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
- 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.