Ton-class minesweeper HMAS Ibis Model 70cm

Key Features of the Ton-class minesweeper model

• A masterfully handcrafted replica of the Ton-class minesweeper, capturing its precision and detail.
• Designed from original naval drawings and meticulously built by skilled artisans over 12 weeks, dedicating hundreds of hours to perfection.
• Expertly constructed from individually cut and shaped wooden planks, ensuring unmatched craftsmanship and accuracy.
• Built with on-frame construction and hand-painted to replicate the authentic colors and tones of the real vessel.
• Fully assembled and display-ready, complete with a custom nameplate and an informative history sheet (display case is sold separably)
• Size specifications: 70cmL x 13cmW x 33cmH, scale 1:65.

History of the Ton-class minesweeper

The Ton-class minesweepers were developed for the Royal Navy during the 1950s to meet the growing need for coastal mine countermeasure vessels in the Cold War era. Traditional steel-hulled minesweepers were unsuitable for detecting magnetic mines, so the Ton-class ships were built using wood and non-ferrous metals to minimise magnetic signatures. Compact and agile, they were fitted with advanced sonar and mechanical sweeping gear, allowing them to operate safely in shallow waters, harbours, and river approaches. Their durable construction and practical layout made them ideal for both minesweeping and general patrol duties.

Over one hundred Ton-class minesweepers were built in the United Kingdom, and many were later transferred to allied navies, including the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Malaysian Navy, and South African Navy. Within the RAN, six ships—HMAS Ibis, Hawk, Gull, Snipe, Teal, and Curlew—formed the 16th Mine Countermeasure Squadron. These vessels were slightly modified for Australian conditions, with improved air-conditioning, upgraded diesel engines, and local equipment adjustments. Their service extended beyond minesweeping; they carried out coastal surveillance, search and rescue, and training missions, contributing significantly to Australia’s regional security commitments throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

HMAS Ibis (M1183) was originally built as HMS Singleton and launched in 1955 before being transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in 1961. Commissioned on 7 September 1962, she became a key part of the RAN’s mine warfare operations. Ibis served with distinction, taking part in numerous training and operational deployments, including assignments with the Far East Strategic Reserve during the height of the Cold War. Her long and dependable career spanned more than two decades before decommissioning on 4 May 1984. Today, HMAS Ibis and her sister ships are remembered as symbols of skilled craftsmanship, naval cooperation, and steadfast service within the Commonwealth fleets.