HMS Shavington

Ship: HMS SHAVINGTON
Pennant No: M1180
Laid Down: 30th September 1953
Built by: Whites Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Southampton
Completed: 1st March 1956
Time to Build: 29 months
Commissioned: 28th June 1956 for 108th Minesweeping Squadron (MSS) based Malta
Years Fully Operational: 22

Outline of Operational Career:

• 5-14 Jun 56 Passage to Malta
• 22 Jul-28 Aug 56 First Cyprus Patrol (34 days)
• 31 Oct-15 Nov 56 Operation MUSKETEER
• 20 Nov 56 Recommissioned for 104th MSS
• 1-14 Jan 57 2nd Cyprus Patrol (14 days)
• 22 May-6 Jul 57 3rd Cyprus Patrol (46 days)
• 18 Oct–2 Dec 57 4th Cyprus Patrol (43 days)
• 27 Dec-3 Jan 58 Returned to UK. Paid off
• Apr 58-Jul 59 Deltic Conversion at Portsmouth
• 13-23 Jul 59 Passage to Malta. Joined 108th MSS
• 1-28 Aug 59 5th Cyprus Patrol (25 days)
• 7 Oct-22 Nov 59 6th Cyprus Patrol (42 days)
• Sep-Dec 61 Deployment to Aden & Arabian Sea
• 1 Oct 62 108th MSS renumbered 7th MSS
• 1962-1968 Exercises and Visits in Mediterranean
• 31 Mar 69 7th MSS final departure from Malta
• Apr 1969 Paid off at Gibraltar to Reserve
• 11 Oct 74 Commissioned at Devonport for FP Squadron
• 1975-82 Fishery Protection Patrols
• May 1982 Transferred to Ulster Division RNR based Belfast

Significant Events:

• 5-6 Nov 56 Took part in Operation MUSKETEER - Wire Sweeping
• 9 May 61 BURNASTON collided with SHAVINGTON on passage SHAVINGTON damaged (replaced by RODINGTON)
• 28 Jun 77 Took part in Silver Jubilee Revue at Spithead
• 3-5 Aug 77 Multiple Boardings off North East Coast during Salmon Patrol. Four arrests, one prosecution.
• 23 Dec 77 Salvaged Greek MV ‘Fast Bird II’ off St Ives

Paid Off: 18th March 1985
Disposal: 25th March 1987 Sold to SB Queenborough at Cairnryan for break up