Richards Shipbuilders

HMS Somerleyton

The picture above shows the launch of a Royal Navy ‘Ton’ class minesweeper built by Richards Ironworks and left, Lady Somerleyton records Christening HMS Somerleyton on 17th July 1955 in the shipyard's ‘Launch Book’.

With a length of 152 ft, a beam of 28 ft, and draught of 8 ft, the ship was designed for a speed of some 15 knots, being propelled by two Mirrlees diesel engines. The hull was built of wood and the superstructure of aluminium and other non-magnetic materials to combat the effect on magnetic mines.

After a few years service with the Royal Navy she was decommissioned and eventually sold to the Australian Navy in 1961 whereupon she was renamed HMAS Hawk and entered service in 1962. She became part of the Australian 16th Minesweeping squadron and saw action in Indonesia between 1964 and 1966 during the Indonesian Confrontation. She was eventually paid off and decommissioned on 7th January 1972.

After decommissioning she was sold by tender to a salvage company owned by Mr Charles Mohun, an American by birth. Charles and his business partner undertook breaking up the ship at Maclean, New South Wales in 1987.

Most of the timber, consisting of teak and mahogany, was used to build a beachside house at beautiful Wategoes Beach at Byron Bay. The house was called ‘Hawk’ and is today on a very valuable site, and is said to be worth a few million Australian $. The last remaining piece of ships side mahogany was divided into three pieces. One piece was kept by John Foster who took command when she was sold and renamed Hawk, the second piece was presented at a special ceremony to the village of Somerleyton in Suffolk in July 2001 attended by, among others, Lord and Lady Somerleyton. The third piece was given to a former member of the ships company.

HMAS Hawk must be deemed the ultimate in today’s quest for recycling, for she went from Tree to Ship and Ship to House!