Sandown-class

The Sandown class is a series of minehunters constructed by Vosper Thornycroft. The class entered service in 1989 to replace the Ton-class minesweeper. While the Royal Navy was the primary customer, the design was exported to Saudi Arabia and later adapted by Navantia for the Spanish Navy's Segura class.

Designated as single role mine hunters (SRMH), these vessels are constructed with fiberglass hulls. The primary mission is mine countermeasures, though the ships also perform offshore patrol duties. Propulsion is provided by a diesel-electric system using Paxman Valenta engines and electric motors. Maneuverability is achieved through Voith Schneider propellers and bow thrusters. Sensors include navigation radar and the Type 2093 sonar. For mine neutralization, the class utilizes the SeaFox remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and diver-placed explosive charges.

The Royal Navy originally commissioned twelve vessels, naming them after British coastal towns. Several units were decommissioned following the 2003 Strategic Defence Review. Three of these ships—formerly Sandown, Inverness, and Bridport—were sold to the Estonian Navy between 2007 and 2009, where they were renamed Admiral Cowan, Sakala, and Ugandi. These Estonian vessels received updated sonar and tactical control systems. One vessel, formerly Cromer, was removed from active service in 2001 to serve as a static training ship named Hindostan at the Britannia Royal Naval College.

The Royal Saudi Navy operates three vessels built to this design. In 2021, the United Kingdom announced that all mine countermeasures vessels in the Royal Navy would be retired and replaced by autonomous minehunting systems and specialized command and support vessels. During this transition, several ships were transferred to international partners. The Ukrainian Navy commissioned two vessels, Chernihiv (formerly Grimsby) and Cherkasy (formerly Shoreham), in 2023. The Romanian Naval Forces acquired Blyth and Pembroke, renaming them Sublocotenent Ion Ghiculescu and Căpitan Constantin Dumitrescu. HMS Bangor is the final unit of the class remaining in active Royal Navy service.