HMS Brereton

Ship: HMS BRERETON
Pennant No: M1113
Laid Down: 25 September 1951
Built by: Richards Ironworks, Lowestoft. Yard Number406
Completed: 9 July 1954
Time to Build: 34 Months
Transferred: October 1954 to HMS CAMBRIA (South Wales Division RNVR) based Cardiff
Conversion to Minehunter: 6 July 1967 to 16 December 1968 at Portsmouth
Years Fully Operational: 33

Outline of Operational Career:

• May 1955. Renamed HMS ST DAVID
• 19 Oct 1961. Reverted to BRERETON. Refit at Devonport
• 1962-64. Reserve at Hythe
• 18 Jan 1965. Commissioned for Fishery Protection Squadron.
• Nov 1966. Paid off for Minehunter Conversion
• 16 Dec 1968. Commissioned for 9th MCMS based at Bahrain 
• 22 Apr-4 Jul 69 Passage to Persian Gulf round Africa
• 1 Oct-10 Dec 71. Passage to UK round Africa.
• Jan 1972. Fishery Protection Squadron based Port Edgar.
• 10 Jan-2 Nov 79 Long Refit at Gibraltar
• 21 Nov 79 Transferred to Tyne Division RNR based Newcastle
• 6 Apr 1981. Transferred to Mersey Division RNR based Liverpool
• 20 Jan 1986. Transferred to 3rd MCMS based Rosyth
• 25 Jul 1988- 1 Jun 1989. Loaned to Fishery Protection Squadron

Significant Events:

• May 1965 Arrested 7 FVs in 4 week period – Total Fines £3,200
• 21 Oct 1965 Salvage of MV ‘Lady Serena’ after fire onboard
• 25 Apr- 13 May 1974 With RECLAIM, recovered ditched helicopter off HArsted, North Norway from 350 ft. World Record
• 27 Feb 1976 Collision with FV ‘Cyrano’ off Hartlepool. 4ft gash in hull below waterline
• Mar-Aug 76 Repairs
• 8 June 1978 Major Engineroom Fire. Repairs 2 months

Paid Off: 30th April 1991
Disposal: 28th November 1992 to Scheepsslopjeri of Bruges for break up.