LÉ ''Fola'' (CM12) was a of the

Irish Naval Service The Naval Service ( ga, An tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh) is the maritime component of the Defence Forces of Ireland and is one of the three branches of the Irish Defence Forces. Its base is in Haulbowline, County Cork. Though preceded by earlier mar ...

. Launched in 1955 as HMS ''Blaxton'' (M1132) for the Royal Navy (RN), the minesweeper was transferred to the Irish Naval Service on 22 February 1971, and renamed after Fóla, a legendary queen of the Tuatha Dé Danann and a poetic name for Ireland. The minehunter remained in service until 1987, when she was sold for breaking. ''

Irish Naval Service

HMS ''Blaxton'' was handed over to the Irish Naval Service on 22 February 1971. Together with (previously HMS ''Alverton''), the newly acquired vessel was commissioned as ''Fola'' the next day. Following her commissioning, ''Fola'' in company with ''Banba'', worked up in the Western Mediterranean so that they could complete Harbour Acceptance Trials and Sea Acceptance Trials. On 20 March both ships left the Mediterranean for home, however on the way a storm blew up forcing them to take refuge in

Lisbon Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Grande Lisboa, Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administr ...

. The two newest additions to the Navy finally arrived on 29 March 1971, and were used for training and fisheries protection.

Decommissioning and fate

In 1987, ''Fola'' was decommissioned and sold to Spanish interests for breaking.

References

1955 ships Former naval ships of the Republic of Ireland Ton-class minesweepers of the Irish Naval Service Ton-class minesweepers of the Royal Navy Cold War minesweepers of the United Kingdom Ships built in Southampton Ships built by John I. Thornycroft & Company {{UK-minesweeper-stub