HMS Wilkieston

Ship: HMS WILKIESTON
Pennant No: M1192
Laid Down: 1st July 1955
Built by: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Beverley, Yorkshire. Yard Number 892
Completed: 24th July 1957
Time to Build: 25 months
Commissioned: 15th December 1957 at Hythe for 104th MSS based at Malta
Years Fully Operational: 12 years

Outline of Operational Career:

• 19-28 Jan 58 Passage to Malta to join 104th MSS
• May-Aug 58 3 periods of Cyprus Patrol (Total 45 days)
• 9 Aug-31 Oct 58 Deployment to Aden & Aqaba via Suez Canal
• Jan-Aug 59 3 periods of Cyprus Patrol (Total 116 days)
• 21 Oct-30 Nov 59 Passage to Singapore with 104th MSS
• 1960-1962 Exercises and Port Visits in South China Sea
• 1 Oct 62 104th MSS renumbered 6th MSS
• 13 Dec 62-2 Jan 63 1st period of N. Borneo Patrol (20 days)
• 1963 7 periods of North Borneo Patrol (Total 129 days)
• 1964 5 Periods of North Borneo Patrol (Total 145 days)
• 1965 7 periods of North Borneo Patrol (Total 84 days): 10 periods of Singapore Straits Patrol (126 days)
• 1966 2 periods of North Borneo Patrol (Total 35 days) 4 periods Singapore Straits Patrol (31 days)
• 1967-1968 Exercises and Port Visits in South China Sea
• 14 Jan 67 Transferred to 8th MCMS as SO, based Hong Kong
• 5 Oct 67 Transferred back to 6th MCMS.
• 5 Jul-15 Dec 69 Passage to UK eastabout via Pacific/Atlantic

Significant Events:

• 2 Feb 60 Rescued crew of MV ‘Coral Sea’ (USA) with FISKERTON
• 10-17 May 62 Anti-piracy patrol off Borneo with BULWARK
• Sep 67 Collision with WOOLASTON during manoeuvres
• Jul-Dec 69 Passage to UK with HOUGHTON (SO) via Darwin, South Pacific Islands, Hawaii, California, Mexico, Panama Canal, Jamaica & Bermuda.

Paid Off: December 1969
Disposal: September 1976 Sold to Whites of St Davids for break up.