMS Echo returns to home to HM Naval Base, Devonport, Plymouth, today (16 Aug 2012) after a 19 month deployment.The ship has been away for 593 days with 421 actually at sea and has sailed about 74,000 miles â 2.5 times around the equator. The ship made 24 stops in 11 nations and 13 different ports including Valletta, Salalah, Limassol, Gibraltar, Bahrain, Mina Rashid, Dubai, Jebel Ali, Mombasa, Mumbai, Seychelles, Haifa (the first RN ship to visit Israel in four years) and Tripoli (a rare visit by a Royal Naval ship).Image shows a member of the ships company with his family & grand son on the wharf after she ship came alongside *** Local Caption *** PO John FarringtonMyles Lipinski (Grandson) 07/08/2011Along with his wife, son & daughter
- Baby tries sailor's hat on for size
  
  Left - Verity Chapman Middle- Oscar Evans (13 months) Right- LET Kieron Evans
- A member of the ships company as she waves to her friends and family
  
  HMS Echo returns to homeThe Royal Navy survey ship HMS Echo returns to home to HM Naval Base, Devonport, Plymouth, today (16 Aug 2012) after a 19 month deployment.The ship has been away for 593 days with 421 actually at sea and has sailed about 74,000 miles â 2.5 times around the equator. The ship made 24 stops in 11 nations and 13 different ports including Valletta, Salalah, Limassol, Gibraltar, Bahrain, Mina Rashid, Dubai, Jebel Ali, Mombasa, Mumbai, Seychelles, Haifa (the first RN ship to visit Israel in four years) and Tripoli (a rare visit by a Royal Naval ship).Image shows a member of the ships company as she waves to her friends and family
- HMS Echo
- HMS Echo Visits Libya
  
  HMS ECHO vs Libyan Navy
- HMS Echo Visits Libya
  
  HMS ECHO vs Libyan Navy
- HMS Echo Visits Libya
  
  Libyan flag flies high over a bustling Tripoli marketplace (taken by Lt Mark Rowbotham)
- HMS Echo Visits Libya
  
  View greeting HMS ECHO as she entered Tripoli's inner harbour (taken by Lt Adam Butler)
- HMS Echo Visits Libya
  
  ECHO shows off the incredible manoeuvrability
- AB Billings (L) and AB Baker-Irons (R)
- Bikes set up and ready to go
- Cdr Syrett, CO (L) and AB Baker-Irons (R)
- PO Morris (L) and LH Leckie (R)
- AB Smith (L) and AB Gordon (R)
- Lt Smith (HM1)
- SLt Morgan (N3)
- PHOTEX off Limassol (taken from a Griffin aircraft)
- HMS Echo off the Seychelles earlier this year
- Yemeni Fishermen at anchor on the Sea Mount
- AB(HM) Tom Sadler ensures the safe streaming of the Undulating Oceanographic Recorder (UOR).
- Multi-Beam Echo Sounder imagery of the discovered Sea Mount.
- Multi-Beam Echo Sounder imagery of the discovered Sea Mount.
- HMS Echo and crew during gunnery practice
- HMS Echo and crew during gunnery practice
- HMS Echo and crew during gunnery practice
- HMS Echo and crew during gunnery practice
- HMS Echo and crew during gunnery practice
- HMS Echo and crew during gunnery practice
- HMS Echo and crew during gunnery practice
- Echo slowly homeward-bound as she sails through Suez
- Echo slowly homeward-bound as she sails through Suez
- Echo slowly homeward-bound as she sails through Suez
- Echo slowly homeward-bound as she sails through Suez
- Echo slowly homeward-bound as she sails through Suez
- Echo slowly homeward-bound as she sails through Suez
- Echo slowly homeward-bound as she sails through Suez
- Echo slowly homeward-bound as she sails through Suez
- Deck party
- Bunting
- AB Sally Owen of HMS Echo is awarded the Hambone Trophy
- HMS Echo Ships Company Sailing
  
  Lieutenant R Watsham taking the lead in front of HMS Echo alongside
- HMS Echo Ships Company Sailing
- HMS Echo working with Seychelles Coastguards
  
  HMS Echo (foreground) with the Mahé landscape behind
- HMS Echo working with Seychelles Coastguards
  
  20mm aimer during our Quickdraw demonstration
- HMS Echo working with Seychelles Coastguards
  
  Members of the Seychellois Coastguard in Echo’s Pac 22
- Echo Leads Britains Flagship
- Echo Leads Britains Flagship
- Echo Leads Britains Flagship
- Echo Leads Britains Flagship
  
  United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) Marines along with Royal Navy Marine Commandos conduct Exercise Sea Khanjar together. The exercise took place on U.A.E. Marines training areas. The aim of the Exercise is to consolidate amphibious operations together along with communications exercises olong with deck landing on HMS Albion. The U.A.E. Marines stayed on board HMS Albion throughout the exercise. HMS ALbion is currently on Operation Cougar and the Sea Khanjar exercise is apart of the operation.
- Leading Seaman Morris deploying the Seabird. It is used to measure the temperature, salinity and pressure of the sea.
- The location of the tidal gauge is marked with buoys for recovery after it has collected tidal data.
- The Seabird being lowered into the sea
- The tidal gauge being hoisted into and lowered into the sea
- ECHO HELPS WITH REMEMBRANCE IN KENYA
- ECHO HELPS WITH REMEMBRANCE IN KENYA
- Member of Ship’s Company coming off air after conducting a fire fighting exercise
- Member of Ship’s Company coming off air after conducting a fire fighting exercise
- Member of Ships Company defending the ship against simulated swarm attack using Mini Gun
- Cdr Matt Syrett
- Survey Ships
- HMS Echo
- HMS Echo
- HMS Echo
- HMS Echo
- HMS Echo
- HMS Echo
- HMS Echo
  
  HMS ECHO RETURNS TO DEVONPORTThe survey vessel HMS Echo returns to Plymouth tomorrow (Thursday) after 18 months based in the South China Sea on successful military data gathering operations. HMS Echo also conducted diplomatic visits, in countries including Algeria, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Hong Kong and South Korea. The multi-role hydrographic and oceanographic survey ship was the first Royal Navy warship to visit Bangladesh in 12 years. The shipâs executive officer Lieutenant Commander Derek Rae: âHMS Echo has maintained a continuous Royal Navy presence in the Far East for nearly 18 months, conducting important military data gathering operations in demanding environmental conditions, and often a long distance from shore support. To achieve this has required team work from the whole shipâs company who can be justifiably proud of what we have achieved and all have performed in the finest traditions of the Service.â A highlight of the lengthy time away was taking part in an International Maritime Festival when HMS Echo represented the UK at the Indonesian Navy fleet review, culminating in an impressive sail-past off the coast of Sulawesi. More than 40 warships from across the world took part in the festival including vessels from Malaysia, Thailand, China, Australia and an American aircraft carrier battle-group. Throughout the fleet review the Indonesians proved to be excellent hosts offering a fascinating insight into the more rural areas of this relatively youthful country. HMS Echo then visited Brunei and Singapore before commencing the 9,000 mile return journey to Devonport via Cyprus. Having visited Singapore on 12 occasions over the previous 18 months, it was with sadness that HMS Echo bid farewell for the final time during this deployment. LA(Phot) Alex Cave
- HMS Echo
  
  HMS ECHO RETURNS TO DEVONPORTThe survey vessel HMS Echo returns to Plymouth tomorrow (Thursday) after 18 months based in the South China Sea on successful military data gathering operations. HMS Echo also conducted diplomatic visits, in countries including Algeria, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Hong Kong and South Korea. The multi-role hydrographic and oceanographic survey ship was the first Royal Navy warship to visit Bangladesh in 12 years. The shipâs executive officer Lieutenant Commander Derek Rae: âHMS Echo has maintained a continuous Royal Navy presence in the Far East for nearly 18 months, conducting important military data gathering operations in demanding environmental conditions, and often a long distance from shore support. To achieve this has required team work from the whole shipâs company who can be justifiably proud of what we have achieved and all have performed in the finest traditions of the Service.â A highlight of the lengthy time away was taking part in an International Maritime Festival when HMS Echo represented the UK at the Indonesian Navy fleet review, culminating in an impressive sail-past off the coast of Sulawesi. More than 40 warships from across the world took part in the festival including vessels from Malaysia, Thailand, China, Australia and an American aircraft carrier battle-group. Throughout the fleet review the Indonesians proved to be excellent hosts offering a fascinating insight into the more rural areas of this relatively youthful country. HMS Echo then visited Brunei and Singapore before commencing the 9,000 mile return journey to Devonport via Cyprus. Having visited Singapore on 12 occasions over the previous 18 months, it was with sadness that HMS Echo bid farewell for the final time during this deployment. LA(Phot) Alex Cave
- HMS Echo
  
  HMS Echo, a Plymouth based Survey Ship, sails into Portsmouth for the first time. She is in Portsmouth for a watch rotation. The ship has recently returned to the Fleet after a period in re-fit in Plymouth. She is due to return to sea after a short period alongside for sea trials.
- HMS Echo
  
  HMS Echo, a Plymouth based Survey Ship, sails into Portsmouth for the first time. She is in Portsmouth for a watch rotation. The ship has recently returned to the Fleet after a period in re-fit in Plymouth. She is due to return to sea after a short period alongside for sea trials.
- HMS Echo
  
  HMS Echo, a Plymouth based Survey Ship, sails into Portsmouth for the first time for a few years. She is in Portsmouth for a watch rotation. The ship has recently returned to the Fleet after a period in re-fit in Plymouth. She is due to return to sea after a short period alongside for sea trials.
- HMS Echo
  
  HMS Echo, a Plymouth based Survey Ship, sails into Portsmouth for the first time for a few years. She is in Portsmouth for a watch rotation. The ship has recently returned to the Fleet after a period in re-fit in Plymouth. She is due to return to sea after a short period alongside for sea trials.
- HMS Echo
  
  The new Echo class Hydrographic Survey vessel HMS ECHO enters 13 dock in HM Naval Base Portsmouth.FXO3/1099(N)/30
- Echo
- Echo
- Echo
- Echo
- 20mm gun practice on board HMS Echo
- HMS Echo and Enterprise together
- Firefighting training on board HMS Echo
- Minigun practice on board HMS Echo
- RM practises close protection HMS Echo
- HMS Echo
- HMS Echo
- HMS Echo
- HMS Echo
- HMS Echo

UNITS IN TIME

HMS Echo HISTORY

TRACK THE HISTORY OF SHIPS NAMED HMS Echo

The First Echo

The first HMS Echo was originally a French privateer named Le Marechal De Richelieu, built in 1757. She was purchased by the French Crown later that year and taken into the Marine Royale, rated as a 24-gun frigate and renamed L'Echo. On 11 June 1758 she was captured by HM Ships Juno and Scarborough during the operations that led to the capture of Louisbourg, France's fortified harbour on Cape Breton Island.
The First Echo

Taken into the Royal Navy as HMS Echo, a 6th Rate ship armed with 24 nine pounder guns, measuring 540 tons with a crew of 160 men, she took part in operations leading to the capture of Quebec in 1759, and in 1762 was present at the capture of Martinique in February, and of Havana in August. When the Treaty of Paris brought the Seven Years' War to an end in February 1763, Echo returned to British waters to be laid up in Ordinary. She was sold in 1770.
The Second Echo

The second HMS Echo was another French prize, the 18-gun corvette L'Hussard, built at Lorient in 1779 and captured by the 64-gun ship HMS Nonsuch off Ushant in July 1780. Only 84ft in length and 271 tons, brig-rigged and armed with 18 six-pounders, she entered Royal Navy service in October 1780, but was wrecked in Plymouth Sound in February 1781 when she was driven ashore in a gale.
The Third Echo

A new HMS Echo was launched at Liverpool in October 1782, name ship of a class of 16-gun ship-rigged sloops; she was the first vessel specifically designed to carry the new carronades. She was 101ft in length on deck, 337 tons, with a main armament of 16 six-pounder long guns, and with six 12-pdr carronades on the quarterdeck, two similar carronades on the forecastle as close range weapons. She carried a crew of 125 officers and men.
The Third Echo

The first six years of her service were passed mainly on the Newfoundland Station, before she paid off at Plymouth in 1788. After a brief spell as a 'slop ship' (clothing store), she recommissioned and returned to her old cruising ground. With the outbreak of war with France in 1793 she was back in the English Channel and North Sea, alternately cruising against enemy shipping and convoying British trade.
The Third Echo

In 1795 she was part of a small squadron under the command of Vice Admiral Sir George Keith Elphinstone which seized the Cape of Good Hope from the Dutch. The Echo was detached to Capt Allan Hyde Gardner's squadron off Colombo, and was there when the Dutch garrison surrendered in February 1796. She was also present at Saldanha Bay in August 1796 when the small Dutch flotilla sent to retake their colony was quietly rounded up by the reinforced British fleet, twice the Dutch force in ships, guns and men. After hard service in three oceans, Echo was found to be 'slight, and not perfectly adequate to cruising in these tempestuous latitudes' - her design had been strongly influenced by mid-18th century French examples - and she was put out of commission at the Cape in early 1797; she was broken up soon after.
The Fourth Echo

A replacement Echo had been ordered in December 1796, and was launched at Dover in September 1797. The new HMS Echo was a flush-decked ship sloop, 96ft on deck, measuring 356 tons and armed with 16 32-pdr carronades and a couple of long 6-pdrs as chase guns. She had a crew of 121 officers and men. After a year in the English Channel and North Sea, the Echo was ordered to the Caribbean in January 1799 and remained on the Leeward Islands station, as cruiser and convoy escort.
The Fourth Echo

In 1804 she captured a French troop transport with 300 soldiers on board, and in October that year took the French privateer Hasard. She returned to home waters in 1806 and was added to the flotillas patrolling the Thames Estuary and eastern Channel until November that year when she was laid up at Woolwich. She was sold in 1809.
The Fifth Echo

The next HMS Echo, the fifth of the name, was a Cruiser-class brig-rigged sloop, one of more than 100 built to the same design; 100ft long on deck, 382 tons, armed with 16 broadside 32-pdr carronades and a pair of 6-pdr chase guns. The Echo was built at Frindsbury, Kent, and launched in July 1809. Her station for the first five years was the Downs, patrolling the eastern English Channel against the French privateers who made our merchant shipping their prey.
The Fifth Echo

She had her successes, capturing the Capricieux in March 1810 and the 16-gun La Confiance in February 1811. With Napoleon's abdication in 1814 Echo was sent to the West Indies, where American cruisers were still threatening trade. She returned to Britain in 1815 to pay off, and was broken up in 1817.
The Sixth Echo

The sixth HMS Echo was one of the first handful of steam paddle ships built for the Admiralty, and was launched at Woolwich Dockyard in May 1827. She was built to an altered version of the Cherokee-class design - the 'coffin' brigs, so-called for their less-than-lovely lines - and measured 109ft in length on deck, 293 tons burthen. Her two cylinder, side-lever engines were built by Watt and developed 100 NHp (nominal horse power) giving her a theoretical 7.6 knots under power.
The Sixth Echo

As well as being a pioneer of naval steamships, she was the originator of the tradition of HMS Echo as a survey ship name; based at Woolwich, her first commission included surveys of the Thames and its estuary. As an experimental vessel, the first two years saw her variously employed as despatch vessel, survey ship and occasional tug in the Thames and at the home naval bases. In 1830 she was in the Mediterranean and Adriatic as a despatch vessel, then from 1831 to 1836 off the coast of Portugal and Spain. In late 1836, with improved reliability, HMS Echo went to the West Indies where she served as mail packet and despatch vessel until late 1839. From 1840 she served as a tug at Portsmouth, until she was sold to the shipbreakers Castle & Co. in 1885.
The Seventh Echo

The next Echo was a water tank steamer, purchased on the stocks at Sunderland in 1887, and in dockyard service at Gibraltar until 1916. Two ships by the name Echo were in naval service during World War 1, the South African-owned whaler Barrowby renamed and taken up for 'miscellaneous service' in 1915 and sold at Cape Town in 1919, and the 1897-built Hull trawler Echo (fishery number H. 367) taken up for service as a Boom Defence Vessel in September 1915 and released in 1921.
The Tenth Echo

The tenth HMS Echo was an E-class destroyer, built at Dumbarton by Wm. Denny & Bros., and launched in February 1934. Initially armed with four 4.7-in guns and eight 21-in torpedo tubes, she was 326ft long overall and displaced 1,370 tons at standard load. Her Parsons turbines driving twin shafts gave her a sustained speed of over 37 knots on trials. She was commissioned in October 1934.
The Tenth Echo

Her first commission with the Home Fleet's 5th Destroyer Flotilla took her to the West Indies in early 1935, but the 5 DF joined the Mediterranean Fleet during the Abyssinia crisis of 1935-36. Later returned to the Home Fleet, she formed part of the non-intervention patrol off the Biscay coast during the Spanish Civil War. She was under repair at Sheerness in September 1939 when war broke out, but soon joined the 12th DF in the Western Approaches, then transferred to 3rd DF Home Fleet escort duties based on Scapa in June 1940. In August 1940 she took part in Operation Menace, the attack on Dakar, and in October went into dock in the Clyde for extensive machinery repairs. In just over a year of war she had rescued survivors from the aircraft carrier HMS Courageous, the Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Scotstoun, and the merchant ships Arandora Star, Empress of Britain and Leo. In April 1941 she was part of the escorting force for the Commando raid on the Lofoten Islands and in May she joined the hunt for the Bismarck, and escorted the damaged HMS Prince of Wales back to Iceland after the action in which the Hood was lost.
Invasions

After a three-month refit HMS Echo rejoined 3rd DF as escort on the Iceland-Murmansk route, then, after a period on the Iceland-Scapa-Rosyth convoy routes, went to Gibraltar with a convoy, where she joined the carrier USS Wasp on a flying-off operation to Malta in April 1942. After a similar operation with HMS Eagle she returned to U.K.-Iceland convoys in June. From November 1942 to February 1943 she was escorting North Russia convoys (including the hard-fought PQ18 and QP15 operations).
Invasions

After refit she left with the 8th DF for the Mediterranean. She took part in the invasion of Sicily 10th July 1943 and on the 13th, in company with HMS Ilex, sank the Italian submarine Nereide in the Straits of Messina. In September she participated in the invasion of the Italian mainland at Salerno; from that time on she took part in operations in the Aegean, supporting ground forces on Leros and other islands, and rescued survivors from the destroyer Dulverton, sunk by glider bomb in November. After refit at Malta she was transferred to the Greek navy in April 1944; renamed Navarinon, she remained in Greek service until 1956, including attendance as a representative of the Royal Hellenic Navy at the Spithead Coronation Review in 1953. She was broken up on the Tyne in 1956.
The Last Echo

The next HMS Echo was a 106ft 160 ton Inshore Survey Vessel, built at Cowes by J S White and completed in 1958. Powered by two Paxman diesels she had a maximum speed of 14 knots, and a crew of two officers and 16 ratings. She was one of the small ships of the Inshore Survey Squadron, with HMS Enterprise and HMS Egeria, and her career was spent in the vital and technically challenging task of hydrographic survey of the seas, sandbanks and coastlines of the East Coast and Eastern English Channel.
The Last Echo

She was a well-known ship around the harbours of the East Coast, and 'showed the flag' on many official visits to Belgian, Dutch and German ports on the North Sea coast, and as far inland as Cologne. In May 1963 she was selected to form part of the naval escort for a State Visit of the King and Queen of the Belgians to London; in 1964 she was in the Firth of Forth to join the celebrations when Her Majesty the Queen opened the Forth Road Bridge, and in 1978 visited Whitby with the rest of the Inshore Survey Squadron for the Captain Cook commemorative celebrations. She was put up for disposal by sale in 1985.

1757
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1809
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1827
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1887
1934
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1943
1943
1958
1958

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Veterans Enthrall At BOA70 Liverpool Launch Event

Veterans Enthrall At BOA70 Liverpool Launch Event

Veterans Enthrall At BOA70 Liverpool Launch Event

Veterans Enthrall At BOA70 Liverpool Launch Event

Veterans Enthrall At BOA70 Liverpool Launch Event

Royal Navy assists injured fisherman

Royal Navy assists injured fisherman

Royal Navy assists injured fisherman

Royal Navy assists injured fisherman

Royal Navy assists injured fisherman

Budding navigators tested on Echo

Budding navigators tested on Echo

Budding navigators tested on Echo

Budding navigators tested on Echo

Budding navigators tested on Echo

Budding navigators tested on Echo

Cdr Syrett welcomes families aboard

Callum Doyle listens as his dad chats with the Fleet Commander

Callum Doyle with his dad CPO(SR) Stevie Doyle

Ops officer Lt Matt Lindeyer with his son Barnabus

Ops officer Lt Matt Lindeyer with his son Barnabus

Cdr Matt Syrett receives the Fleet Efficiency Trophy from Admiral Zambellas

A stirring flypast from a 771 NAS Sea King

771 NAS lay on a winching demonstration

HMS Echo as she enters HMNB Devonport's Dockyard on return from her deployment

PO Andrew Lane welcomed by daughter Matilda, 3

The Morgan family group waiting for Sub Lt Hywell (SIC) Morgan

Petty Officer John Farrington & family holds grandson Myles

Baby tries sailor's hat on for size

A member of the ships company as she waves to her friends and family

HMS Echo

HMS Echo Visits Libya

HMS Echo Visits Libya

HMS Echo Visits Libya

HMS Echo Visits Libya

HMS Echo Visits Libya

AB Billings (L) and AB Baker-Irons (R)

Bikes set up and ready to go

Cdr Syrett, CO (L) and AB Baker-Irons (R)

PO Morris (L) and LH Leckie (R)

AB Smith (L) and AB Gordon (R)

Lt Smith (HM1)

SLt Morgan (N3)

PHOTEX off Limassol (taken from a Griffin aircraft)

HMS Echo off the Seychelles earlier this year

Yemeni Fishermen at anchor on the Sea Mount

AB(HM) Tom Sadler ensures the safe streaming of the Undulating Oceanographic Recorder (UOR).

Multi-Beam Echo Sounder imagery of the discovered Sea Mount.

Multi-Beam Echo Sounder imagery of the discovered Sea Mount.

HMS Echo and crew during gunnery practice