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.

VILLAGE

In Pembrokeshire. Name in Welsh "Caes-Mael".

Remains of ancient encampment nearby may be Iron Age.

Pirate Bartholomew Boberts, aka "Black Bart " born here in 1682.

No historical events recorded.