The wreck is reported to be broken into large pieces and to be lying with its keel orientated 002/182degrees.

For information on the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 Act and its administration with regard to vessels, please contact the Ministry of Defence, Wreck Section, Naval Personnel Secretariat, Room 125 Victory Building, HMNB Portsmouth, PO1 3LS.

Event and Historical Information:
HMS LEWISTON was a Ton class minesweeper launched on 3 November 1959 at the yard of Herd & Mackenzie, Buckie. Technical and configuration specifications are given as 440 tons displacement; 152ft length (46m) x 28ft breadth (8.5m) x 8ft (2.4m) depth; originally powered by Mirlees diesel engines, later Napier Deltic producing 3,000 shaft horsepower on each of the two propeller shafts; speed 15nots; complement 33; armament 1 x bofors 400m gun, 1 x oerlikon 2mm gun, 1 x M2 Browning machine gun; sweeping equipment was provided for moored mines and magnetic mines. Thornycroft & Co of Southampton were the leading shipyard for the class which was preceded by the Algerine class minesweeper and succeeded by the River class minesweeper. The Ton Class, so called because all the names of the 119 vessels were place names ending in 'ton', had a small displacement and shallow draft which allow them to navigate in shallow inshore waters. They were used by South African Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Argentine Navy, Ghana Navy, Indian Navy, Irish Naval Services, and the Royal Malaysian Navy. The River class of minesweeper began to be introduced in 1984. All the Ton class vessels were retired by the Royal Navy in 1994. The LEWISTON was allocated to be a target for Sea Skua missiles in December 1985. The superstructure and mast were removed and the vessel was moored in Cardigan Bay. In April 1987 is was reported to have sunk at its mooring and a Notice to Mariners was subsequently issued (NM 1356/87). Its sinking position was confirmed by HMS HUBBERTSON on 23 April 1987. The mooring buoy, bridle and a barrel buoy secured near the stern were removed in May 1987.

Sources include:
UK Hydrographic Office Wrecks and Obstructions Database. ? Crown Copyright and database rights. Reproduced by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the UK Hydrographic Office (www.ukho.gov.uk).

Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, September 2008.