Ton class minesweeper

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.

Description

The design of the class was led by the shipyard John I. Thornycroft & Company, and drew on lessons learnt in the Korean War, and numbered 119 vessels. They were diesel powered vessels of 440 tons displacement fully laden, constructed of wood and other non-ferromagnetic materials. 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 and a M2 Browning machine gun mounted midships. Sweeping equipment was provided for moored mines and magnetic mines. Thornycroft & Co of Southampton was the lead shipyard for the class.

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 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.

With the rundown of the Royal Navy fleet in the 1960s, many were sent to become base ships for the Royal Naval Reserve allowing reserve crews to get to sea for short periods without a lot of effort to organise a crew of significant size. Some of these had their names changed to reflect the RNR Division they were attached to.

The RNR vessels lasted until the introduction of the River class minesweepers in 1984. The remainder of the RN ships paid off in the 1990s.

hips

Royal Navy:
* "Alcaston", launched 5 January 1953; sold to Australia in 1961 and renamed "Snipe"; broken up in 1985.
* "Aldington", launched 15 September 1955; sold to Ghana in 1964 and renamed "Ejura"; broken up in 1979.
* "Alfriston", launched 29 April 1953; broken up in 1988.
* "Alverton", launched 18 November 1953; sold to Ireland in 1971 and renamed 'Banba"
* "Amerton", launched 16 March 1953; broken up in 1971.
* "Appleton", launched 4 September 1953; broken up in 1972.
* "Ashton" (ex-"Cheriton"), launched 5 September 1956; broken up in 1977.
* "Badminton", launched 14 October 1954; broken up in 1970.
* "Beachampton", launched 29 June 1953; sold in 1985.
* "Belton", launched 3 October 1955; broken up in 1974.
* "Bevington", launched 17 March 1953; sold to Argentina in 1968 and renamed "Tierra del Fuego".
* "Bickington", launched 14 May 1952; broken up in 1988.
* "Bildeston", launched 9 June 1952; broken up in 1988.
* "Blaxton", launched 26 January 1955; sold to Ireland in 1970 and renamed "Fola".
* "Bossington" (ex-"Embleton"), launched 2 December 1955; broken up in 1988.
* "Boulston", launched 6 October 1952; broken up in 1975.
* "Brereton", launched 14 March 1955; broken up in 1992.
* "Brinton", launched 8 August 1952; sold in 1997.
* "Bronington", launched 19 March 1953; became a museum ship in 1989.
* "Burnaston", launched 18 December 1952; broken up in 1971.
* "Buttington", launched 11 June 1953; broken up in 1970.
* "Calton", launched 24 October 1953; broken up in 1968.
* "Carhampton", launched 21 July 1955; broken up in 1970.
* "Castleton", launched 26 August 1958; sold to South Africa in 1959 and renamed "Johannesburg"
* "Caunton", launched 18 December 1952; broken up in 1970.
* "Chawton", launched 24 September 1957; broken up in 1977.
* "Chediston", launched 20 February 1953; sold to Australia in 1968 and renamed "Curlew"
* "Chilcompton", launched 6 October 1953; sold in 1971.
* "Chilton", launched 15 July 1957; sold to South Africa in 1958 and renamed "East London".
* "Clarbeston", launched 18 February 1954; broken up in 1987.
* "Coniston", launched 9 July 1952; broken up in 1970.
* "Crichton", launched 17 march 1953; broken up in 1987.
* "Crofton", launched 7 March 1958; broken up in 1987.
* "Cuxton", launched 9 November 1953; broken up in 1992.
* "Dalswinton", launched 24 September 1953; broken up in 1973.
* "Darlaston", launched 29 September 1953; sold to Malaysia 1960 and renamed "Mahamiru".
* "Derriton", launched 22 December 1953; broken up in 1970. The machinery and fittings were reconditioned and installed in the prototype Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) minehunter HMS Wilton (M1116) launched on 18 January 1972 and commissioned on 14 July 1974.
* "Dilston", launched 15 November 1954; sold to Malaysia in 1964 and renamed "Jerai".
* "Dufton", launched 13 November 1954; broken up in 1977.
* "Dumbleton", launched 8 November 1957; sold to South Africa in 1958 and renamed "Port Elizabeth".
* "Dunkerton", launched 8 March 1954; sold to South Africa in 1955 and renamed "Pretoria".
* "Durweston", launched 18 August 1955; sold to India in 1956 and renamed "Kakinada".
* "Edderton", launched 1 November 1953; converted to a survey vessel in 1964 and renamed "Myrmidon"; sold to Malaysia in 1969 and renamed "Perantau".
* "Essington", launched 26 September 1956; Purchased Malaysia 1964 and renamed "Kinabalu".
* "Fenton", launched 2 December 1955; broken up in 1968.
* "Fiskerton", launched 12 April 1957; broken up in 1977.
* "Fittleton", launched 26 September 1956; broken up in 1977.
* "Flockton", launched 3 June 1954; broken up in 1969.
* "Floriston", launched 26 January 1955; sold in 1968.
* "Gavinton", launched 27 July 1953; broken up in 1991.
* "Glasserton", launched 3 December 1953; broken up in 1988.
* "Hazleton", launched 6 February 1954; sold to South Africa in 1955 and renamed "Kaapstaad".
* "Hexton", launched June 1954; sold to Malaysia in 1963 and renamed "Ledang".
* "Hickleton", launched 26 January 1955; sold to Argentina in 1971 and renamed "Neuquen".
* "Highburton", launched 2 June 1954; Scrapped1978.
* "Hodgeston", launched 6 April 1954; broken up in 1988.
* "Houghton", launched 22 November 1957; broken up in 1971.
* "Hubberston", launched 14 September 1954; broken up in 1992.
* "Ilmington", launched 8 March 1954; sold to Argentina 1967 and renamed "Formosa".
* "Invermoriston", launched 2 June 1954; converted to air-sea rescue vessel; broken up in 1971.
* "Iveston", launched 14 October 1954; became a sea cadet training ship in 1993.
* "Jackton", launched 28 February 1955; sold to Australia 1961 and renamed "Teal".
* "Kedleston", launched 21 December 1953; broken up in 1992.
* "Kellington", launched 12 October 1954; Became a sea cadet training ship in 1993.
* "Kemerton", launched 27 November 1953; broken up in 1975.
* "Kildarton" (ex-"Liston"), launched 23 May 1955; sold in 1969.
* "Kirkliston", launched 18 February 1954; broken up in 1991.
* "Laleston", launched 18 May 1954; broken up in 1985.
* "Lanton", launched 30 July 1954; broken up in 1970.
* "Letterston", launched 26 October 1954; broken up in 1971.
* "Leverton", launched 2 March 1955; broken up in 1972.
* "Lewiston", launched 3 November 1959; broken up in 1986.
* "Lullington", launched 31 August 1955; sold to Malaysia in 1966 and renamed "Tahan".
* "Maddiston", launched 27 January 1956; broken up in 1975.
* "Maryton", launched 3 April 1958; broken up in 1969.
* "Maxton", launched 24 May 1956; broken up in 1989.
* "Monkton" (ex-"Kelton"), launched 30 November 1955; sold in 1985.
* "Nurton", launched 22 October 1956; broken up in 1995.
* "Oakington", launched 10 December 1958; sold to South Africa in 1959 and renamed "Mosselbaai".
* "Oulston", launched 29 September 1953; sold to Ireland in 1971 and renamed "Grainne".
* "Overton", launched 28 January 1956; sold to India in 1956 and renamed "Karwar".
* "Packington", launched 3 July 1958; sold to South Africa in 1959 and renamed "Walvisbaai", then sold to the Walt Disney Company to portray the R/V Belafonte in The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.
* "Penston", launched 9 May 1955; broken up in 1970.
* "Picton", launched 20 October 1955; broken up in 1969.
* "Pollington", launched 10 October 1957; broken up in 1987.
* "Puncheston", launched 20 November 1956; broken up in 1977.
* "Quainton", launched 10 October 1957; broken up in 1979.
* "Rennington", launched 27 November 1958; sold to Argentina in 1967 and renamed "Chaco"
* "Repton" (ex-"Ossington"), launched 1 May 1956; sold in 1982.
* "Roddington", launched 24 February 1955; broken up in 1972.
* "Santon", launched 18 August 1955; sold to Argentina in 1967 and renamed "Chubut".
* "Sefton", launched 27 November 1958; broken up in 1978.
* "Shavington", launched 25 April 1955; broken up in 1987.
* "Sheraton", launched 20 July 1955; sold in 1997.
* "Shoulton", launched 10 September 1954; broken up in 1981.
* "Singleton", launched 18 November 1955; sold to Argentina in 1961 and renamed "Ibis".
* "Soberton", launched 20 November 1956; sold in 1993.
* "Somerleyton" (ex-"Gamston"), launched 1 July 1954; sold to Australia in 1961 and renamed "Hawk".
* "Stratton", launched 29 July 1957; sold to South Africa in 1959 and renamed "Kimberley".
* "Stubbington", launched 8 August 1956; broken up in 1989.
* "Sullington", launched 20 July 1955; converted to a survey vessel in 1965 and renamed "Mermaid"; broken up in 1970.
* "Swanston", launched 10 September 1954; sold to Australia in 1954 and renamed "Gull".
* "Tarlton", launched 18 November 1955; sold to Argentina in 1967 and renamed "Rio Negro".
* "Thankerton", launched 4 September 1955; sold to Malaysia in 1966 and renamed "Brinchang".
* "Upton", launched 15 March 1956; broken up in 1991.
* "Walkerton", launched 21 November 1956; broken up in 1990.
* "Wasperton", launched 28 February 1956; sold in 1986.
* "Wennington", launched 6 April 1955; sold to India in 1956 and renamed "Cuddalore".
* "Whitton", launched 30 January 1956; sold to India in 1956 and renamed "Cannanore".
* "Wiston", launched 3 June 1958; broken up in 1982.
* "Wlkieston", launched 26 June 1956; broken up in 1976.
* "Wolverton", launched 22 October 1956; sold to Hong Kong in 1986 and converted to a floating restaurant; destroyed in a fire in 1991.
* "Woolaston", launched 6 March 1958; broken up in 1980.
* "Wotton", launched 24 April 1956; broken up in 1992.
* "Yarnton", launched 26 March 1956; sold in 1986.

South African Navy:
* SAS "Durban", M1499
* SAS "East London", M1215 (ex HMS "Chilton") - sold to Italian film company
* SAS "Johannesburg", M1207 (ex HMS "Castleton")
* SAS "Kaapstad", P1557, M1210 (ex HMS "Hazleton"; ex HMS "Blue Firefly")
* SAS "Kimberley", M1210 (ex HMS "Stratton")
* SAS "Mosselbaai", M1213 (ex HMS "Oakington")
* SAS "Port Elizabeth", M1212 (ex HMS "Dumbleton")
* SAS "Pretoria", P1556, M1144 (ex HMS "Dunkerton"; ex HMS "Golden Firefly") - museum ship in Hout Bay
* SAS "Walvisbaai", M1214 (ex HMS "Packington") sold to The Walt Disney Company
* SAS "Windhoek", M1498

References

Further reading

*cite book |editor=Captain Richard Sharpe RN (ed) |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1991-92 |year=1991 |publisher=Jane's Information Group|edition=94th edition |id=ISBN 0-7106-0960-4

External links

* [http://www.tca2000.co.uk Ton Class Association]
* [http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2003/0303/0003030301.asp Ton-class ships discussed in Portsmouth]
* [http://users.qld.chariot.net.au/~dialabull/M1121.htm HMAS Curlew, M1121, a History]