HMS Iveston

T.S. Iveston, formerly HMS "Iveston", is an out-of-service British Royal Navy Ton class minesweeper of the Second Mine Countermeasures Squadron. [http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/cgi-bin/res.pl?keyword=Iveston&offset=0] , Iveston Information.] [http://www.espotlight.co.uk/nautical/listings/346.html] , Iveston.] It was built by Phillip & Son in Dartmouth and launched on 29 June 1955. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YtHF1K2eJ8] , 5 months on board Iveston.] In 1965, Iveston was commanded by Mark Ruddle, a former submariner. [http://www.hmschurchill.co.uk/cdrtall.html] , Mark Ruddle.] 24 years later Christopher Ameye was appointed in command until 1992 when it was decommissioned. [http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.4780] , Commander C R Ameye.] On 19 July 1968 HMS "Iveston" joined "Reclaim" at a salvage area, and was withdrawn the next day. [http://www.irlgov.ie/tec/aaiu/1968%20Tuskar/Viscount%20V803Files/Appendices/app1-6.htm] , Iveston in 1968.] After it was decommissioned, HMS "Iveston" became the Sea Cadet Training Ship T.S. Iveston, in 1993.

Construction

Phillip & Son in Dartmouth built "Iveston". Its hull was a double mahogany hull upon an aluminium frame with 360 tons displacement. It was given two Paxman Deltic 18A-7A diesel engines that can power it to a top speed of 15 knots and a range of 2500 miles at 12 knots. It can carry a crew of 38 including five officers. It is armed with a Bofors 40 mm/60 Mk 3 dual-purpose gun; two Oerlikon 20 mm guns and three FN 7.62 mm machine-guns. Once complete it was launched on 29 June 1955.

Mutiny

According to the National Maritime Museum, there was a mutiny on board HMS "Iveston" at Ullapool in 1970, this was the last mutiny in the Royal Navy. Five of the crew were dismissed and jailed for their drunken protest which involved singing Irish songs outside of the officers’ wardroom. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article402896.ece] , Mutiny on board Iveston.] [http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Ops-Events1961-70.htm] , Mutiny on board Iveston.]

Sea Cadet use

T.S. Iveston is now under control of the Sea Cadet Corps. It berthed in Tilbury Docks as a training base. Iveston is used mostly by Thurrock Sea Cadets who use it weekly, although training is also available for Sea Cadets from Essex, Greater London and more recently Southern and Eastern areas. [http://archive.gazette-news.co.uk/2001/1/2/189766.htm] , Sea Cadets.] [http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/images/Navy_News_Sep_04d.jpg] , Iveston’s Indian Summer.] The training available can be for marine engineering, seamanship, canoeing, pulling, sailing, powerboating, cook/steward and instructors’ courses.

Iveston was in desperate need of more accommodation, so the help of B&T Lifting of Tilbury and Lowes Metals of Grays was enlisted to remove the winch from the ship to make room for a portable building. There are now two other containers on the quay, where HMS "Iveston" is berthed, which are used as additional classrooms.

External Links

* [http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/ton_class_minesweepers.htm Pictures]
* [http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/images/Navy_News_Sep_04d.jpgIveston in the news]
* [http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/images/Navy_News_Jul_06_d.jpgA visit from the Duke of York]

References