Ship: HMS WILTON
Pennant No: M1116
Laid Down: 7th August 1970
Built by: Vosper Thornycroft, Southampton
Completed: 12th June 1973
Time to Build: 34 months World’s first GRP hull warship
Commissioned: 14th July 1973 for 2nd Minecountermeasures Squadron (MCMS) based Portsmouth
Years Fully Operational: 21 years
Outline of Operational Career:
- 20 Mar-20 Nov 74 Deployed to Port Said for Operation RHEOSTAT
- 1975-1883 Exercises, Route Survey & Visits in N. Europe
- 3 Jan-19 June 77 Attached to STANAVFORCHAN
- 17 May-31 Dec 79 Attached to STANAVFORCHAN as Senior Officer
- 10 Jan 1980 Rejoined 2nd MCMS
- 28 Mar-5 Nov 84 Deployed to Mediterranean. Visits & Exercises inc:
- 29 Aug-4 Oct 84 Operation HARLING – Mine Clearance Gulf of Suez
- 14 Sep 87-Jun 88 Temporary transfer to Fishery Protection Squadron
- 16 Jun 88 Joined 3rd MCM Squadron based at Portsmouth
- 21 May 91-Jul 94 To BRNC Dartmouth as Navigation Training Ship
Significant Events:
- 7 Apr-1 Nov 74 Suez Canal for Operation RHEOSTAT
- 1976 7 Periods of Op GRENADA off Northern Ireland
- 28 Jun 77 Took part in Silver Jubilee Review at Spithead
- 31 Aug 79 Collided with BNS BREYDEL off Ostende
Paid Off: July 1994
Disposal: Sold to TAE Marine in October 2000, then resold in October 2001 as Essex Sailing Club HQ
VILLAGE
Town in Wiltshire, 3 miles West of Salisbury.
Wilton Abbey founded in 771.
Alfred the Great won his last battle against Vikings (the Danish horde)nearby in 871
Noted for manufacture of carpets since 18th Century.
No other significant history recorded.
Photos Click an image for larger version.
