HMNZS Hickleton (M1131)
| History | |
|---|---|
 Royal NavyBritain | |
| Name | HMS Hickleton (M1131) |
| Builder | John I Thornycroft, Southampton |
| Launched | 26 January 1955 |
| History | |
 Royal New Zealand NavyNZ | |
| Name | HMNZS Hickleton (M1131) |
| Commissioned | 10 April 1965 |
| Decommissioned | December 1966 |
| History | |
 Argentine NavyArgentina | |
| Name | ARA Neuquen (M1) |
| Acquired | 1967 |
| General characteristics | |
| 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 | list error: <br /> list (help) 1 x Bofors 40 mm gun 2x20 mm (2x1) - increased for NZ service |
HMNZS Hickleton (M1131) was a Ton class minesweeper of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). She was commissioned in 1965 and decommissioned in 1966.
New Zealand career
Anti-infiltration patrols
Early in 1965 Indonesia was employing a policy of confrontation against Malaysia. New Zealand agreed to assist Malaysia by deploying two Royal Navy minesweepers then in reserve at Singapore. These were commissioned into the RNZN on 10 April 1965 and joined the Royal Navy's 11th Minesweeping squadron (also Ton class), taking part part in anti-infiltration patrols in Malaysian waters.
In her first year Hickleton, together with her sister ship Santon, carried out 200 patrols, with 20 incidents involving intruding Indonesians, often taking as prisoners those aboard intercepting small craft.
By the time the Indonesian confrontation policy ended in August 1966 Santon had steamed 62,000 miles. Following the withdrawal of Commonweath ships from the anti-infiltration patrols, the RNZN crew took her back to England, where she paid off in reserve at Portsmouth. The ship was subsequently sold to Argentina and renamed Neuquen (M1).
See also
References
- McDougall, R J (1989) New Zealand Naval Vessels. Page 83-84. Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780477013994
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