Dates: 1952 - 1988
H.M.S. Bildeston M1110
Built by: Doig
Launched: 9 June 1952
Fate: Sold Vickers Demolition, arrived at Bilbao 22 August 1988 for breaking up.
H.M.S. Bildeston M1110 was the first TON to be completed ready for service. She was later converted to a Minehunter on 1st November 1968, in Rosyth, after a two and a half year refit, before finally paying off in 1986.
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 19 March 1953; became a museum ship in 1989.
H.M.S. Burnaston, launched 18 December 1952; broken up in 1971.
H.M.S. Buttington, launched 11 June 1953; broken up in 1970.
H.M.S. Calton, launched 24 October 1953; broken up in 1968.
H.M.S. Carhampton, launched 21 July 1955; broken up in 1970.
H.M.S. Castleton, la
