Leander Broad Beam class Frigate (1967)

Versatile RN Type 12 Improved Batch 3 Frigates (1967)
Class: HMS Hermione, Andromeda, jupiter, Bacchante, Charybdis, Diomede, Achilles, Apollo, Ariadne.

The “Broad Beam” Leander are the last evolution (and 3rd batch) of the Leander class Frigates, tha really defined a standard and met export success. They went to be the most successful (arguably) British frigate design of the cold war. The “Broad Beam” or Hermione class from the lead ship were essentally the same design, but with a greater width as suggested to plan for future upgrades, preserve stability and provide more fuel stowage. Thus, the last ten of the Leander class were ‘kippered’ by adding 2ft to the beam. This reduced speed slightly, but improved stability and endurance, both ems of greater fighting value. Referred to in the RN since as Type broad-beam Leanders’ they formed a separate class, with improved machinery, enhanced by the radical reconstruction from 1977. The steady improvement in machinery stated in the original class continued, and these ships had the Y-136 plant. Speed dropped by half a knot because of increased displacement, but the improved degree of automation made for more machinery.

hms hermione F58

Development

As built the ten ships were identical with the Leander class in equipment, but the extra internal volume meant difference in that they could be reconstructed to carry two important new systems: the long-range Type 2016 sonar and the Seawolf GWS25 Mod 0 missile sysem, capable of destroying sea-skimming missiles as well as supersonic aircraft. The two systems were inter-dependent because the Type 2016 was intended for detecting fast submarines in the GIUK Gap, far from the support of shore-based aircraft. The most likely opposition encountered was surface attack, against which Exocet missiles provided a long-range defence, and missile attack, either from bombers or submarines. The Sea Wolf system was intended particularly to counter the ‘pop-up’ missile fired from Soviet “Charlie” and the new titanium-made “Papa” class SSGN.

Launch of Andromeda in 1967 (IWM/Colorized)

Other sensors included radar Types 967, 968, 910, 294 and 1066 and sonar Type 162M. A Lynx helicopter armed with Sea Skua ASMS or ASW torpedoes is carried. The conversion was a tight fit, and it involved virtually gutting the ship internally and resiting bulkheads. Every spare ton of topweight had to be reduced, by such expedients as cutting off the funnel-top and putting the 6-12.75in TT (2 x 3) a deck lower. The 6-cell Sea Wolf launcher SSMS was mounted forward of the bridge, with a heavy movable blast-shield to protect the four Exocet MM38. A single director was rather lighter than the original in the Broadsword class, is mounted over the bridge, with the back-to-back Type 967 and Type 968 surveillance radars at the masthead. As in the Exocet conversions the Limbo mortar was removed to allow for a larger flight deck and hangar. The generating capacity had to be increased over the 200kW in the Batch 2 Leanders, for five computers are required to handle and the rest followed in 1982-84.

Andromeda was the lead-ship, having gone into Devonport in late 1977; she completed in December 1980, and the rest followed in 1982-84. Following the 1981 defence cuts, the programme was reduced, leaving the remaining ships unconverted. Bacchante transferred to New Zealand in 1982; Apollo and Diomede went to Pakistan in 1988; Achilles went to Chile in 1990 and was followed by Ariadne in 1992; Danae went to Ecuador in 1991; was the first of the modernised ships to go for disposal in October 1991, and the others went in 1992-93.

Design of the class

Hull and general design

The Broad Beam were essentially the same ship, but with the extra 2 ft (60 cm) in beam at 43 feet (13.1 m) versus 12.5 metres (41 ft) for the same lenght overall as before, 113.4 metres (372 ft). This means a displacement that rose from 2,350 tons standard/2,860 tons full load to 2,500 tons (later 2,790 tons) standard and 2,962 tons (later 3,300 tons) full load, so a 150t increase (and more fuel now for the full load). Performances were supposed to be kept hight thanks to the Batch 3 engine upgrade, Y-160 machinery. The general outlook was the Same (see the profile). The Type 12I looked unlike the Whitbys (Type 12) with their stepped quarterdeck transformed into a flush deck but still a raised forecastle.

The superstructure a single block amidships with a new bridge design for better visibility. Aft enabled a roomier hangar and flight deck for the new Westland Lynx, much larger and heavier but also more capable than the Wasp. Air conditioning throughout, no portholes, full NBC protection. Names followed the trend of the Batch 1 and 2 with characters from classical mythology, resurrected from Leander class and Dido class cruisers of WW2 often went with memorablia of said ships, like bells, flags and other items to keep the traditions alive. The greater beam also meant also a bit more roomier accomodations so they ended the most popular Leander batches for the crews. One point that was never considered was their bow, in order to ram other ships, understandably, as case that presented itself in the “cod war”.

HMS Bacchante’s company posing in front of their ship in the Indian Ocean by October 1976

Powerplant

The “Broad Beam” had the latest Y-160 machinery variant of the same geared steam turbines fed by two Babcock & Wilcox oil-fired boilers for a total of 22,370 kilowatts (30,000 hp) on two shafts
for a top speed of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) and a range of 7,400 kilometres (4,600 mi; 4,000 nmi) based on 460 liters of fuel oil at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). In some sources, the turbines are described as White-English Electric Y-160, but they originated from many manufacturers depending on the yard constructing the frigate. They were however built under the admiralty standard Y-160 turbine design, provided by JS White & Co Ltd and in rare cases, Alex Stephen & Sons Ltd, Linthouse, Glasgow and Vickers Ltd, Engineering Group, Barrow-in-Furness. Gears came from Vickers for half the batch, and in some cases David Brown & Co Ltd.

Armament

The baseline armament of Batch 3 was about the same as the earlier ones initially, with a main gun, fixed ASW armament and an helicopter. The baseline was in all cases a twin mount Mk6 4.5-inch turret forward for AA, A/S and shore bombardment, AA with two 40mm Mk VII Bofors (single mounts Mark 7) albeit the Batch 3 were built as the new Seacat surface-to-air missile launcher was now available, making for a two-batch conversion. In this case, this was complemented by two 20mm guns in single mountings. The ASW protection remained a single triple ASW Limbo mortar in a pit on the aft dec and new Westland Lynx helicopter with helideck and hangar. To make it simple, the Broad Beam were completed in two batches:

Batch 3A (Exocet/Seawolf):

This concerned Andromeda, Charybdis, Jupiter, Hermione and Scylla: Four MM.38 Exocet forward, sextuple GWS.25 Sea Wolf SAM, 2× 20mm AA, 2×3 324 mm STWS-1 TTs.

Batch 3B (austere standard)

This concerned Bacchante, Achilles, Diomede, Apollo, and Ariadne: Twin 4.5 in gun, quad Sea Cat SAM and a Limbo ASW mortar.

QF Mk.VI mod 1 4.45-inch (113 mm)

If the Mark V was an old design, the Mark VI was a further development of the Mark IV for AA with remote power control (RPC) and high rate-of-fire assisted by automatic ramming. The mount was the UD Mark VI with separate high-angle and low-angle hoists for AA and SAP/HE rounds and a third for cartridges.
Specs:
Shell Fixed or Separate QF 113mm 640–645 mm R
24 rpm (12 rpm hand loaded backup)
Muzzle velocity: 2,449 ft/s (746 m/s)
Max range 20,750 yd (18,970 m) at 2,449 ft/s (746 m/s), ceiling 41,000 ft (12,500 m).

Sea Cat SAM (1965+)

The Seacat was a short-range surface-to-air missile designed by Short and in service in 1962, so County class ships in construction could be completed by two systems installed on the broadside, each with four missiles. They were light enough to be reloaded by hand. Contrary to the Sea slug they enjoyed a considerable export success.

Specs

Missile length : 1480 mm (58,29 inch)
Wing span : 650 mm (25,6 inch)
Body diameter motor : 191 mm (7,62 inch)
Missile weight : 62,71 kg (138,25 Lb)
Weight continuous rod warhead : 13,83 kg (30,65 Lb)
Operational range : 500 to 5000 mtrs
Speed : Mach 0,8 (272,24 mtrs/sec).
Operational oil pressure on steering cylinders during flight : between 79 and 103 Bar (1150 to 1500 lbf/ in2)
Guidance system : CLOS (Command Line Of Sight) and radio link

Triple 12-in Limbo Mk 10 ASWRL

The ASW defence was located aft of the twin funnels, close to the helipad. Developed in 1950 as replacement for the Squid, the Limbo became widespread, also fitted to the Australian Daring class DDs, updated cold war River class frigates, RCN destroyers, and SAF President class Frigates. The mounts could traverse fully, the three mortars could be angled up and down and fire a 12 inches (30 cm) 400 lb depth charge from 400 yards (366 m) to 1,000 yards (914 m). The 94 kilograms (207 lb) Minol Warhead could use both proximity and/or time fuse. The whole system was slaved to the Type 170 sonar for traverse and bearing to gain reaction time. It created a pattern of three explosive charges roughly around the expected target location, creating a combined pressure wave with devastating effects. The Limbo remained active until the 1980s. It was only used on the Broad Beam Batch 3B.

Exocet SSM

The well-known sea-skimming missile was known by the British, well before thge Falkland war. The type started to be installed on many RN vessels in the 1970s already. The Type 12I frigates were no exceptions. Sometimes called “Batch 2 Conversion”, consisted in replacing the main 4.5-in turret, just like for the Ikara conversion, but instead the barbette was plated over and the deck fitted with attachment points for four canisters of MM-38 Exocet SSM. They were arranged in two pairs angled outwards from the axis but projecting forward. Later configuration had them placed amidship and facing opposite port and starboard. Installed on the Batch 3A with an additional SeaCat SAM system but Batch 3B had the Seawolf Missile instead.

The Exocet MM 38 was the 1st gen. missile, designed aznd produced until 1999 by Aérospatiale. It had a solid propellant engine for 40 km (25 mi; 22 nmi) in range. Sea-skimming at max Mach 0.93 or 1,148 km/h (713 mph; 620 kn) it had an inertial guidance, and active radar homing for the final phase. The later mods had GPS guidance. This missile weight 780 kg (1,720 lb), for 6 m (19 ft 8 in) long and 34.8 cm (1 ft 1.7 in) in diameter, 1.35 m (4 ft 5 in) in wingspan, and carried a 165 kg (364 lb) warhead designed to explode inside the target and cause an intense fire. The British developed their own variant of the MM 38 in 1984, deployed 1985-97 at Gibraltar, the “Excalibur”.

Sea Wolf SAM

Sea Cat and Sea Wolf (bottom) to compare. Duxford Museum.
Only installed on the Batch 3A. This was a sextuple GWS.25 launcher with 30 missiles. The Sea Wolf entered service in 1979, designed by BAE in 1967-77 manufactured by BAe Dynamics until 1999 then MBDA UK.
Specs:
Weight 82 kg (180.8 lb), 1.9 m (6 ft 2.8 in) long, 180 mm (7.1 in) diameter, 450 mm (17.7 in) wingspan.
Warhead 14 kg (30.9 lb) HE blast-fragmentation with direct contact/proximity fuze activated
Engine Blackcap solid fuel sustainer range 1–10 km (0.5–5.4 nmi), max alt. 3,000 m (9,842.5 ft), Mach 3 (3,700 km/h; 2,300 mph)
Guidance system: Automatic Command to Line-Of-Sight (ACLOS), steered by control surfaces.

Sensors

The Leander Broad Beam class differed a bit, with the majority F12, 16, 57, 58, 60, 69, 71, 75 having the type 965 AKE-1, type 993, type 903, type 904, type 978 radars, type 162, type 170B, type 184 sonars, UA-8/9, type 668 or type 669 ECM suites, and two Corvus systems. The F70 and 72 (Apollo and Ariadne, Batch 3B) had all the same but the new UA-13 system for Electronic warfare defence.

Type 965 Air Warning System

This Long-range 2D air-warning radar (surface-to-air search) was developed by Marconi (UK), working on L-band (around 214–234 MHz, 1.3–1.4 m wavelength) for a 2D targeting (range + bearing; no height data) and sporting a large twin-Yagi “Bedstead” array — a distinctive rectangular antenna frame revolving at 6 rpm. Range was up to 180–200 nautical miles (330–370 km) against large, high-altitude targets with a beam width of about 12–15°. It had PPI (Plan Position Indicator) scope at the operations room and worked with the associated IFF Type 1010 IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) often mounted alongside (see below).

Type 992Q Radar

Medium-range air/surface search and target indication radar manufactured by Marconi (UK) and deployed on the County, Leander, Rothesay, and later Type 21 and Type 42 classes. Frequency Band E/F-band (around 3 GHz, 10 cm wavelength), 2D (range and bearing; no altitude) and featuring a small parabolic dish with a distinctive orange-peel shape (enclosed in a radome on later ships) revolving at 30 rpm. Maximum Range 40–55 nautical miles (75–100 km), depending on target size and altitude for a beamwidth of 2° azimuth, narrow beam for good resolution
Pulse Repetition Frequency Variable, optimized for both air and surface modes. It used a Plan Position Indicator (PPI) in the Operations Room and Weapon Control System consoles and was associated with the IFF Type 1010 and later 1017 IFF aerials.

HMS Andromeda post-refit model (SeaWolf/Exocet)

Type 903 Radar

This Missile fire-control and target-tracking radar manufactured by Marconi (UK) was used to provide precise target tracking and missile guidance, nominally for the Sea Slug surface-to-air missile system, but also for the three ships of Batch 2 (Exocet/Sea Wolf). Worked on J-band (approximately 10 GHz, 3 cm wavelength), monopulse tracking radar for high accuracy, 90 km range against high-altitude aircraft depending on conditions, parabolic dish with small feed horn and stabilized mount for continuous tracking. Beamwidth was very narrow at 1° or less for high angular accuracy and it had automatic radar tracking with manual override; capable of simultaneous missile-beam tracking for a 70° coverage for high-angle tracking. Data Output Bearing, elevation, and range to the Fire Control System (FCS) and missile director.

Type 904 Navigation Radar

The 904 was the 903 associated radar set of the guided weapon system GWS 22. Full data and declassified documentation.

Type 978 Radar

This system first tested on HMS Blake in 1961 operated in X-band using a ‘double cheese’ antenna, the upper half transmitting and the lower half receiving. It was based on the commercial Decca 45, which had a power of 20 kW, a rotation of rate of 24 rpm and a beamwidth of 1.2º. Maximum range 40 miles; minimum range 50 yards with a 0.2 μs pulse. Range discrimination 50 yards on 1 mile scale. Bearing accuracy 1º.

GWS 20

The Seacat missile system installed used the GWS 20 optically guided system on the Batch 3A/3B as it was used by the Sea Cat and Sea Wolf.

Sonar Type 184

The Type 184 was a hull-mounted sonar used for Anti-submarine detection and ranging and fitted on the Type 12, Type 12i and Type 14 frigates. It had a medium-frequency (around 15–25 kHz range), to provided both active and passive detection modes. Replaced by the Type 177 and Type 2016.

Type 170B Sonar

Attack beam of 10 degree, depth slant range type.

Type 162 Cockchafer bottom profiling sonar

side-looking and bottom-scanning shipboard sonar. Classifies objects at mid-depth and on the sea floor, the three transducers working together to provide a profile of the area surrounding the ship. The starboard and port transducers look to the sides, and the centre transducer looks downward.

Several “Broad Beam” took part in the Falkland war, paradoxically recently armed also with Exocets like the Argentines, such as HMS Andromeda here escorting the troopship Canberra.

Active Protection

UA-8/9 ECM suite. No data.
Two Corvus decoy RL: Cylindrical rotating structure that carries eight launching tubes mounted in two sets of three (one above the other) and crossed at 90° in azimuth. Two further tubes are set above this arrangement and are aligned midway between the other tubes, all at a fixed elevation of 30°. A deck-mounted pedestal supports the rotating structure on its training bearing and houses a self-contained electrical power conversion unit for the control circuits and associated electrical equipment. The training drive consists of a gearbox driven by a reversible motor.

Air Group

The Westland Lynx HMA8 replaced the Wasp on all ships. Likely and depending on sources, the ships entered service with the Wasp and the Lynx was adopted from 1981 onwards. The Lynx HAS.2 was the initial production version for the Royal Navy powered by Gem 2 engines, with wheeled undercarriage, folding rotors and tail and deck lock. It had the Sea Spray radar, and could carry two torpedoes or depth charges, or Sea Skua missiles. 60 built for Royal Navy. The HMA.8 was an upgraded maritime attack version based on Super Lynx 100 with Gem 42-200 engines, BERP type main rotors, larger tail rotor from the AH.7, FLIR in turret above nose, and radar moved to the radome below nose. It could carry buoys and a dipping sonar in addition to the above, likely introduced in the last years of service of the Broad Beam Leanders.

⚙ specifications Batch 3 BB
Displacement	2350t standard, 2950t FL
Dimensions	372 x 43 x 15 ft (113.4 x 13.1 x 4.5 m)
Propulsion	2 shafts Y-160 GST, 2x Babcock & Wilcox boilers 30,000 hp (22,370 KW)
Speed	27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range	7,400 kilometres (4,600 mi; 4,000 nmi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Armament*	4× MM.38 Exocet, 1×6 GWS.25 Sea Wolf SAM, 2× 20mm AA, 2×3 324 mm STWS-1 TTs
Active Protection	ESM UAA-8/9 warning, Type 668/669 jamming
Sensors	Type 965 AWR, Type 903/904, Type 974/978, Sonar Type 162, 184, see notes
Air Group	Westland Lynx HAS.Mk 2 ASW helicopter
Crew	260

*Exocet/seawolf variant. There were also gun only and Ikara variants.

Exports: New Zealand

HMNZ Waikato (F55)

Waikato was laid down at Harland and Wolff, Belfast on 10 January 1964, launched on 18 February 1965 and commissioned on 19 September 1966 as a Batch 2 with Towed Array. For 9 years of RNZN service, Waikato took part in the ANZUK naval squadron based at Singapore, but was eventually in reduced service from 1971–75 with the Royal Navy relieving her. From 1975 Royal Navy task forces continued visited New Zealand and Australia for exercises until 1983. This changed post-Falklands. In 1975–77, Waikato had her mid-life refit to the specifications of her sister HMNZS Canterbury, loosing her ASW mortar and VDS wells for an enlarged helicopter landing pad for Lynx helicopters (never ordered) and closed circuit TV to monitor helicopter operations. The radar suite was updated to the 1976 RN standards. It was a more austere upgrade than her sister HMNZS Wellington.

Recommissioned under command of Captain Ian Bradley, Waikato rescued a seriously injured fishermen from the Soviet trawler Ardatov with her old Wasp flown by Lieutenant Joe Tunicliffe in rough sea conditions. On this 15 November she visited the Bounty Islands, southeast of South Island in heavy weather while in a forenoon a Russian fishing vessel called for assistance for a critically injured seaman. She altered course at flank speed until flying range. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to locate the ship, detected 60 miles from its reported position the following afternoon. Winched off the ship, taken on board, the sailor was flown to hospital at 3.30 am the next morning and Lt. Joe Tunnicliffe received the Air Force Cross, Chief Medical Assistant Bill Filmer the British Empire Medal for gallantry.

In January 1978 while escorting tUSS Pintado into Auckland she faced an armada of anti-nuclear protest yachts blocking their way. Waikato ran into the harbour ahead of Pintado and used her Wasp helicopter and another RNZN Wasp to fly low and agresively and try to disperse the protesters, creating downdraft to destabilise them and tipping them over. Reported by the press this became a controversial move, but obtained the desired effect as Pintado proceeded to its berth and no one was hurt. This was however never done again. Waikato escorted USS Haddo into Auckland with less drama in February 1979 under Cmdr Ian Hunter. in a combined RNZN and Police operation. Waikato went training at Pearl Harbor with the USN and RIMPAC with the Canadian fleet. Commander Bradley positioned Waikato to land a USN Sea King with zero fuel. During and after the Falklands war, Waikato was part of the Armilla patrol, freeing RN ships for deployment. She alternated with her sister HMNZS Canterbury. Both saw Colombo, Karachi, Mauritius, Zanzibar, Port Sudan, Muscat, Oman and Diego Garcia.

In July and August 1990, Waikato took part in Operation BIGTALK, for the ongoing civil conflict in and around Bougainville. She showed the flag for a peace accord between the two warring factions, the “Endeavour Accord”, supported by HMNZS Endeavour. Commendations were issued to the whole crew. On 23 February 2017, it was announced a NZOSM had been awarded to personnel involved.
HMNZS Waikato was decommissioned in 1998, sold by the government for $1 at Opua port to be stripped off, sunk off the coast of Tutukaka on 18 December 2000 as an artificial reef.

HMNZ Canterbury (F421)

HMNZS Canterbury underway at sea c1996
Canterbury was laid down at Yarrow Shipbuilders, Glasgow on 12 June 1969, launched on 6 May 1970, commissioned on 22 October 1971 but the order went ahead after some controversy from Robert Muldoon, minister of finances. She was built in modular form in 25 sections welded together on the slipway. However they had operations room, messing and helicopter facilities older than the current RN 1969 patterns. She had later her wells for Limbo mortars and VDS replaced and plated over for a larger helicopter landing area plus close circuit TV system but the original Westland Wasp was kept as no Lynx was ever ordered. Still, this system pioneered remote flight deck operations, enabling operation from the ships operation room, innovations refitted to most of the Royal Navy Leander fleet.

In 1968, the NZ government studied adoption of US weapons systems and the Mk 32 anti-submarine torpedo tubes were fitted with a stock of Mark 46 torpedoes in addition to the Mk 44 torpedoes to replace the Limbo and rearm the Wasp. But the Edo sonar and chaff decoys of Anglo-French AS-12 missiles were not adopted. In service she performed 960,000 nautical miles (44 circumnavigations of the Earth) housing 559 officers and 3,269 ratings. Her delivery voyage up the Potomac River to Washington was the first such since the British raid in 1814, with a barbecue held on the ship to promote New Zealand lamb.

French nuclear tests prompted Canterbury to be deployed at Moruroa Atoll in 1973 as a symbolic protest. GP computer assessed the radiation level and electronic warfare sniffers detected an approaching French P-2 Neptune flying low with radar trying to spot unwanted naval, protest yacht and submarine activity. She was present when the ‘Melpomène’ nuclear test was done on 28 July 1973. The campaign ended in 1974. She was later cited as a factor why France never again conducted atmospheric testing. One consequence was the attack on the Rainbow Warrior in 1985. The frigate was later deployed with the US 5th fleet (Pacific) on the West Coast for six months; a first, albeit this was common for the RAN. Back home she carried the insigna of US DESRON 5. But lack of funding by the next government to adopt the common Link 10 data link communication system and HYCOR chaff defence systems was cancelled and firther deployments with the USN as well.

In April 1977, Canterbury and HMAS Brisbane were assigned to escort HMAS Melbourne in her 5-month return trip in the UK for the Silver Jubilee Naval Review. She received only a 12-month refit in 1980 to maximise seatime, and her life refit was delayed to Nov 1987-June 1990 at $73 million, fitted with the Dutch LW08 long range surveillance radar, Phoenix EW systems and radar and sonar with new solid state systems but she did not receive extra fuel tanks. The Falkland wars prompted PM Robert Muldoon to offer her frigate for the RN task force sailing south, declined by the British government possibly due to her lack of upgrades and age. Instead with her sister she relieved the British frigate squadron in the Persian Gulf. At some point there she was shadowed by Soviet warships and a TU-142 “Bear” surveillance aircraft.

After a refit comparable to her sister HMNZS Wellington, except for the extra fuel tanks she was still criticized. BY 1991 an audit of the office review of the refit raised issues over the laxk of long range air surveillance. She took part in the Armilla patrols in 1982–83 but were later denied returning in the Persian Gulf due to degarded relations with Bahrain. Canterbury and Galatea were awarded the Wilkinson Sword of Peace for their TOD later. She later took part in the 75th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and toures the US between Hawaii, San Diego and San Francisco. She took part also in the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Crete in May 1991, last ship in the Royal New Zealand Navy with the white funnel stripe as a senior ship within the 11th Frigate Squadron. In 1996 she took part in the embargo against Iraq, Operation Delphic and visited China in 1987 while being part of many humanitarian and peace-keeping missions notably at the Samoa, Fiji or New Guinea and ha a TOD on East Timor as part of the INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce, patrolling between 26 September to 12 December 1999, tense when approached by Indonesian naval vessels and Hawk jets. She was the Dili guard ship and escorted HMAS Tobruk landing a New Zealand infantry battalion in East Timor. Her systems availability rate was praised.

In the early 2000s still, mechanical faults were constant and by October 2003, a fire broke out in the auxiliary switchboard while off the Chatham Islands. Two ratings (New Zealand Order of Merit) quelled the flames and saved the ship. The repairs still cost NZ$1 million. It was hoped to acquire in place the Type 23 frigate Grafton but she was sold to Chile. She was decommissioned in 2005, and plans to convert her as floating hostel fell through after a 2004 inspection revealing grave corrosion. It was proposed to scuttle her as a dive wreck at Deep Water Cove close to Tui and Waikato already there off the Tutukaka Coast. Her stripping was scrutinized by the Department of Conservation until late 2006 and she was scuttled on 3 November 2007 by imported plastic explosives, 14 kg (31 lb) total. Being mostly intact, she is popular to divers. A ban on fishery around the deck is observed til today as a safe haven for local fauna.

HMS Charybdis (F75)

HMS Charybdis c1975
Charybdis was ordered laid down on 27 January 1967, laid down at Harland & Wolff Ltd at Belfast, with her machinery made at Vickers Ltd, Engineering Group, Barrow-in-Furness, launched on 28 February 1968, commissioned on 2 June 1969 at a cost of £6,330,000. “Cherry B” in 1969 became guard ship of Gibraltar and in 1970 she was deployed in the Far East and Pacific for exercises with Commonwealth countries like Longex with New Zealand. She visited many countries showing the flag, and in 1973 Charybdis had a tour of duty (TOD) in the Second Cod War part of a group of three frigates and three ocean-going tugs protecting British fishing trawlers. In 1976 she was deployed to the Mediterranean but in 1977 she was back with the Fishery Protection Squadron a year after the Third Cod War ended. She was in the Fleet Review for the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II representing the 6th Frigate Squadron. By early 1979 she was in the Mediterranean.

From 1979 to 1982, she had her major modernisation to the Exocet/Sea Wolf standard. But it was cut short and she was rushed back into service as the Falkland war started. She remained in home waters. In late 1982 after the war ended War, Charybdis was deployed to the Falkland Islands patrol, then the West Indies, Mediterranean, Persian Gulf following events and regional tensions the remainder of the 1980s. In 1984 she dailed again to the Falklands in a task group, but was detached whilst in Gibraltar to the Gulf, joining Glasgow and Falmouth with RFA Orangeleaf. Then, the Far East, Karachi, but all port visits were cancelled. In 1985 she returned to the Gulf, Armilla Patrol, for convoy protection in the Straits of Hormuz, and so by 1988. In 1990 she was again in Persian Gulf patrol, making show the flag port visits in the Far East. She had a last visit in the Americas and Falklands in 1991, but returned in the eastern Mediterranean to act as Sea Wolf protection for HMS Ark Royal in the first Gulf War. Seeing the end of the gulf war, she was decommissioned by September 1991 and sunk in a Joint Maritime Course sinking exercise on 11 June 1993 off of the Benbecula Rocket Range, Scotland waters.

HMS Hermione (F58)

A Wessex is landing on Hermione, November 1978.
Hermione was laid down on 6 December 1965 at Yarrow & Co Ltd, Glasgow and Alex Stephen & Sons Ltd, Linthouse, Glasgow for the steam turbines, Vickers Ltd, Engineering Group, Barrow-in-Furness for the gearing, launched on 26 April 1967, commissioned on 11 July 1969 for a cost of £6,400,000. In 1970 she was deployed to the Far East-Pacific, visiting ports, having exercises and other duties. In 1977 Hermione as leader of the 5th Frigate Squadron, took part in the Fleet Review of the Royal Navy (Queen’s Silver Jubilee). In January 1980 her modernisation programme started as a Sea Wolf/Exocet variant, the latter fitted in place of her 4.5 in guns. It was completed in 1983 at Chatham, not interrupted by the Falkland war like her sister Charybdis. Hermione was in fact the last to leave the dockyard as it closed. She was reassigned to the 8th Frigate Squadron and started operations in the Middle East, seeing notably so-called ‘Tanker War’ (Iran–Iraq War). In 1991, she took part also in Middle East to an Armilla Patrol in the strait of Hormuz but she was decommissioned and in 1997, sold to India for BU. On the BBC she starred as the fictional “HMS Hero” in drama TV series “Warship”. The crew had all “HMS Hero” cap tallies, alongside HMS Phoebe.

HMS Jupiter (F60)

Jupiter was laid down at Yarrow & Co Ltd, Glasgow on 3 October 1966, her steam turbines provided by JS White & Co Ltd, Cowes, Isle of Wight and the gearing by Vickers Ltd, Engineering Group, Barrow-in-Furness for a coast of £6,100,000, launched on 4 September 1967, commissioned on 9 August 1969. In 1970 she was deployed to the West Indies and in 1971, she joined Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT). In 1972, she served in the West Indies as part of STANAVFORLANT, relieving HMS Naiad which had a mechanical breakdown. In 1973 she was present for the Second Cod War. On 26 May 1973 she launched her Wasp helicopter to assist the trawler Everton, taking water after taking naval gunfire from the Icelandic Ægir. Jupiter visited Africa underway to the Far East and Pacific, witr show the flag visits and stopped at Christchurch, New Zealand for the 1974 Commonwealth Games as well later as Pearl Harbor to have her propulsion issues fixed. Charles, Prince of Wales boarded her as Communications Officer in January 1974 until she was back home.

In late 1976, Jupiter joined the 7th Frigate Squadron as Captain F7 (leader) for the annual Group Deployment in January-May 1977 with FOF2, cruiser Tiger. She had naval exercises and visits from the Caribbean to Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, Funchal, Madeira in April 1977. She was at the Fleet Review at Spithead on 28 June 1977 for the Silver Jubilee. She toured south Wales and she was in Cardiff by July 1977. In 1978 she was a Gibraltar Guard ship. In 1979 she represented the UK for Siege of Savannah 200th Anniversary. In the BBC TV serie “warship” she starred as HMS Hero. In 1980 she had her modernisation as an Exocet/Sea Wolf version, and she had new boilers Babcock & Wilcox Y160 with steam Atomisation type until 1983. So she missed the Falklands war.

By 13 June 1984, while leaving the Pool of London she collided with London Bridge, her captain, Colin Hamilton, was later court martialled at Portsmouth on 4 December 1984 and reprimanded.
In September 1986, Jupiter took part in NATO’s “Autumn Train ’86′”, visiting Gibraltar and had four weeks in the Mediterranean, then Gibraltar and homeport Plymouth, then Portsmouth in 1985, 7th Frigate Squadron. By 1986 she wash in the Persian Gulf for the Armilla Patrol, with HMY Britannia, HMS Newcastle and RFA Brambleleaf, evacuating British and Commonwealth nationals from Yemen in civil war. The Armilla Patrol saw her stopping at Djibouti, Aqaba, Doha, Muscat, and Mombasa. She crossed the Suez Canal and Corinth Canal. In 1984-1986 she visited Bremerhaven, Amsterdam, Bordeaux and Middlesbrough. By September 1986 she surveyed the Tall Ships Race to Newcastle upon Tyne. Later she was twinned with the town of Middlesbrough. She took part in the First Gulf War, on Armilla Patrol, as a follow-up of the Iran–Iraq War. Her last deployment from late 1991 to early 1992 was in the South Atlantic as Guard ship, visiting Rio de Janeiro and Barbados for anti drug patrols. Back home she was decommissioned in 1992 after visiting Middlesbrough, stricke, sold for BU in 1997, at Alang in India.

HMS Bacchante (F69)

Bacchante in June 1973 (colorized)
Bacchante was laid down at Vickers Ltd, Shipbuilding Group, Newcastle on 27 October 1966 with steam turbines at JS White & Co Ltd, Cowes, Isle of Wight, with the gearing provided by Vickers Ltd, Engineering Group, Barrow-in-Furness. She was launched on 29 February 1968 and commissioned on 17 October 1969 for a cost of £6,200,000. In 1970, she joined STANAVFORLANT, making several ports visits and naval exercises. In 1971 she was deployed to the West Indies, having more naval exercises, notably with HMS Ark Royal and USS America. She was West Indies Guardship in 1973. She was deployed in the Second and Third Cod Wars, Fishery Protection Squadron. She visited Wilmington Delaware, New York for Bicentennial celebrations, 4th July 1976. Her crew march down Broadway during the Bicentennial celebration.

She was deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1981 for the Armilla patrol, relieving Minerva in Mogadishu and Muscat. In 1982, she was the Gibraltar Guardship. Next she was in the Birmingham group, South Atlantic, Falklands War. She assisted later the local populace in disaster recovery operations, navigational landmarks in Stanley Sound and trying to refloat the high commissioner’s barge. They erected a navigational radar reflector ashore, the crew stumbling in a mine field. Later in 1982 she was decommissioned, sold to the Royal New Zealand Navy, renamed Wellington and decommissioned from the RNZN in 2000. She was solf for one dollar by the “Sink F69 Trust” and in 13 November 2005, environmentally cleaned up and sunk as an artificial reef under 25 m (82 ft) of water, 800 metres (2,600 ft) offshore from Island Bay, Wellington.

HMS Andromeda (F57)

HMS_ Andromeda underway off Liberia in 1990
Andromeda was laid down at HM Dockyard, Portsmouth on 25 May 1966, wit the steam turbines provided by JS White & Co Ltd, Cowes, Isle of Wight and the gearing by David Brown & Co Ltd, Huddersfield, launched on 24 May 1967, commissioned on 2 December 1968 for a total cost of £6,700,000. In 1970 she rescued the crew of RFA Ennerdale which hit an uncharted rock and sunk. She helped MV Pacific Glory and MV Allegro after a collision (13 deaths, severe fire). She helped RMAS Samsonia as well. In 1973 she was present for the Second Cod War but rammed by 3 different Icelandic Coast Guard vessels. She was also present in the 1975 Third Cod War. Between wars she evacuated British Cypriots (Turkish Invasion of Cyprus). In 1977 she was present for the fleet review, Silver Jubilee. She was modernized in 180-82 and that year, took part in the Falklands War as a close escort for HMS Invincible.

The remainder of the 1980s she alternated between the Armilla Patrol, and port visits in the US and Persian Gulf. She was refitted prior to her sale to India as INS Krishna (F46). She was acquired for training purposes to supplement INS Tir, purchased in April 1995 after being paid off in June 1993 to an extended state of readiness. She was refitted by DML in Davenport with an armament reduced to the minimum for training, a Marconi Type 968 radar at D/E-band frequency and Kevin Hughes Type 1006 nav radar working at I-band frequency plus a Hal Chetak helicopter. She was based at Kochi, remaining in service in India until 2012 when sunk as target.

HMS Scylla (F71)

A famous Cold Wars photo, Odinn colliding with Scylla.
HMS Scylla was laid down at HM Dockyard, Devonport on 17 May 1967 with the tubines provided by JS White & Co Ltd, and the gearing by David Brown & Co Ltd for £6,600,000, launched on 8 August 1968 and commissioned on 12 February 1970. On 22 January 1973, Scylla collided with the Torpoint ferry. There were three separate collisions with four warships the same day due to grave navigational errors. Scylla was then on sea trials after a refit and resumed her journey, but the ferry had a three-ft (0.91 m) gash at the bow. A court martial in May reprimanded CO Peter Sutton. In May she was deployed in support the RN operations against Iceland, Second Cod War. She patrolled to counter Icelandic coast guard ships and protect British fishing vessels but by 1 June, Aegir collided with her after dangerous manoeuvers from both sides. The dispute escalated into the Third Cod War and by February 1976 Scylla resumed operations May. Later she escorted royal yacht Britannia during Queen Elizabeth II’s state visit to Finland. She was also at the Spithead Fleet Review for the Silver Jubilee.

In 1980, Scylla she assisted Cayman Brac (Cayman Islands= after a hurricane. Her refit started in 1980 (Type 2016 sonar, Exocet, Sea Wolf, Westland Lynx) over four years at a stagerring cost of £79,692,000. She acted as guard ship for the West Indies and Armilla Patrol. By November 1986 she retruned as escort to Britannia for Prince and Princess of Wales’ visit to the Middle East and Matrah, Oman, Jeddah, the Suez Canal,and Akrotiri where Prince Charles disembarked. She was back on Armilla Patrol by late December 1987. With USS Elrod she protected the Korean Hyundai No 7 and British Eastern Power targeted by Iranian gunships. After the Abu Musa Island attack, Scylla’s crew launched their Lynx to evacuate some of the crew.

In 1990, Scylla had a 10-month refit at Rosyth and in 1993 she was the last Leander class in active service. Her last deployment was in the South Atlantic. Maintenance was problematic, with steering problems making her collide with the tanker RFA Gold Rover. Gold Rover needed longer repairs. Scylla was decommissioned in December 1993. She was bought by the National Marine Aquarium for £200,000. On 27 March 2004 she was sunk off Whitsand Bay, Cornwall, becoming the first artificial reef in Europe under 24-metre (79 ft) on the sandy seabed, 500 m from the Liberty ship James Eagan Layne, a popular dive site. By 2021, 250 species were recorded in and around the wreck. However one diver died, trapped inside the engine room by September 2021. Dredged waste from the Tamar estuary reduced visibility, so special caution was associated with the site and it was forbidden after a 2014 survey.

HMS Achilles (F12)

HMS Achilles at Chatham, 3 May 1981.
HMS Achilles was laid down at Yarrow & Co Ltd, Glasgow on 1 December 1967, with her turtbines provided by JS White & Co Ltd and gearing by David Brown & Co Ltd. She was launched on 21 November 1968, commissioned on 9 July 1970 at a cost of £6,270,000. In 1970, Achilles was deployed to the Far East and escorted a number of large vessels such as the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle. In 1974, she joined the 3rd Frigate Squadron, and returned to the Far East, 9 months in Task Group 317.2. They visited South Africa notably, causing some controversy back home due to the apartheid. Achilles became a radio relay vessel during the fall of South Vietnam notably. Underwya back home she transisted by the South American Cape of Good Hope for a large exercise with the Brazilian Navy, with HMS Ark Royal and back home on June 1975. On 12 November she collided with the Greek tanker Olympic Alliance in heavy fog (Dover Strait) having injuries and requiring bow repairs at Devonport until March 1976 (complete bow section replaced). In 1977 she was in the Fishery Protection Squadron during, Third Cod War for a week and later covertly deployed to Belize (Guatemalan emergency). Next she was in the Persian Gulf.

She was intended to be modernised as Exocet/Sea Wolf but this was cancelled due to the 1981 Defence Review by John Nott. It was even planned to dispose of her. In 1982 she was deployed to the West Indies as guardship and the Falkland Islands postwar. She took part in Exercise Orient Express in the Indian Ocean. She was in the Persian Gulf and by 1989, joined the Dartmouth Training Squadron. She was the first RN warship to visit East Germany, hosting a dinner to mark the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the River Plate. In January 1990 she was decommissioned from the Royal Navy and sold to the Chilean Navy in 1991, served until 2006 as Ministro Zenteno. 2006-2010 saw her in reserve but on 27 February 2010 she was hot by the tsunami associated with the 2010 Chile earthquake at Talcahuano naval base. By March 2010 to ensure free navigation where she had ran aground she was towed out and sunk by Piloto Pardo.

HMS Diomede (F16)

Diomeded was laid down on 30 January 1968 at Yarrow & Co Ltd, Glasgow with the turbines provided by JS White & Co Ltd and gearing by David Brown & Co Ltd. She was launched on 15 April 1969 and commissioned on 2 April 1971 at a cost of £5,980,000. In 1972, Diomede was in the Second Cod War, joining the 3rd Frigate Squadron, Far East afterwards. In 1974, Diomede took part in Task Group (TG) 317.2 when stopping in South Africa. With the SSN HMS Warspite she visited Simonstown while the rest of the TG visited Cape Town. She made several ‘fly the flag’ visits in Far East and Pacific countries and while back, headed to Brazil for an exercise and home on June 1975. In 1976 she joined the Fishery Protection Squadron for the Third Cod War. She collided three times with Icelandic Coast Guard vessels (ICGV Týr and three times with ICGV Baldur). She needed repairs after a 12-foot (3.7 m) gash on her port beam and missed the end of the “war”.

In 1977, Diomede was at the Fleet Review for the Silver Jubilee, 3rd Frigate Squadron. She was adopted by the borough of Langbaurgh, North Yorkshire in 1978 and took part in the BBC TV drama series “Warship” as hms hero (seven broad beam were used for the serie). Modernisation to the Exocet/Sea Wolf variant was cancelled after John Nott’s 1981 Defence Review. Her placement in the Standby Squadron was repealed due to the 1982 Falklands War and she was sent to intercept a possible Argentinian type 42 destroyer, escorting an Rfa vessel off the coast to Chile. Next she was in the Persian Gulf, Armilla patrol. In 1983 she was the West Indies Guardship and ezscorted Queen Elizabeth II’ HMY Britannia. The Queen impressed by the ship, ordered ‘splice the mainbrace’.
Diomede was again in the South Atlantic in 1987 for more patrols of the Falkland Islands and visited South Georgia. In 1988, Diomede was decommissioned and sold to Pakistan as PNS Shamsheer, active until decommissioned in 2003 and scrapped.

HMS Apollo (F70)

Apollo and Sheffield in Amsterdam.
HMS Apollo was laid down at Yarrow & Co Ltd, Glasgow on 1 May 1969, her turbines provided by JS White & Co Ltd and gearing from David Brown & Co Ltd. She was launched on 15 October 1970, commissioned on 28 May 1972 but accepted on 10 June 1972 for a cost of £6,573,000. Like Ariadne was differed from other Leanders by her ‘witch hat’ fitted to the top of the foremast as a part of the electronic warfare array. She saw her first action in the Second Cod War in 1973, fishery protection patrol and collided with the Icelandic gunboat ICGV Ægir on 29 August 1973. One Icelandic engineer died while welding a plate later on her damaged hull, the only recorded fatality of the three cod wars. In January 1977 the UK in retaliation extended its own territorial waters from 12 miles to 200 miles EEZ for fishery rights. Apollo policed the North Sea before the new Island-class fishery protection vessels entered service.

In 1977, Apollo was in the last Fleet Review of the Royal Navy, the Silver Jubilee, as leader of the 2nd Frigate Squadron, responsible for anchorages for all ships in the Review. In recognition of it she was awarded four 1977 QEII Silver Jubilee Medals. Her modernis was slashed by the 1981 Defence Review. In June 1982, she patrolled the South Atlantic post Falklands War but was damaged by heavy seas and returned home in October. By late 1983 Apollo she was redeployed in the South Atlantic. She was refitted at Devonport from 30 July 1984 to 17 May 1985 for £11,000,000, filly recommissioned on 28 June with a new Type 1006 navigation radar and light pole-derrick to handle inflatable boats. On 7 July 1988 she was decommissioned, sold to Pakistan on 15 July as PNS Zulfiqar, recommissioned on 14 October. From 1991 to 1993 she had a major refit with twin 25 mm mounts, SA 319B Alouette III helicopter. She had an extra 18 years service until 29 October 2006 decommissioned into training. On 12 March 2010 she was sunk as a target in the Arabian Sea with torpedoes and missiles from a F-22P frigate, P3C aircraft, Agosta 90B submarine.

HMS Ariadne (F72)

HMS Ariadne was laid down at Yarrow & Co Ltd, Glasgow on 1 November 1969 with the turbines provided by JS White & Co Ltd and gearing by David Brown & Co Ltd. She was launched on 10 September 1971, commissioned on 10 February 1973 for a cost of £6,576,000. Her first year in commission she was in the fishery protection patrol, Second Cod War. From January to October 1974, with HMS Fife (leader), Apollo, Argonaut, Danae, Londonderry and Scylla she supported by oilers Tidespring and Tidereach and stores ship Tarbatness in a nine-month deployment to the Far East via Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Mauritius, South Africa and Gibraltar. She also took part in the Beira Patrol and refuelled from an old oiler moored at Gan, Indian Ocean. Between 1975 and 1976 under CO Benjamin Bathurst she saw ùmany exercises before a refit at Devonport, and annual group deployment in South America and West Africa. In 1977, she was present in the Fleet Review for the Silver Jubilee, 7th Frigate Squadron. She was later guardship at Belize. From May to August 1979, she joined STANAVFORLANT.

HMS Ariadne off Yorktown, Virginia, in 1981 for the bicentennial celebrations.

Her planned modernisation Exocet/Seawolf was cancelled after the 1981 Defence Review and in 1981 she became the West Indies Guard Ship. In 1983 she shadowed the Soviet cruiser Slava. In 1987 she was reassigned to the 6th Frigate Squadron. She was refitted in Rosyth, Fife, in 1989, relieving HMS Juno in the Dartmouth Training Squadron. In 1990 with HM Bristol and Minerva, she was part of Endeavour ’90, 6-month circumnavigation of the globe and farewell tour over 32,000 miles. In 1988-1990 she was under CO Adrian Johns. She was decommissioned in May 1992 and sold to Chile as General Baquedano, served until decommissioned in December 1998, mothballed until sunk as target in 2004.