HMS Yarnton

Ship: HMS YARNTON
Pennant No: M1196
Laid Down: 21st October 1954
Built by: William Pickersgill & Sons, Sunderland. Yard Number 350
Completed: 16th January 1957
Time to Build: 27 months
Commissioned: 11th May 1957 for 100th Minesweeping Squadron (MSS) based Portsmouth
Conversion: to Patrol Craft at Hong Kong July to December 1973 (Part Conversion in Oct-Nov 71)
Years Fully Operational: 26

Outline of Operational Career:

• Jun 57 Joined 100th MSS
• 1-12 Sep 58 100th MSS deployed to Malta for Cyprus Patrols
• 18 Sep-25 Nov 58 First (and only) Cyprus Patrol
• 1-11 Dec 58 100th MSS returned to Portsmouth
• 1959-1964 Exercises and Visits in North European Waters
• 10 Jun 59 100th MSS transferred base to Port Edgar
• 1 Oct 62 100th MSS renumbered 2nd MSS
• 18 Jan 65 2nd MSS paid off to man 11th MSS at Singapore
• Aug 65 Recommissioned at Port Edgar for 2nd MSS
• Jan-Oct 66 Long Refit at Chatham
• 17 Oct 66 Sailed from UK to join 9th MCMS at Bahrain
• 16 Nov 66 Arrived Bahrain. 4 months repairs post cyclone. - See Note below.
• 1967 -1971 Patrols, Exercises and Visits in Gulf/Indian Ocean
• 3 Jun-19 Sep 67 Deployments to Aden during and after 6 Day War
• 22 Jul-23 Dec 68 Deployment to Singapore for refit
• 1 Oct 70–29 Apr 71 Deployment to Singapore for refit
• 14 Aug 71 9th MCMS disbanded. YARNTON to Hong Kong
• 17 Sep 71 Joined 6th Patrol Craft Squadron at Hong Kong
• 1972-84 Local patrols, exercises and visits in S E Asia.

Significant Events:

• 9-30 May 63 Took part in Op CLEAR ROAD based Esjberg
• 17 Jun-11 Jul 63 Took part in Op CABLE WAY based Den Helder
• 9-26 Sep 63 Took part in Op ICE SCOTT based Iceland
• 16-25 Apr 64 Took part in Op CLEAR ROAD 2 based Den Helder
• 9-10 Nov 66 Encountered cyclone in Arabian Sea. Serious damage and danger to life.

Petty Officer Malcolm Allard and EM1 Mike Smith were awarded a C in C's Commendation for repairing the main switchboard following damage caused by a fire started when bilge water splashed onto connections. They worked in hazardous conditions for over three hours using head torches, stood in the bilge, with the ship listing ten degrees to starboard. The ship was disabled and drifting throughout the storm, which lasted for over twenty hours. 

Details recorded in the Ship's Log for 10 November are dramatic:

14.00 Now passing through eye of cyclone. Winds cyclonic, Force 12, gusting to 13. Waves 55 ft high. Ship is left at mercy of the waves.

15.00 All hands to beds. Issue lifejackets

15.30 All hands stood to Emergency Stations. Visibility Nil. Very dark overhead, no meals because sickness prevails.

22.00 No activity aboard ship. very quiet below decks. Everybody hanging on.

- Many thanks to Mike Allard 3 Aug 2025

• 16-27 Jan 70 Dhofar Coast Patrol during insurgency
• 9 Jan 72 Assisted de-commissioned liner QUEEN ELIZABETH on fire in Hong Kong harbour.
• 31 Jul 77 H K Squadron awarded Wilkinson Sword of Peace

Paid Off: 12th November 1984
Disposal: 1986. Sold to Pounds of Portsmouth for local disposal in Hong Kong

VILLAGE

4 miles West of Oxford'

Bronze age beakers found in the area indicate settlement from c. 2700 -1700 BC. with later Iron Age and Roman enclosures.

Name evolved from Saxon "Earda's Farm".  Name "Yarnton" first recorded in 1517.

Ownership of the estate taken by Normans after the Conquest in 1066.

In 1216  King Henry III gave the land to the Duke of Cornwall.

Subsequently King Henry VIII sold the abbey to his physician.

The Six Bells pub (now a private house) was licensed in 1587.

During the Civil War the manor house was a Royalist hospital.

No futher history recorded. Now a picturesque and friendly small village