HMAS Hawk (M 1139)

HMAS Hawk (M 1139) (formerly HMS Somerlyton) was a Ton-class minesweeper operated by the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The minesweeper was built for the Royal Navy as HMS Gamston, but renamed HMS Somerlyton before entering service. She was sold to Australia in 1961, and commissioned as HMAS Hawk in 1962. The ship operated through the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation, and was decommissioned in 1972.

For other ships with the same name, see HMAS Hawk.

History
United Kingdom
NameGamston
BuilderRichards Ironworks
Launched1 July 1954
RenamedHMS Somerleyton
FateSold to Australia
Australia
NameHawk
Acquired1961
Commissioned18 July 1962
Decommissioned7 January 1972
FateDecommissioned
General characteristics
Class and typeTon-class minesweeper
Displacement440 tons
Length152 ft (46 m)
Beam28 ft (8.5 m)
Draught8 ft (2.4 m)
PropulsionOriginally Mirrlees diesel, later Napier Deltic, producing 3,000 shp (2,200 kW) on each of two shafts
Speed15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement33
Armament

Construction

The minesweeper was laid down for the Royal Navy by Richards Ironworks at Lowestoft, England. She was launched on 1 July 1954 as HMS Gamston, but was renamed HMS Somerlyton before entering service.

Operational history

Australia

The ship was purchased by Australia in 1961 and commissioned into the RAN as HMAS Hawk on 18 July 1962.

Hawk was one of several Australian warships deployed to Malaysia to protect the nation during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation. She became the second Australian minesweeper to see action during the Confrontation on 13 March 1966, when she came under fire from an Indonesian shore battery while patrolling off Raffles Light. Eleven high explosive rounds were fired at the ship, some landing within 200 yards (200 m) of the vessel, before Hawk withdrew from the area at speed. The following morning, Hawk intercepted a sampan and arrested the five Indonesians on board. The minesweeper's service during Confrontation was later recognised with the battle honour "Malaysia 1964–66".[1][2]

Decommissioning and fate

HMAS Hawk paid off on 7 January 1972.

References
  1. "Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours". Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  2. "Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours" (PDF). Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
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