Dates: 1956 - 1995
H.M.S. Nurton M1166
ex – Montrose
ex – Killicrankie
Displacement: 360 Tons
Shipyard: Harland & Wolff
Launched: 22 October 1956
Fate: Broken up in 1995
On 24 February 1983, at 15.59 hrs, H.M.S. Nurton suffered severe damage as H.M.S. Brocklesby, the Navy’s newest Hunt Class GRP minesweeper at the time, collided with her port side.
She was holed amidships on the port side and the Ships Company had to abandon ship onto the Brocklesbys’ bow.
She was the sole named ship, re-named Montrose 1958-1961. Reverted to Nurton between 1961-1972. Re-named Killicrankie 1972-1974. She was the last of the ‘Tons’ in service with the Royal Navy. She was sold to Pounds April 1995.
Notes on Ton Class Minesweepers
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 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.
Other Royal Navy Ton Class Minesweepers listed below:
H.M.S. Alcaston, launched 5 January 1953; sold to Australia in 1961 and renamed Snipe; broken up in 1985.
H.M.S. Aldington, launched 15 September 1955; sold to Ghana in 1964 and renamed Ejura; broken up in 1979.
H.M.S. Alfriston, launched 29 April 1953; broken up in 1988.
H.M.S. Alverton, launched 18 November 1953; sold to Ireland in 1971 and renamed ’Banba
H.M.S. Amerton, launched 16 March 1953; broken up in 1971.
H.M.S. Appleton, launched 4 September 1953; broken up in 1972.
H.M.S. Ashton (ex-Cheriton), launched 5 September 1956; broken up in 1977.
H.M.S. Badminton, launched 14 October 1954; broken up in 1970.
H.M.S. H.M.S. Beachampton, launched 29 June 1953; sold in 1985.
H.M.S. Belton, launched 3 October 1955; broken up in 1974.
H.M.S. Bevington, launched 17 March 1953; sold to Argentina in 1968 and renamed Tierra del Fuego.
H.M.S. Bickington, launched 14 May 1952; broken up in 1988.
H.M.S. Bildeston, launched 9 June 1952; broken up in 1988.
H.M.S. Blaxton, launched 26 January 1955; sold to Ireland in 1970 and renamed Fola.
H.M.S. Bossington (ex-Embleton), launched 2 December 1955; broken up in 1988.
H.M.S. Boulston, launched 6 October 1952; broken up in 1975.
H.M.S. Brereton, launched 14 March 1955; broken up in 1992.
H.M.S. Brinton, launched 8 August 1952; sold in 1997.
H.M.S. Bronington, launched<
