HMS Belton

HMS Belton was a Ton-class minesweeper of the Royal Navy, launched on 3 October 1955 at Doigs Shipyard, Grimsby.

History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Belton
Builder: Doigs Shipyard, Grimsby
Launched: 3 October 1955
Identification: Pennant number: M1199
Fate: Scrapped
General characteristics
Class and type: Ton-class minesweeper
Displacement: 440 long tons (450 t)
Length: 153 ft (46.6 m)
Beam: 28.9 ft (8.8 m)
Draught: 8.2 ft (2.5 m)
Propulsion: 2 × Paxman Deltic 18A-7A diesel engines at 3,000 bhp (2,200 kW)
Speed: Cruise 13 knots (24 km/h) on one engine. Max 16 knots (30 km/h) on both
Range: 2,500 nautical miles (4,600 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement: 32
Armament: 1 x Bofors 40 mm gun

Belton joined the Fishery Protection Squadron in 1958,[1] and remained part of the Squadron in 1962.[2] Belton ran aground in Loch Maddy, North Uist in the Outer Hebrides on 23 October 1971.[3] She was eventually refloated and taken to Greenock in Scotland but was found to be beyond economical repair. Although she never put to sea under her own power again, it was not until 25 November 1974 that she was sold for disposal.[1]

One of her sister ships, HMS Bronington, was preserved and berthed at Birkenhead, Merseyside, England, as part of the former Warship Preservation Trust. Bronington sank at her moorings.

References
  1. Worth 1986, p. 81.
  2. Blackman 1962, p. 282.
  3. "World's Naval News: United Kingdom". Warship International. Vol. IX no. 1. March 1972. p. 11.
  • Blackman, Raymond V. B. (1962). Jane's Fighting Ships 1962–63. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd.
  • Worth, Jack (1986). British Warships Since 1945: Part 4: Minesweepers. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. ISBN 0-907771-12-2.
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