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First Excitement in Sarawak 1963

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Author
Subjects
Battles and operations, Post WWII
Tags
Borneo, Inshore Flotilla, Far East Fleet, HMS Woolaston, HM Naval Base Singapore, HMS Manxman, Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
RAN Ships
None noted.
Publication
September 2003 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)

Initially, only small units of the Inshore Flotilla based in Singapore were detailed to provide coastal patrols in Borneo, but later these were expanded considerably and many ships eventually served in the theatre, containing a severe threat of invasion by President Sukarno’s regime in the lead up to the formation of the Federation of Malaysia later that year.

Inshore Flotilla Ships – Borneo Campaign – General Service Medal 1963 – 66

HMS Woodbridge Haven (Captain IF)

HMS Manxman (relieved Woodbridge Haven mid 1963, as Captain IF)

6th Minesweeping Squadron (Cmdr Staverley RN)

  • HM Ships Houghton (Senior Officer), Chawton, Dartington, Fiskerton, Maryton, Puncheston, Wilkieston, Woolaston

11th Minesweeping Squadron (based in Hong Kong)

  • HM Ships Picton, Kildarton, Invermoriston, Hubberston and Sheraton

RN minesweepers brought out from Reserve and manned by RNZN crews

  • HMNZ Ships Santon and Hickleton

Seaward Defence Boats (sent out from Reserve in UK in 1964)

  • HM Ships Camberford (Senior Officer), Greatford, Ickford and Tilford

25th Minesweeping Squadron RMN

  • KD Ledang, Mahamiru, Jerai and Kinabalu based at KD Malaya (Woodlands, Singapore)

16th MCM Squadron (RAN) deployed from Australia:

  • HMA Ships Hawk, Curlew, Gull, Ibis, Snipe and Teal.

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