Dec. 12, 1954 - Minesweeper handed over to French Navy at Hythe. Built in Britain...

Dec. 12, 1954 - Minesweeper handed over to French Navy at Hythe. Built in Britain under N.A.T.O. program: The British built Minesweeper Frettenham constructed by Mrs. J.S. White at Cowes I.O.W. was handed over to the American Authorities at Hythe, Hampshire, today who in turn handed the vessel over to the French Navy. The 'Frettenham' is the first completed of a group of 15 minesweepers constructed in British Yards under contract from the U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships, in connection with the U.S. Offshore Procurement Programme for NATO support. The 'Frettenham' is 106 ft. 5 ins. in length with a beam of twenty feet six inches and is designed to operate in shallow waters; it incorporates many new features resulting from lessons learned during the last war and in the course of subsequent developments. Photo shows: General view during the Handing over ceremony at Hythe, Hampshire, today as the United States Transporter U.S.S. Upshur passes in background