Name Chediston Fate Sold to Australia Acquired 1961 Launched 20 February 1953 Weight 447.1 tons Draft 2.4 m | Commissioned 28 September 1954 Name Curlew Commissioned 12 August 1962 Length 46 m Displacement 399,200 kg Builder Scotland | |
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HMAS Curlew (M 1121) was a Ton-class minesweeper operated by the Royal Navy (as HMS Chediston) from 1953 to 1961, and the Royal Australian Navy from 1962 to 1991. During her Australian service, the ship operated off Malaysia during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation during the mid-1960s, then was modified for use as a minehunter. Delays in bringing a replacement class into service kept Curlew operational until 1990, and she was sold into civilian service in 1991.
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Construction
The minesweeper was built by the Montrose Shipyard in Scotland, launched on 6 October 1953, and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 28 September 1954 as HMS Chediston.
Royal Navy
Between August 1955 and October 1957, the ship was attached to Tay Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. After October 1957, the ship was placed in storage.
Royal Australian Navy
The ship was one of six sold to the Royal Australian Navy for A£5.5 million in 1961. Chediston was modified for tropical conditions, and commissioned on 12 August 1962 as HMAS Curlew.
During the mid-1960s, Curlew was one of several ships operating in support of the Malaysian government during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation. This service was later recognised with the battle honour "Malaysia 1964–66".
In the late 1960s, Curlew and sister ship Snipe were modified for use as minehunters.
Divers from Curlew inspected the wreck of Japanese submarine I-124.
Decommissioning and fate
The delay in bringing the Bay class minehunters into service kept Curlew operational until 1990. Curlew paid off on 30 April 1990 and was sold on 17 June 1991. As of mid-2003, the ship was operating out of Port Huon, Tasmania as a fishing vessel.