HMS Bossington

Ship: HMS BOSSINGTON
Pennant No: M1133
Laid Down: 1st September 1954
Completed: 11th December 1956
Built By: John I Thornycroft, Southampton.. Yard Number 4157
Time to Build: 27 months
Commissioned: 25th February 1958 for pitch stabilisation trials as part of Vernon Squadron
Years Fully Operational: 26

Outline of Operational Career:

• 27Jan59 Recommissioned for RNR training & duties with ACR & DNR based at VERNON
• Jan59-Jun64 RNR training, exercises & visits in North European waters
• 1 Oct 62 Vernon Squadron renamed 5th MSS
• 29 Jun 64 Paid Off for conversion to Minehunter
• 1 Oct Recommissioned at Chatham for 11th MSS
• 19 Feb-12 Apr 66 Passage to Singapore
• Apr-Jul 66 Carried out 4 periods Straits Patrol (32 days)
• 1 Oct 66 11th MCMS absorbed into 6th MCMS
• 1 Sept 69 6th MSS moved to Hong Kong as 6th PCS
• 1 Oct-13 Dec 71 Passage to UK round Africa with MAXTON& HUBBERSTON
• 1 Jan 72 Joined new 2nd MCMS based at Portsmouth
• 1972-1987 Minehunting, exercises & visits
• May-Dec 73 Attached to new STANAVFORCHAN
• Mar-Sept 74 Deployed to Mediterranean for Operation RHEOSTAT (Suez Canal Clearance)
• 1976,1978 &1984 Attached to STANAVFORCHAN for 4-6 months
• Jun-Nov 84 Deployed to Mediterranean then Gulf of Suez

Significant Events:

• 9 Oct 62 Collided with HMS Sheraton at Portsmouth.
• Sep-Oct 68 Visit to North Australia (Mackay, Cairns)
• 15 Feb 70 6th PCS changed funnel badge from Blackfoot to red Chinese Dragon
• 30 Nov 71 Towed HMS Zulu (defective main engine) from River Gambia to Dakar, West Africa
• 1 Nov 78 Grounded Loch Tarbert. Towed to Portsmouth for 12 month refit

Paid Off:2nd March 1987
Disposal: 25th January 1989 sold to Brugse Scheepssloperij for break up