HMS Puncheston

Ship: HMS PUNCHESTON
Pennant No: M1174
Laid Down: 20th March 1954
Built by: Richards Ironworks, Lowestoft. Yard Number 418
Completed: 20th September 1957
Time to Build: 42 months
Commissioned: 23rd April 1959 for 104th Minesweeping Squadron (MSS) based Malta
Years Fully Operational: 11

Outline of Operational Career:

• 4-14 May 59 Passage to Malta. Joined 104th MSS
• 6 Jul-11 Aug 59 First (and only) Cyprus Patrol
• 21 Oct-30 Nov 59 Passage Malta to Singapore with WOODBRIDGE HAVEN and 104th MSS
• 1960-62 Exercises and Visits in South China Sea
• Jun-Dec 62 North Borneo Patrol (26 days)
• Oct 1962 104th MSS renumbered 6th MSS
• 1963 North Borneo Patrol (122 days), exercises & visits
• 1964 North Borneo Patrol 109 days), exercises & visits
• 1965 Borneo (57) & Singapore Straits (144 days) Patrol
• 1966 Borneo(41) & Singapore Straits (19 days) Patrol
• Oct 66 Passage to Bahrain. Joined 9th MSS
• May-Jul 67 Anti-gun running patrol off Aden & Dhofar
• May-Jul 68 Passage Bahrain to Gibraltar for Refit - Mike Mcrae recalls this as Feb-April 1968 (Feb 2024)
• Mar-May 69 Passage Gibraltar to Bahrain
• Jun 69-Aug 71 Exercises and Visits in Gulf Area
• 5 Sep-18 Nov 71 Passage from Bahrain to UK with WISTON

Significant Events:

• 28 May 1965 Incident with Indonesian ‘Kronstadt’ Class Patrol Vessel in Singapore Straits. Guns trained.

Paid Off: 19th November 1971
Disposal: 3rd May 1972 Sold on to Pounds Portsmouth for conversion to survey vessel, then sold on to Henderson Merez, Dartford in 1977 for break up.