HMS Ashton

Ship: HMS ASHTON
Pennant No: M1198
Laid Down: 14 October 1954
Built by: Whites Shipyard Ltd, Southampton
Completed: 15 April 58
Time to Build:42 Months
Commissioned: 3 July 58 for 108th Minesweeping Squadron (MSS) based Malta
Years Fully Operational: 13

Outline of Operational Career:

• Aug 58Passage to Malta
• 29 Aug-06 Sep 58First Cyprus Patrol (9 days)
• 1 Jan-05 Feb 59Second Cyprus Patrol (32 days)
• 29 May-30 Jun 59Third Cyprus Patrol (30 Days)
• 1959-1969Exercises and Visits in Mediterranean
• 1 Oct 62108th MSS renumbered as 7th MSS
• 31 Mar 697th MSS left Malta for Gibraltar
• 04 Apr 69Paid off to refit and reserve in Gibraltar
• 15 Apr 71Commissioned for 2 weeks post refit trials
• 28 Aug 72Commissioned for Fishery Protection Squadron

Significant Events:

• 3 Apr 64 Collision with SHAVINGTON while Team Sweeping
• 7 Dec 66 Recovery of survivors from MV HERAKLION
• Jan 68 At Trapani to assist after Sicilian earthquake

Paid Off: Late 1974
Disposal: 3 Aug 77 for breaking up at Blyth.

VILLAGE

A popular name for Saxon settlements near ash trees.

There are 19 ASHTONS recorded in England, 2 in Scotland and several in USA, Canada, Australia and South Africa, plus compound names including Ashton under Lyne and Ashton in Makerfield in Lancashire. It is not known which communty the Ship Naming Committee may have had in mind.