HMS Upton

Ship: HMS UPTON 
Pennant No: M1187
Laid Down: 1st May 1955
Built by: J I Thorneycroft & Co, Southampton. Yard Number 4160
Completed: 25th July 1956
Time to Build: 15 months
Commissioned: August 1956 for 105th Minesweeping Squadron (MSS) based Harwich
Years Fully Operational: 33

Outline of Operational Career:

• 16 Aug 56 Joined 105th MSS at Harwich
• 23 Aug 7 Sep 56 Escorted Inshore Minesweepers to Malta
• 31 Oct-12 Nov 56 Operation MUSKETEER
• 7-17 Dec 56 Passage to UK. Paid off to reserve on arrival.
• 8 Nov 57 Commissioned for 100th MSS based VERNON
• 15-26 Sep 58 Passage to Malta with 100th MSS for Cyprus.
• 1-11 Dec 58 Passage to UK
• 1959 Exercises and Visits in N. European Waters
• 1 Jun 59 100th MSS transferred from VERNON to Port Edgar
• 20 Feb 65 2nd MSS Paid Off at Port Edgar to man 11th MSS ships at Singapore for Confrontation
• 3 Sep 65 Commissioned for 5th MSS based VERNON
• 5 Jan 66 Transferred to new 1st MCMS based Port Edgar
• 18 Feb 72 Transferred to new 2nd MCMS based VERNON
• 5 Sep 73 Rejoined 1st MCMS based Port Edgar
• Jan-Apr 74 Attached to STANAVFORCHAN
• 27 Feb 75 Transferred to FPS based Port Edgar
• 19 Sep 75 Transferred to 10th MCMS
• 10 Apr 76-21 Mar 77 Extended Refit at Gibraltar.
• 22 Apr 77 Joined SW Group of 10th MCMS based Bristol
• 5 Nov 78 Transferred to NE Group 10th MCMS based Dundee
• 20 Aug 80 Transferred to 1st MCMS based Rosyth
• 1 Jan 84 Transferred to new 3rd MCMS based Rosyth
• 30 Mar 84 Transferred to FPS based Rosyth
• 1984-90 Fishery Protection Patrols in UK waters

Significant Events:

• 5-6 Nov 56 Took part in Operation MUSKETEER - Wire sweeping Group
• 13–16 Nov 56 Both Main Engines failed. Towed Port Said to Malta.
• 1-30 May 68 Took part in Op ‘NEW BROOM’ based Den Helder.
• Oct-Dec 68 & 70 Took part in ‘Meet the Navy’ cruises round UK
• Sep 69 Assisted shipping in Gothenburg during severe gale.
• 30 Jun 75 Assisted in fighting fire in FV ‘Bracoudene’
• 24 Jun 77 Attended Jubilee Review at Spithead
• 1981 Carried out 7 GRENADA Patrols (84 days) in year
• Apr-Aug 1982 Crew manned HMS CORDELLA in South Atlantic
• 4 & 5 Dec 88 Assisted MV ‘Bowsprit’. 4 C-in-C Commendations
• Jul-Nov 89 7 successful arrests of foreign FV for infringements

Paid Off: 21st September 1990
Disposal: 21st October 1991 Sold to Brugse Scheepssloperij for break-up.

VILLAGE

On the Wirral, 4 miles North of Birkenhead.

Name desrives from Saxon Upp, meaning High or Hill, hence, Hill Farm.

Agricultural area until urban expansion of Merseyside. Formerly site of markets and agricultural fairs.

During World War 2, there was an AA Ordance Depot and RAF West Kirky Basic Training camp was nearby.

No recorded history.