HMAS Curlew (M 1121) is a former Ton-class minesweeper with a notable operational history spanning both the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. Built by Montrose Shipyard in Scotland, she was launched on 6 October 1953 and commissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Chediston on 28 September 1954. The vessel's initial service included attachment to the Tay Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve from August 1955 to October 1957, after which she was placed in storage. In 1961, the ship was sold to the Royal Australian Navy for A£5.5 million, one of six vessels transferred in this deal. She was extensively modified to suit tropical conditions and was commissioned as HMAS Curlew on 12 August 1962. During her Australian service, Curlew played a significant role in supporting Malaysia during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation in the mid-1960s, earning the battle honour "Malaysia 1964–66." In the late 1960s, Curlew and her sister ship Snipe were modified to serve as minehunters, reflecting her evolving role in naval mine clearance operations. Notably, divers from Curlew inspected the wreck of the Japanese submarine I-124, highlighting her involvement in significant maritime activities. Her service was prolonged due to delays in deploying newer Bay class minehunters, allowing her to remain operational until 1990. She paid off on 30 April 1990 and was sold on 17 June 1991. After decommissioning, Curlew transitioned into civilian use, appearing in films such as Paradise Road and The Thin Red Line in the late 1990s. By 2003, she was operating as a fishing vessel out of Port Huon, Tasmania, and later served as accommodation. In April 2018, she was purchased for a nominal $1 with plans to convert her into a floating hostel in Brisbane, though this plan did not materialize. As of 2023, she has been silted in the Margate marina in Tasmania, awaiting decontamination and asbestos removal as of March 2025. Her varied history highlights her significance in naval operations and maritime history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.