HMS Gavinton

Ship: HMS GAVINTON
Pennant No: M1140
Laid Down: 29th September 1952
Built By: J. S. Doig (Grimsby) Ltd
Completed: 14th July 1954
Time to Build: 22 Months
Commissioned: 11th May 1956 as Senior Officer VERNON Training Squadron based at Portsmouth
Years Fully Operational: 26
Conversion: September 1966 to October 1968 at Chatham

Outline of Operational Career:

• May 1956 Joined HMS Vernon Squadron as Senior Officer
• 1956 – 1962 Vernon Squadron training, exercises & visits
• May-July 1962 Temporary Service with London Division RNR
• August 1962-August 1966 Operational Reserve at Hythe (Arked)
• 11th October 1968 Commissioned for 9th MSS based Bahrain
• May 1969 – October 1971 Patrols & Exercises with 9th MSS based Bahrain
• October – December 1971 Returned to U. Route Surveys, Exercises & Visits
• 1st January 1984 Transferred to newly formed 3rd MCMS
• 30th June 1986 Paid Off to Stand-By Squadron
• 28th October 1986 Recommissioned as Trials Ship

Significant Events:

• 10th October 1957 Towed by Whirlwind helicopter at 5 knots
• 31st May 1970 Operation ‘Occidental’ off Abu Musa
• 7th July 1970 Attempted to put out fire in MV ‘Diffuri-Maadi’ at entrance to Gulf, with HMS Puncheston
• July-October 1984 Deployed to Red Sea area for Operation HARLING. Discovered and recovered a previously unknown type of Russian influence mine (now termed Type 955), probably one of several laid by a peaceful Libyan merchant ship while transiting the Gulf of Suez.

Paid Off: 12th December 1986
Disposal: 14th October 1991 Broken up by Brugse Scheepssloperji, Belgium