HMS Carhampton

Ship: HMS CARHAMPTON
Pennant No: M1119
Laid Down:9th November 1953
Built By: Wivenhoe Shipyard Ltd, Colchester. Yard Number 72
Completed:30th May 1956
Time To Build: 31 Months
Commissioned:19th November 1956 for 104th Minesweeping Squadron (MSS) based Malta
Years Fully Operational:2

Outline Of Operational Career:

• 26 Nov 56 Deployed to Malta
• 17 Dec 56 Started first Cyprus Patrol
• 1957-58 8 periods of Cyprus Patrol, and MCM Exercises
• 9 Oct 58 Paid off to Reserve at Malta
• Apr 59 Towed to Aden by Tug ENFORCER for Reserve
• Nov 63 Towed to Malta by Tug TYPHO0ON for Refit
• Nov 64 Towed to Aden by Tug SEA SALVOR for Reserve
• 20 Jan 65 Commissioned to Aden for 9th MSS (Aden)
• 26 Jan–26 Mar 65 South Arabian Coast and Gulf of Aden Patrols
• 27 Mar 65 Paid Off and reverted to Local Reserve - Aden
• 5-22 Nov 65 Passage to UK (Ferry Crew)

Significant Events:

• 25 Feb 58 Stood by SS 'AFRICAN MARQUIS' in Kaso Straits (East of Crete)

Paid Off: 27th March 1965
Disposal: Sold to Kitson Vickers at Plymouth 22nd June 1970 for breaking up

VILLAGE

In Somerset, 4 miles East of Minehead. Has an Iron Age hill fort. A saxon royal estate visited by Kings in their Royal Progress, when they also collected taxes.

In 836 King Egbert fought off Viking raiders, with "grest slaughter". Associated with Arthurian legend of St Carantoc, who slew a dragon nearby and was given the right to build a mnastery, at his own expense. 

Current inhabitants continue the tradition of wassailing. On 17 January villages gather in orchards to drink cider, eat toast, sing traditional songs and dance around the oldest apple tree. A shotgun is fired to scare away evil spirits.