HMAS Hawk (M 1139)

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

History
United Kingdom
Name:	Gamston
Builder:	Richards Ironworks
Launched:	1 July 1954
Renamed:	HMS Somerleyton
Fate:	Sold to Australia
Australia
Name:	Hawk
Acquired:	1961
Commissioned:	18 July 1962
Decommissioned:	7 January 1972
Fate:	Decommissioned
General characteristics
Class & type:	Ton-class minesweeper
Displacement:	440 tons
Length:	152 ft (46 m)
Beam:	28 ft (8.5 m)
Draught:	8 ft (2.4 m)
Propulsion:	Originally Mirrlees diesel, later Napier Deltic, producing 3,000 shp (2,200 kW) on each of two shafts
Speed:	15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement:	33
Armament:	1 × Bofors 40 mm gun 1 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannon 1 × M2 Browning machine gun

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.

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".

Decommissioning and fate

HMAS Hawk paid off on 7 January 1972.