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
Photos Click an image for larger version.
