Ton-class minesweeper

1953 class of minesweeper of the Royal Navy

The Ton class were coastal minesweepers built in the 1950s for the Royal Navy, but also used by other navies such as the South African Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. They were intended to meet the threat of seabed mines laid in shallow coastal waters, rivers, ports and harbours, a task for which the existing ocean going minesweepers of the Algerine class were not suited.

The design of the class drew on lessons learnt in the Second World War when it became apparent that minelaying in coastal waters was more effective than in the deep sea; the existing fleet minesweepers were not well suited to deal with this threat. Design started at the Naval Construction Department in Bath in 1947 and the first ship was ordered in September 1950; the class eventually numbered 119 vessels. The lead constructor was John I. Thornycroft & Company, although Ton class vessels were also built at fifteen other yards. They were diesel powered vessels of 440 tons displacement fully laden, largely constructed from aluminium and other non ferromagnetic materials, with a hull composed of a double layer of mahogany planking. Their small displacement and shallow draft gave them some protection against pressure and contact mines and allowed them to navigate in shallow inshore waters. Primary armament was one Bofors 40 mm gun, although the South African variants also had an Oerlikon 20 mm cannon behind the funnel. RN vessels also had the same but they were gradually removed and an M2 Browning machine gun mounted midships. Sweeping equipment was provided for moored mines and magnetic mines.

It was originally planned to name the ships after insects, with names like Red Ant, Green Cockchafer and so on, but this plan was abandoned in 1952 and the Royal Navy ships of the class were given names of British towns and villages ending in " ton", hence the name of the class. The contemporary but smaller inshore minesweepers were originally to be named after birds, but became the Ham class, after towns and villages ending in " ham". Two vessels were converted into survey ships, one an air sea rescue vessel and one a diving tender. The RNR vessels lasted until the introduction of the River class minesweepers in 1984. The remainder of the regular RN ships began to be retired with the introduction of the Hunt class MCM vessels from 1980. The last RN Ton class ship to be withdrawn was also the last to have been built; HMS Wilton (M1116) had been built in 1971 1972 with a hull made of glass reinforced plastic (GRP) instead of wood. She was the first major warship in the world using this technology, which was used for all of the succeeding Hunt class ships. Decommissioned in 1994, Wilton became a floating clubhouse for the Essex Yacht Club at Leigh on Sea.

The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom received 115 Ton class minesweepers during the 1950s. Several were later sold or transferred to other countries. Ship name Pennant Launched Fate M1102 5 January 1953 sold to Australia in 1961, renamed HMAS Snipe, broken up in 1985 Aldington M1171 15 September 1955 sold to Ghana in 1964, renamed Ejura, broken up in 1979 Alfriston M1103 29 April 1953 broken up in 1988 M1104 18 November 1953 sold to Ireland in 1971, renamed LÉ Banba, broken up in Spain in 1984 Amerton M1105 16 March 1953 broken up in 1971 Appleton M1106 4 September 1953 broken up in 1972 Ashton (ex Cheriton) M1198 5 September 1956 broken up in 1977 Badminton M1149 14 October 1954 broken up in 1970 Beachampton M1107 29 June 1953 converted to Hong Kong Patrol craft 1971 and pennant number changed to P1007, broken up in 1985 M1199 3 October 1955 broken up in 1974 Bevington M1108 17 March 1953 sold to Argentina in 1968, renamed Tierra del Fuego, broken up in 1995 Bickington M1109 14 May 1952 broken up in 1988 Bildeston M1110 9 June 1952 broken up in 1988 M1132 26 January 1955 sold to Ireland in 1970, renamed LÉ Fola, broken up in Spain in 1987 Bossington (ex Embleton) M1133 2 December 1955 broken up in 1988 Boulston M1112 6 October 1952 broken up in 1975 M1113 14 March 1955 broken up in 1992 Brinton M1114 8 August 1952 sold in 1997, broken up in 1998 M1115 19 March 1953 became a museum ship in 1989, sank at moorings in Birkenhead Docks in 2016. Fundraising is taking place to have the ship raised and restored. Burnaston M1116 18 December 1952 broken up in 1971 Buttington M1117 11 June 1953 broken up in 1970 Calton M1118 24 October 1953 broken up in 1968 Carhampton M1119 21 July 1955 broken up in 1970 Castleton M1207 26 August 1958 sold to South Africa in 1959, renamed SAS Johannesburg, broken up in 1989 Caunton M1120 18 December 1952 broken up in 1970 Chawton M1209 24 September 1957 broken up in 1977 M1121 20 February 1953 sold to Australia in 1961 and renamed HMAS Curlew; used as a fishing vessel. M1122 6 October 1953 sold and broken up in 1971 Chilton M1215 15 July 1957 sold to South Africa in 1958 and renamed SAS East London Clarbeston M1123 18 February 1954 broken up in 1987 Coniston M1101 9 July 1952 broken up in 1970 Crichton M1124 17 March 1953 broken up in 1987 Crofton M1216 7 March 1958 broken up in 1987 Cuxton M1125 9 November 1953 broken up in 1992 Dalswinton M1126 24 September 1953 broken up in 1973 Darlaston M1127 29 September 1953 sold to Malaysia 1960 and renamed KD Mahamiru Derriton M1128 22 December 1953 broken up in 1970. The machinery and fittings were reconditioned and installed in the prototype Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) minehunter , launched on 18 January 1972 and commissioned on 14 July 1970; Preserved 2001 Dilston M1168 15 November 1954 sold to Malaysia in 1964 and renamed KD Jerai Dufton M1145 13 November 1954 broken up in 1977 Dumbleton M1212 8 November 1957 sold to South Africa in 1958, renamed SAS Port Elizabeth, broken up in 1989 Dunkerton M1144 8 March 1954 sold to South Africa in 1955 and renamed SAS Pretoria; broken up in 2010 Durweston M1201 18 August 1955 sold to India in 1956 and renamed Kakinada Edderton M1111 1 November 1953 converted to a survey vessel in 1964 and renamed Myrmidon, sold to Malaysia in 1969 and renamed Perantau Essington M1134 26 September 1956 sold to Malaysia 1964 and renamed Kinabalu Fenton M1135 2 December 1955 broken up in 1968 Fiskerton M1206 12 April 1957 broken up in 1977 M1136 26 September 1956 broken up in 1977 Flockton M1137 3 June 1954 broken up in 1969 Floriston M1138 26 January 1955 sold in 1968 Gavinton M1140 27 July 1953 broken up in 1991 Glasserton M1141 3 December 1953 broken up in 1988 Hazleton M1142 6 February 1954 sold to South Africa in 1955 and renamed Kaapstaad; broken up in 1989 Hexton M1143 June 1954 sold to Malaysia in 1963 and renamed Ledang Hickleton M1131 26 January 1955 transferred to New Zealand in 1965 Highburton M1130 2 June 1954 broken up in 1978 M1146 6 April 1954 broken up in 1988 Houghton M1211 22 November 1957 broken up in 1971 Hubberston M1147 14 September 1954 broken up in 1992 Ilmington M1148 8 March 1954 sold to Argentina 1967 and renamed Formosa; broken up in 2004 Invermoriston M1150 2 June 1954 converted to air sea rescue vessel; broken up in 1971 M1151 14 October 1954 became a sea cadet training ship in 1993; broken up in 2015 Jackton M1152 28 February 1955 sold to Australia 1961 and renamed Kedleston M1153 21 December 1953 broken up in 1992 M1154 12 October 1954 sea cadet training ship in 1993, broken up in 2009 M1156 27 November 1953 broken up in 1975 Kildarton (ex Liston) M1162 23 May 1955 sold in 1969 M1157 18 February 1954 broken up in 1991 Laleston M1158 18 May 1954 broken up in 1985 Lanton M1159 30 July 1954 broken up in 1970 Letterston M1160 26 October 1954 broken up in 1971 Leverton M1161 2 March 1955 broken up in 1972 Lewiston M1208 3 November 1959 broken up in 1986 Lullington M1163 31 August 1955 sold to Malaysia in 1966 and renamed Tahan Maddiston M1164 27 January 1956 broken up in 1975 Maryton M1203 3 April 1958 broken up in 1969 Maxton M1165 24 May 1956 broken up in 1989 Monkton (ex Kelton) M1155 30 November 1955 converted to Hong Kong Patrol craft 1971 and pennant number changed to P1055; sold in 1985 Nurton M1166 22 October 1956 broken up in 1995 Oakington M1213 10 December 1958 sold to South Africa in 1959 and renamed Mosselbaai; broken up in 1989 Oulston M1129 29 September 1953 sold to Ireland in 1971 and renamed , broken up in Spain 1987 Overton M1197 28 January 1956 sold to India in 1956 and renamed Karwar Packington M1214 3 July 1958 sold to South Africa in 1959 and renamed Walvisbaai Penston M1169 9 May 1955 broken up in 1970 Picton M1170 20 October 1955 broken up in 1969 Pollington M1173 10 October 1957 broken up in 1987 Puncheston M1174 20 November 1956 broken up in 1977 Quainton M1175 10 October 1957 broken up in 1979 Rennington M1176 27 November 1958 sold to Argentina in 1967 and renamed Chaco, broken up in 2004 Repton (ex Ossington) M1167 1 May 1956 sold and broken up in 1982 Roddington M1177 24 February 1955 broken up in 1972 Santon M1178 18 August 1955 transferred to New Zealand 10 April 1965 Sefton M1179 27 November 1958 broken up in 1978 Shavington M1180 25 April 1955 broken up in 1987 Sheraton M1181 20 July 1955 sold in 1997 M1182 10 September 1954 broken up in 1981 Singleton M1183 18 November 1955 sold to Australia in 1961 and renamed Soberton M1200 20 November 1956 sold in 1993 Somerleyton (ex Gamston) M1139 1 July 1954 sold to Australia in 1961 and renamed HMAS Hawk Stratton M1210 29 July 1957 sold to South Africa in 1959 and renamed Kimberley M1204 8 August 1956 broken up in 1989 Sullington M1184 20 July 1955 converted to a survey vessel in 1965 and renamed Mermaid; broken up in 1970 Swanston M1185 10 September 1954 sold to Australia in 1961 and renamed HMAS Gull Tarlton M1186 18 November 1955 sold to Argentina in 1967 and renamed Río Negro Thankerton M1172 4 September 1955 sold to Malaysia in 1966 and renamed Brinchang Upton M1187 15 March 1956 broken up in 1991 Walkerton M1188 21 November 1956 used as Dartmouth Training Ship (Britannia Royal Naval College) in the 1970s; reversed onto the Plymouth breakwater in 1977; broken up in 1990. Wasperton M1189 28 February 1956 converted to Hong Kong Patrol craft 1971 and pennant number changed to P1089; sold in 1986 Wennington M1190 6 April 1955 sold to India in 1956 and renamed Cuddalore Whitton M1191 30 January 1956 sold to India in 1956 and renamed Cannanore Wiston M1205 3 June 1958 broken up in 1982 Wlkieston M1192 26 June 1956 broken up in 1976 Wolverton M1193 22 October 1956 converted to Hong Kong Patrol craft 1971 and pennant number changed to P1093. Sold 1980s and renamed as Wolverton Club. Destroyed in fire 1991. Woolaston M1194 6 March 1958 broken up in 1980 Wotton M1195 24 April 1956 broken up in 1992 Yarnton M1196 26 March 1956 converted to Hong Kong Patrol craft 1971 and pennant number changed to P1096

The Royal Australian Navy bought six ex Royal Navy minesweepers of the Ton class in 1961, and all were in service by 1962. Individual ships were decommissioned over the years until the final ship in service, Curlew, was decommissioned and repurposed as a civilian fishing vessel. Curlew had been updated as a mine hunter in 1967 1968 while the same treatment was given to Snipe in 1969–1970. Ship name Pennant Acquired Fate Curlew M 1121 ex HMS Chediston purchased in 1961 decommissioned in 1990, converted to civilian fishing vessel. Gull M 1185 ex HMS Swanston commissioned 19 July 1962 decommissioned 7 November 1969 M 1139 ex HMS Somerleyton commissioned 18 July 1962 decommissioned 7 January 1972, broken up M 1183 ex HMS Singleton commissioned 7 September 1962 decommissioned 4 May 1984 Snipe M 1102 ex HMS Alcaston purchased in 1961 broken up in 1985 Teal M 1152 ex HMS Jackton commissioned 30 August 1962 decommissioned 14 August 1970, serving as a training ship

Ship name Pennant Acquired Fate Durban M1499 Built on order for South African Navy Undergoing restoration at Port Natal Maritime Museum for exhibition as a museum ship. Sank at its dock in shallow water on 29 June 2020. East London M1215 ex HMS Chilton purchased in 1958 sold to an Italian film company Johannesburg M1207 ex HMS Castleton purchased in 1959 broken up in 1989 Kaapstad P1557 ex HMS Hazleton purchased in 1955 broken up in 1989 Kimberley M1210 ex HMS Stratton purchased in 1959 Mosselbaai M1213 ex HMS Oakington purchased in 1959 broken up in 1989 Port Elizabeth M1212 ex HMS Dumbleton purchased in 1958 broken up in 1989 Pretoria P1556 ex HMS Dunkerton purchased in 1955 broken up in 2010 Walvisbaai P1214 ex HMS Packington purchased in 1959 sold to the Walt Disney Company to portray the R/V Belafonte in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou; Converted to private yacht in Dubai 2012 Windhoek M1498 Built on order for South African Navy