HMS Penston

Ship: HMS PENSTON
Pennant No: M1169
Laid Down: 16th July 1954
Built by: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley, Yorks. Yard Number 889

Completed: 9th March 1956
Time to Build: 20 months
Commissioned: 24th August 1956 for 108th Minesweeping Squadron (MSS) based Malta
Years Fully Operational: 8

Outline of Operational Career:

• 24 Aug-4 Sep 56 Passage to Malta (with ALDINGTON)
• 25 Sep-12 Nov 56 First Cyprus Patrol (71 days)
• 14 Nov-21 Dec 56 At Port Said as Op MUSKETEER relief
• Jun 58 Paid off at Malta. (Crew to UK to man MAXTON).
• Oct 58 Refit, then reserve at Malta
• 1959 Towed to Aden. Reserve Fleet Aden.
• Oct-Nov 61 Towed to Singapore. Far East Reserve
• 26 Apr 62 Commissioned for 120th MSS based Hong Kong
• 1 Oct 62 120th MSS renamed 8th MSS
• 1962-1963 Immigration Patrols in disputed waters
• 1964 82 days North Borneo (Tawau) Patrols
• 1965 119 days North Borneo (Tawau) Patrols
• 1966 36 days North Borneo Patrols
• Feb-Apr 67 Returned to UK to decommission

Significant Events:

• 6 Mar 57 Night collision with ALDINGTON off Sardinia.
• 5 Sep 64 Present when Typhoon Ruby hit Hong Kong.

Paid Off: April 1967
Disposal: 28th January 1970 Sold to Metrec, Newhaven for breaking up.

VILLAGE

A hamlet and feudal barony in Gladsmuir, East Lothian.

Records date from fourteenth century, mainly about Penston Castle.

Latterly a coal mining area, but now again agricultural

No significant historical events recorded.