HMS Wotton

Ship: HMS WOTTON
Pennant No: M1195
Laid Down: 25th June 1954
Built by: Philip & Son, Dartmouth. Yard Number 1275
Completed: 13 June 1957
Time to Build: 36 months
Commissioned: 18th April 1958 for Fishery Protection Squadron (FPS) based Port Edgar
Years Fully Operational: 25

Outline of Operational Career:

• May 1958 Joined Fishery Protection Squadron at Port Edgar
• 1958-1971 UK Fishery Patrols, Exercises and Visits
• 1 Nov 67 Fishery Protection Squadron became 4th MCMS
• 1-16 Oct 68 Took part in trials of Hovercraft in FP Role
• 1 Nov 71 Transferred to 3rd MCMS based Portland
• 1973 Carried out 4 periods of Grenada Patrol (25 days)
• 12 Jul-9 Aug 75 Deep Armed Team Sweep Trials off Gibraltar
• 1975 Carried out 5 periods of Grenada Patrol (42 days)
• 17 Jul–19 Aug 76 Deep Armed Team Sweep Trials off Gibraltar
• 1976 Carried out 3 periods of Grenada Patrol (23 days)
• 20 Feb 77-7 Apr 78 Long Refit at Gibraltar
• 31 May 78 Joined Fishery Protection Squadron at Rosyth
• 1979-84 UK Fishery Patrols, Exercises and Visits
• 12-24 Oct 80 Temporary attachment to STANAVFORCHAN
• 14 Apr 82 Majority of WOTTON’s crew transferred to FARNELLA for service in the Falklands
• 1 Apr 84 Transferred to 10th (RNR) MCMS for London Div
• 21 Apr-20 May 84 Deployment to Gibraltar: NATO & RNR Exercises

Significant Events:

• 1966 Made 4 successful FV arrests in UK waters
• 28 Apr-26 May 68 Took part in Operation NEW BROOM 68
• Jul-Oct 68 Made 4 successful FV arrests in UK waters
• 12-14 Dec 69 Experienced Violent Storm Force 11 in Shetlands
• 6 –7 Jun 1973 Salvaged FV ‘Tina Louise’ off Portland.
• 2 Jul 78 Stood by FV ‘Storgen’ on fire off May Island.
• 6 Mar 84 Firefighting in MV ‘Anna Tholstrup’ in Irish Sea

Paid Off: November 1984
Disposal: Loaned to Woolwich Unit, Sea Cadets 1986-89 19th November 1992 – Sold to Brugse Scheepssloperij for break-up