Dates: 1972 - 1994
HMS Wilton (M1116) was a prototype coastal minesweeper/minehunter for the Royal Navy. She was the first warship in the world to be constructed from glass-reinforced plastic. Her design was based upon the existing Ton class minesweepers, and she was fitted with equipment recovered from the scrapped HMS Derriton. The use of GRP gave the vessel a low magnetic signature against the threat of magnetic mines.
Wilton was unofficially known as HMS Tupperware, HMS Indestructible, and "The Plastic Duck".
Ordered: 11 February 1970
Builder: Vosper Thorneycroft, Woolston
Laid down: 7 August 1970
Launched: 18 January 1972
Commissioned: 14 July 1973
Decommissioned: 1994
Fate: Sold 2001, towed to Southampton for conversion as yacht club at Leigh-on-Sea
General characteristics:
Class and type: Wilton-class minesweeper
Displacement: 450 tons
Length: 153 ft (47 m)
Beam: 29.2 ft (8.9 m)
Draught: 8.5 ft (2.6 m)
Propulsion: 2 ? Napier Deltic 18-7A diesel engines @ 3,000 bhp
Speed: 16 knots
Range: 2,300 nm at 13 knots
Complement: 37 men
Armament: 1 ? Bofors 40 mm gun
