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HMS Blyth was a Sandown class mine counter measures vessel with the Royal Navy. She was a frequent visitor to the town having been commissioned in 2001.
She served the Royal Navy proudly until she was paid off in August 2021 having paid a goodbye visit to the town in July that year.
She took part in operations all over the world and some active war zones, operation Aintree in the gulf being one example.
Her story doesn't end with decommissioning though..
She wont be enjoying a peaceful retirement just yet though. After a refit, she was meant to join the Ukrainian navy, but, Russia's invasion meant the ship couldn't be handed over.
She was sold to Romania instead and joined their fleet in 2024.
She now carries the name "Sublocotenent Ion Ghiculescu"
She isn't the first warship to carry the name HMS Blyth however.
A Bangor class mine sweeper HMS Blyth was launched in September 1940 served throughout the second world war. She was placed in reserve in 1946 and sold in 1948 and converted into a ferry named Radbourne.
She was scrapped in 1952.
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