HMS Owen was a Bay-class frigate constructed for the Royal Navy during World War II, notably converted into a survey vessel while still under construction. She displaced approximately 1,600 long tons at standard load and up to 2,420 long tons at deep load. The vessel measured 307 feet (93.6 meters) in length, with a beam of 38 feet 7 inches (11.8 meters) and a draught of 12 feet 9 inches (3.9 meters). Her propulsion system consisted of two vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving a single shaft, powered by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. This machinery produced a total of 5,500 shaft horsepower, enabling her to reach a maximum speed of 20 knots (37 km/h). HMS Owen's fuel capacity was 580 long tons (590 tons) of fuel oil, providing an impressive operational range of approximately 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km) at a cruising speed of 10 knots. The ship's crew comprised 133 officers and ratings. As a survey vessel, she was lightly armed, equipped only with four 3-pounder saluting guns, reflecting her primary focus on exploration and charting rather than combat. Originally laid down as Loch Muick, part of the Loch-class, she was re-ordered during construction as Thurso Bay and was ultimately completed as HMS Owen. The vessel was named after the explorer and naval officer William Fitzwilliam Owen. Her conversion to a survey ship was driven by the need to address numerous uncharted wrecks and mines around the British Isles arising from wartime activity, and she was modified to include minesweeping capabilities. This adaptation made her an important asset in maritime safety and navigation following the war, contributing significantly to charting and mine clearance efforts in British waters.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.