HMS Leopard (F14)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Leopard.
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Leopard (F14)
Namesake: Leopard
Ordered: 21 August 1951
Builder: HM Dockyard, Portsmouth
Laid down: 25 March 1953
Launched: 23 May 1955
Commissioned: 30 September 1958
Decommissioned: 12 December 1975
Fate: Scrapped 1977
General characteristics
Class and type: Leopard-class frigate

HMS Leopard (F14), was a Leopard-class Type 41 anti aircraft frigate of the British Royal Navy, named after the leopard.

Leopard was built at Portsmouth dockyard at a cost of £3,545,000.[1] She was launched on 23 May 1955 and commissioned on 30 September 1958.[2]

Service

The ship, first commanded by Commander R.G. Gaunt, was to serve in the South Atlantic and South America upon commission.[3] In 1960 she sailed 1,144 miles up the River Amazon to Godajas.[4] In 1961, Leopard sailed for the island of Tristan da Cunha after a volcanic eruption. Her crew assisted in the relief effort, as well as the recovery of personal belongings left behind by the island's inhabitants.[5][6]

In 1963, Leopard suffered serious damage when she collided with the South African minesweeper Pietermaritzburg during exercises off Cape Point.[1] In February 1966 she commissioned for the fourth time and in August 1966 sailed for the Far East where she spent a busy year of exercises.[7] In 1968, she was diverted to Bermuda in response to civil unrest.[8] In the same year she took part in Portsmouth 'Navy Days' and completed her fourth commission in that year.[7]

During Britain's fishing dispute with Iceland in 1973, Leopard was accused by Iceland of threatening to fire on the patrol ship Ægir. The British government refuted the claims, accusing the Icelandic ship of trying to cut the trawling wires of the German fishing vessels Teutonia and Dusseldorf, and of firing several shots. The government further stated that Leopard had only warned the Ægir that she would fire back if more shots were fired.[9] Leopard provided further support for British trawlers during another fishing dispute with Iceland in 1975.[10]

She was scrapped at Dartford in 1977.

Commanding officers

FromToCaptain
19581960Commander R G Gaunt DSC RN
19651966Commander J A D Ford RN
19671968Commander N R D King RN
19681970Commander A D Hutton RN

References

  1. 1 2 " Seaman Killed As Warships Collide". The Times (55765): Col C, p. 8. 29 July 1963.
  2. ↑ Gardiner, Robert & Chesneau, Roger (1995), p. 516.
  3. ↑ "Latest recruit to frigate fleet". The Times (54269): Col D, p. 12. 30 September 1958.
  4. ↑ http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Ops-Events1951-60.htm
  5. ↑ "Tristan Da Cunha Salvage Work". The Times (55213): Col B, p. 9. 16 October 1961.
  6. ↑ "News in Brief". The Times (55539): Col C, p. 6. 3 November 1962.
  7. 1 2 Programme, Navy Days at Portsmouth August 31st-September 2nd 1968, p.11.
  8. ↑ "Troops and frigate sent to Bermuda ". The Times (57238): Col E, p. 1. 29 April 1968.
  9. ↑ "Britain rejects Icelandic complaint over frigate". The Times (58825): Col F, p. 6. 4 July 1973.
  10. ↑ "Icelanders force lone skipper back to fleet". The Times (59568): Col C, p. 6. 3 December 1975.

Publications

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