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Ton Class Minesweepers

David Humphrey in the firing line of Indonesian  ‘Konfrontasi’

Written by Alan Wood
on April 19, 2023

In 1965 David Humphrey flew into Singapore at a time of real conflict to be part of a Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) response to attacks on the island from Indonesia.  

Indonesia’s left-leaning President Sukarno launched “Konfrontasi” in 1963. This undeclared war included military incursions into areas including Singapore and East Malaysia.

Sukarno, like many Indonesians, believed the creation of a Malaysian federation was unwarranted. New countries like Singapore were emerging as a period of British colonialism in the Far East came to an end.

David, who had already served in the Naval Volunteer Reserve as part of his compulsory military training, was commissioned and flew into the conflict zone for a period of nine months, during 1965-66. 

“I saw an opportunity to go to sea in the Far East because they were short of officers. I was a radio operator and I was commissioned, and I was a sub lieutenant.” 

David points out the confrontation was real. Singapore experienced a series of bombing incidents in which people were killed as a result of devices planted by Indonesian saboteurs 

In August 1965, the Malaysian Parliament voted to expel Singapore from Malaysia, leaving Singapore as a newly independent country.

“We were there (because of) the Indonesians. They were causing disruption throughout Singapore and SouthEast Asia,” David says.

“We joined forces with K D Malaya (naval base)… we weren’t there on holiday.”

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Part of his navigation officer role was on board a mine sweeper HMNZS Hickleton, a ton-class coastal minesweeper, that started operations in the Far East in April 1965. This and other minesweepers, including some from the Royal Navy, patrolled at night on set patterns. These operations were the RNZN’s last large-scale operation with the Royal Navy.

David says the ships would tend to leave port at 4pm and be back into Singapore by 8am, as part of an effort to stop Indonesians get into British territory. At night the ships were kept darkened while they kept an eye out for enemy incursions.

The Indonesians tended to be on motorised-sampans, and gunfire was often exchanged. Minesweeper crew members were injured by shrapnel, but David says he can’t remember any deaths on Hickleton. 

The Hickleton, together with her sister ship HMS Santon, carried out hundreds patrols, with dozens of incidents involving intruding Indonesians, and with some taken as prisoners.

“We challenged them, and opened fire on them if they didn’t respond.”

Even then Singapore was a big city, he says, and offered rest and recreation for the periods of time outside Sembawang naval base located 14 miles to the north of downtown. “We used to hop in the car and drive down to Singapore… many nights.” 

David, who had been given a leave of absence from his work place, flew home and was soon back with Victoria Insurance Co. in Dunedin as an insurance assessor.

His naval reserve work continued for many years.

HMNZS Hickleton M1131 – Ton Class Minesweeper

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HMNZS Hickleton
HMNZS Hickleton
HMNZS Hickleton (M1131)

HMNZS Hickleton (M1131) was a Ton-class minesweeper that operated in the Royal Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). She was named after a small village near Doncaster.

Built for the Royal Navy by John I Thornycroft of Southampton, the minesweeper was launched on 26 January 1955 and later commissioned as HMS Hickleton

She was commissioned into the RNZN in 1965 and decommissioned in 1966. After leaving New Zealand service, she was transferred to the Argentine Navy and renamed ARA Neuquen (M1).

Operational history

New Zealand

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 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 the intercepted craft. By the time the Indonesian confrontation policy ended in August 1966 Santon had steamed 62,000 miles (100,000 km). Following the withdrawal of Commonwealth ships from the anti-infiltration patrols, the RNZN crew took her back to England, where she paid off in reserve at Portsmouth.

Argentina[edit]

The ship was subsequently sold to Argentina and renamed Neuquen (M1). She was decommissioned in 1996

HMNZS Santon (M1178) was a Ton-class minesweeper that operated in the Royal Navy, the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), and the Argentine Navy.

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HMNZS Santon
HMNZS Santon doing a transfer with HMNZS Hickleton
HMNZS Santon
HMNZS Santon

Built for the Royal Navy by Fleetlands Shipyard of Portsmouth, the minesweeper was launched on 18 August 1955 and commissioned as HMS Santon. She was named after a small village in North Lincolnshire. The minesweeper was commissioned in the RNZN from 1965 to 1966, when she was returned to the United Kingdom. She was later transferred to the Argentine Navy, and operated as ARA Chubut (M3).

Construction[edit]

Santon was built for the Royal Navy by Fleetlands Shipyards of Portsmouth. The minesweeper was launched on 18 August  1955 and commissioned as HMS Santon. She was named after a small village in North Lincolnshire. The minesweeper was commissioned in the RNZN from 1965 to 1966, when she was returned to the United Kingdom. She was later transferred to the Argentine Navy, and operated as ARA Chubut (M3).

New Zealand[edit]

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 in anti-infiltration patrols in Malaysian waters. Lieutenant Lincoln Tempero, later Chief of Naval Staff, was appointed Commanding Officer.[1]

In her first year Santon, together with her sister ship Hickleton, carried out 200 patrols, with 20 incidents involving intruding Indonesians, often taking as prisoners those aboard the intercepted craft.

In April 1966, Santon assisted in the rescue of the crew of the wrecked Panamanian freighter Carina. By the time the Indonesian confrontation policy ended in August 1966, Santon had steamed 67,400 miles (108,500 km). Following the withdrawal of Commonwealth ships from the anti-infiltration patrols, the RNZN crew took her back to England, where she paid off in reserve at Portsmouth in November 1966.

Argentina[edit]

The ship was subsequently sold to Argentina and renamed Chubut (M3). She was decommissioned in 1997