Orkney Image Library

These are Norwegian ex US Adjutant class coastal minesweepers. 331 is Tista, 316 is Vosso and 312 is Sira.

Maybe even the sixties. I have vague memories of this.

These are "town" class minesweepers. They had wooden hulls that wouldn't detonate magnetic mines when sweeping. When they were decommissioned, several were sold to other countries where they continued naval service.

Sorry Fred, these are not Town class or even Ton class. There was no such minesweeper class as the Town class (as far as my research goes) All the Ton class had 4 figures after the letter M. My bible, Conways Fighting Ships, gives these ships as ex American, Norwegian minesweepers.

Minesweepers and spy ships. I remember these ships at the pier. I was amazed at the number of radio antennas these vessels sprouted - dozens on each.

Thanks for that correction Willie. "Town" was a typo.

I must admit that after I submitted the above I looked at the pic again because something bothered me about the superstructure. The bridge looks higher than I remember it. You've just explained why.

I think this photo would have been taken in the 60s or early 70s. These ships came in when I worked for OISC and I left that employment in 1972. The north isles shipping geed clean tae bruck efter that.

Aye willie , certainly not "Ton Class".I served on some of the last of the ton class during the early 8o`s and they were a far better design than the sweepers pictured , but same idea with the wooden hulls , very good , strong built sea boats!