HMAS ''Gull'' (M 1185) (formerly HMS ''Swanston'') was a that served in the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

(RN) and

Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the navy, naval branch of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (Australia), Chief of Navy (CN) Vice admiral (Australia), Vice Admiral Mark Hammond (admiral), Ma ...

(RAN).

Construction

The ship was built by J. S. Doig Limited at

Grimsby Grimsby or Great Grimsby is a port town in Lincolnshire, England with a population of 86,138 (as of 2021). It is located near the mouth on the south bank of the Humber that flows to the North Sea. Grimsby adjoins the town of Cleethorpes dir ...

, England for the RN. The ship was commissioned as HMS ''Swanston''.

Operational history

Australia

The minesweeper was sold to the RAN in 1961, and was recommissioned as HMAS ''Gull'' on 19 July 1962. During the mid-1960s, ''Gull'' 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 A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or Military operation, operation on its flags ("colours"), uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible. In ...

"Malaysia 1964–66".

Decommissioning and fate

HMAS ''Gull'' paid off on 7 November 1969.

References

Ton-class minesweepers of the Royal Navy Ships built on the Humber 1954 ships Cold War minesweepers of the United Kingdom Ton-class minesweepers of the Royal Australian Navy Cold War minesweepers of Australia {{Australia-mil-ship-stub