A selected series of images taken during my Royal Naval Reserve service on board HMS Humber in July 1985.
Most of the images show the veteran 'Ton' class minesweepers which were the backbone of the minesweeping capability of the Royal Navy during the Cold War years.
Ton Class Minesweepers
HMS Maxton
The Ton class were coastal minesweepers built in the 1950s for the Royal Navy, but also used by other navies such as the South African Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. They were intended to meet the threat of seabed mines laid in shallow coastal waters, rivers, ports and harbours, a task for which the existing ocean-going minesweepers of the Algerine class were not suited.
HMS Maxton was laid down in 1955 and completed in 1957. Decommissioned in 1988 and sold for scrappage in 1989. At the time this photo was taken Maxton was crewed by Sussex Division RNR.
Manoeuvres in the Firth of Forth
Royal Navy MCM10 minesweepers manned by the Royal Naval Reserve manoeuvring in the Firth of Forth.
HMS Humber
HMS Humber was built in 1985. Sold in 1995 Sold to Brazil and renamed Amorim Do Valle; currently active as a buoy tender.
HMS Humber proceeding astern of the Ton Class sweepers. The right-hand picture shows her main armament; a World War II vintage Bofors 40/60 ant-aircraft gun.
HMS Maxton
HMS Maxton (M1165) proceeding to sea.
View looking aft from HMS Humber.
MCM10 at sea
HMS Brereton (M113), nearest the camera.
HMS Brereton was laid down in 1951 and commissioned in 1954. Paid off in 1991, Brereton was sold for scrappage in November 1992.
'Shipping it white'
Minesweepers have a reputation for 'rolling on wet grass'.
Any kind of sea state just made it more so as these pictures show.
'Calm seas and a fair wind'.
