HMS Tongham (M2735)

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Tongham
Namesake	Tongham
Builder	James N Miller & Sons, St Monance
Launched	30 November 1955
Completed	18 June 1957
Fate	Sold 1980
General characteristics
Class and type	Ham-class minesweeper
Notes	Pennant number(s): M2735 / IMS72

HMS Tongham was one of 93 ships in the Ham-class of inshore minesweepers. Their names were all chosen from villages ending in -ham; in this case, Tongham in Surrey. She was built in Scotland by James N Miller & Sons at St Monance, Fife, with a fully-wooden hull. Launched on 30 November 1955, she was delivered on 18 June 1967, and commissioned with pennant number M2735.^[1]

The minesweeper was dry stored ashore at the Gareloch naval base. On release she was used by the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service, and based at Greenock. Tongham was decommissioned, then sold by the Ministry of Defence in 1980.^[2]

After leaving the navy, Tongham was taken to Shotley, Essex and underwent some hull restoration at nearby Mistley, where she was again for sale in 2016.^[2][3] In 2017, the new owners moved the ship to Gillingham, Kent, and revealed plans to convert her to a cafe and music centre.^[4][5]

References

1. "Tongham". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
2. "MV Tongham". Greenwich: National Historic Ships UK. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
3. "Ham Class Minesweeper". Walton on the Naze, Essex: Foundry Reach. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
4. Nickalls, Amy (21 August 2017). "Couple launch ambitious plans for old minesweeper at Gillingham Pier". Kent Online. Strood. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
5. "HMS Tongham: Why An Old Royal Navy Minesweeper Will Now Be Delivering Coffee Shots". Forces News. British Forces Broadcasting Service. 21 August 2017. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.