History of the P641

 1953 to 1978

1978 to 2001 2001 to present


 

Builder   Societe Anonyme des Amiens Chantiers Dubigeon, France  
Owner US navy as PC1610  
Construction started 1953  
Launch date May 31, 1954  
Commissioned     July 21, 1955 as P641  
Decommissioned  July, 1975 and returned to USN  
     
Specs:    
     
Length 173'      -     53 m  
Beam 23'         -   6.5  m  
Draft 10' 10" -       3 m  
Displacement 402 ton  
     
Fuel 70 ton  
Water 15 ton  
     
Max Speed 18.7  knots -  40 km/h original,
now 30 km/h
 
Crew 63  
Armament 2x  40 mm Bofors anti aircraft gun.  
Both currently mounted
 
  2x  20 mm Oerlikon anti aircraft gun.   
We are trying to obtain 2x Oerlikon 20mm
 
  1x Hedgehog rocket launcher MK 15 on the bow.
Currently removed
 
  2x Depth charge rack on stern.  
Currently removed but there are plans to rebuild
 
  4x Depth charge launchers ( K-guns).  
Currently removed but plan to rebuild
 
Propulsion 4x 14 cilinder SEMT Pielstick diesel engines  875 bhp@1250 each,
( Max for 1 hour 975 bhp@1350 rpm
Two removed in 1977
 
Aux power 2x 6 cilinder GM 671 driving a 115 VDC  generator at 70 kW each
1x 2 cilinder Deutz 912 15 kVA 380 Volts 50 Hz
 
Construction 6 mm steel, keel section 8 mm. Engine foundation 10 mm
Superstruction all aluminium  except mast and foundation for 40 mm Bofors
 
     
     
Faith

 

 

Sold for scrapping 1977 to Rotterdam The Netherlands. Two main engines removed and anchor gear.  In 1978 the boy's scouts of Haarlem bought the ship as a replacement for there WW2 wooden minesweeper Putten. In 1984 able to run main engines and until 2001 50 voyages on the North Sea under taken. In 2001 again replaced and sold to Le Fougueux foundation for restoration.  

 

Keel  being lay down
 

Construction in progress
 

Ready to go
 

Prior to launching
 

Launching
 


 

Sea trials
 

14-08-1967
 

Same as above
 

Same as above
 

Same as above
 


 

Location and date unknown
 

Location and date unknown
 

Location and date unknown
 

Location and date unknown
 

Location and date unknown
 

Location and date unknown
 

Stromness Harbour, Orkney  in the '70s
 

Same as above in close-up