LÉ Fola
LÉ Fola (CM12) was a Template:Sclass2 of the Irish Naval Service.
Launched in 1955 as HMS Blaxton (M1132) for the Royal Navy (RN),<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref name="milhist">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Irish Naval Service
HMS Blaxton was handed over to the Irish Naval Service on 22 February 1971. Together with Template:Ship (previously HMS Alverton), the newly acquired vessel was commissioned as Fola the next day.<ref name="milhist"/><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
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.Template:Citation needed 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.Template:Citation needed The two newest additions to the Navy finally arrived on 29 March 1971, and were used for training and fisheries protection.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Decommissioning and fate
In 1987, Fola was decommissioned and sold to Spanish interests for breaking.<ref name="milhist"/>
References
Template:Ton class minesweeper Template:Irish Naval Service Template:Post1945IrishShips