LÉ Fola

History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Blaxton
NamesakeVillage of Blaxton, Doncaster
Launched21 June 1955
FateTransferred to Irish Naval Service
Ireland
NameFola
NamesakeFóla, a legendary queen of the Tuatha Dé Danann
Acquired22 February 1971
Commissioned23 February 1971
Decommissioned1987
IdentificationCM12
FateSold for scrap
General characteristics
Class & typeTon-class minesweeper
Displacement360 tonnes
Length42.67 m (140.0 ft) overall
Beam8.4 m (28 ft)
Draught2.49 m (8 ft 2 in)
Speed28 km/h (15 kn) maximum
Complement30
Armament

Fola (CM12) was a Ton-class minesweeper of the Irish Naval Service.

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.