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HMS Andromeda (F57)
Encyclopedia
HMS Andromeda (F57) was a Leander-class
frigate of the Royal Navy
. She was built at HM Dockyard Portsmouth
, the last ship to be built at that prestigious dockyard that had built the revolutionary . She was launched on the 24 May 1967 and commissioned into the RN on the 2 December 1968.
In 1970, while on Beira Patrol
, a deployment that was used to prevent oil reaching Rhodesia
via Mozambique
, Andromeda was the first to reach the stricken tanker , also on Beira Patrol, who had struck an uncharted pinnacle of rock off the Seychelles
. She was later destroyed by explosives. Later that year, Andromeda took part in a large operation when a Liberian tanker, known as Pacific Glory, ran aground near the Isle of Wight
, after a collision with another tanker.
In 1973, Andromeda took part in the Second Cod War
, patrolling to intervene in case of interference on British fishing by Icelandic vessels. During the conflict, Andromeda was rammed by the Icelandic gunboat Odin. The following year, Andromeda, as well as other RN vessels, including her sister ship, , had to evacuate British civilians from the Mediterranean island of Cyprus
after Turkey had invaded it
. In December 1975, Andromeda took part in the Third Cod War, during which she collided with the Icelandic gunboat Tyr. In early January the following year, Andromeda was rammed by Thor, another gunboat; both ships were damaged.
In 1977, Andromeda took part in the Fleet Review of the RN, during the Silver Jubilee
celebrations for HM the Queen
. Between 1978-80, Andromeda underwent modernisation, including the addition of the Exocet
and SeaWolf
missiles. She joined the Falklands War
in 1982, rather late. As part of 'Bristol Group
', did not arrive in the Falklands until the 26 May. She mainly performed escort duties, and suffered no damage during the war. Andromeda departed the South Atlantic
in August, returning to the UK in September where jubilant crowds greeted her.
In the subsequent years of the 1980s, Andromeda performed a number of varied duties, thankfully all peaceful, patrolling the Persian Gulf
on Armilla Patrol
, and deployments to the Falklands and West Indies. In late summer of 1984, Andromeda docked at Baltimore
Harbor in the USA for 10 days, on her way from the Falklands back home to England. Between 1990-91, Andromeda underwent a refit. She was decommissioned two-years later. Andromeda was sold to the Indian Navy
in 1995, where she was commissioned as the training ship, INS Krishna. Her armament had been reduced to two Bofors 40 mm gun
s and Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
s. She remained in use for training purposes as of 2009.
Leander class frigate
The Leander class, or Type 12I frigates, comprising twenty-six vessels, was among the most numerous and long-lived classes of frigate in the Royal Navy's modern history. The class was built in three batches between 1959 and 1973...
frigate of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. She was built at HM Dockyard Portsmouth
HMNB Portsmouth
Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the British Royal Navy...
, the last ship to be built at that prestigious dockyard that had built the revolutionary . She was launched on the 24 May 1967 and commissioned into the RN on the 2 December 1968.
In 1970, while on Beira Patrol
Beira Patrol
The Beira Patrol was a blockade of oil shipments to Rhodesia through Beira, Mozambique, resulting from United Nations trade sanctions after Rhodesia declared its independence...
, a deployment that was used to prevent oil reaching Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
via Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, Andromeda was the first to reach the stricken tanker , also on Beira Patrol, who had struck an uncharted pinnacle of rock off the Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
. She was later destroyed by explosives. Later that year, Andromeda took part in a large operation when a Liberian tanker, known as Pacific Glory, ran aground near the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, after a collision with another tanker.
In 1973, Andromeda took part in the Second Cod War
Cod War
The Cod Wars, also called the Icelandic Cod Wars , were a series of confrontations in the 1950s and 1970s between the United Kingdom and Iceland regarding fishing rights in the North Atlantic....
, patrolling to intervene in case of interference on British fishing by Icelandic vessels. During the conflict, Andromeda was rammed by the Icelandic gunboat Odin. The following year, Andromeda, as well as other RN vessels, including her sister ship, , had to evacuate British civilians from the Mediterranean island of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
after Turkey had invaded it
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
The Turkish invasion of Cyprus, launched on 20 July 1974, was a Turkish military invasion in response to a Greek military junta backed coup in Cyprus...
. In December 1975, Andromeda took part in the Third Cod War, during which she collided with the Icelandic gunboat Tyr. In early January the following year, Andromeda was rammed by Thor, another gunboat; both ships were damaged.
Silver Jubilee
A Silver Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 25th anniversary. The anniversary celebrations can be of a wedding anniversary, ruling anniversary or anything that has completed a 25 year mark...
celebrations for HM the Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
. Between 1978-80, Andromeda underwent modernisation, including the addition of the Exocet
Exocet
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
and SeaWolf
Sea Wolf missile
Sea Wolf is a naval guided missile system designed and built by BAC, later to become British Aerospace Dynamics . It is an automated point-defence weapon system designed as a final line of defence against both sea-skimming and high angle anti-ship missiles and aircraft...
missiles. She joined the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
in 1982, rather late. As part of 'Bristol Group
Bristol group
The Bristol group was a group of British warships that were sent to the "Total Exclusion Zone" as reinforcements late in the Falklands War. It consisted of:DestroyersFrigatesRoyal Fleet Auxiliaries*RFA Bayleaf*RFA Olna...
', did not arrive in the Falklands until the 26 May. She mainly performed escort duties, and suffered no damage during the war. Andromeda departed the South Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
in August, returning to the UK in September where jubilant crowds greeted her.
In the subsequent years of the 1980s, Andromeda performed a number of varied duties, thankfully all peaceful, patrolling the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
on Armilla Patrol
Armilla patrol
The Armilla patrol is the British Royal Navy's permanent presence in the Persian Gulf.The Royal Navy withdrew its forces from the Persian Gulf in 1971 in line with the UK's general retreat from imperial commitments. However, tensions in the area remained high and Royal Navy ships were still a...
, and deployments to the Falklands and West Indies. In late summer of 1984, Andromeda docked at Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
Harbor in the USA for 10 days, on her way from the Falklands back home to England. Between 1990-91, Andromeda underwent a refit. She was decommissioned two-years later. Andromeda was sold to the Indian Navy
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
in 1995, where she was commissioned as the training ship, INS Krishna. Her armament had been reduced to two Bofors 40 mm gun
Bofors 40 mm gun
The Bofors 40 mm gun is an anti-aircraft autocannon designed by the Swedish defence firm of Bofors Defence...
s and Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
The Oerlikon 20 mm cannon is a series of autocannons, based on an original design by Reinhold Becker of Germany, very early in World War I, and widely produced by Oerlikon Contraves and others...
s. She remained in use for training purposes as of 2009.