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HMS Cleopatra (F28)
Encyclopedia
HMS Cleopatra (F28) was a Leander-class
frigate of the Royal Navy
(RN). Cleopatra was built at HMNB Devonport
. She was launched on the 25th March 1964 and commissioned on the 4th January 1966.
Upon Cleopatra's commissioning, she joined the 2nd Destroyer Squadron, Far East Fleet and then participated in the Beira Patrol
, which was designed to prevent oil reaching the landlocked Rhodesia via the then Portuguese colony of Mozambique (Lorenzo Marques).
In 1972, Cleopatra took part in escort duties during the Queen
and Duke of Edinburgh
's South East Asia tour. In 1973, Cleopatra began her modernisation, becoming the first Batch Two Leander to do so, which included the removal of her one twin 4.5-in gun to allow the addition of the Exocet
anti-ship missile system. In 1977, Cleopatra, like many other Leanders, took part in the Fleet Review of the RN in celebration of HM the Queen's
Silver Jubilee
. Cleopatra was positioned in the middle of HM ships Zulu
and Arethusa
.
The National Archives records that MOD has on file details of intelligence collection activities by Cleopatra in January-March 1978. The original document is still closed, but the bare fact of the activity itself is available.
In 1981, Cleopatra deployed to the Mediterranean, which still had a large RN presence at the time. The following year, Cleopatra was fitted with the new towed array sonar. Further duties were undertaken but by the late 1980s, Cleopatra's age was beginning to show and her time was coming to an end. On the 31st January 1992, Cleopatra was decommissioned. The following year, Cleopatra was sold for scrap.
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...
(RN). Cleopatra was built at HMNB Devonport
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
. She was launched on the 25th March 1964 and commissioned on the 4th January 1966.
Upon Cleopatra's commissioning, she joined the 2nd Destroyer Squadron, Far East Fleet and then participated in the 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...
, which was designed to prevent oil reaching the landlocked Rhodesia via the then Portuguese colony of Mozambique (Lorenzo Marques).
In 1972, Cleopatra took part in escort duties during 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,...
and Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
's South East Asia tour. In 1973, Cleopatra began her modernisation, becoming the first Batch Two Leander to do so, which included the removal of her one twin 4.5-in gun to allow 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:...
anti-ship missile system. In 1977, Cleopatra, like many other Leanders, took part in the Fleet Review of the RN in celebration of HM the Queen's
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,...
Silver Jubilee
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...
. Cleopatra was positioned in the middle of HM ships Zulu
HMS Zulu (F124)
HMS Zulu was a Tribal-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was the third ship bearing the name of HMS Zulu, having been named after an ethnic group located primarily in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Zulu was built by Alexander Stephen and Sons of Govan...
and Arethusa
HMS Arethusa (F38)
HMS Arethusa was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy . She was, like the rest of the Leanders, named after a figure of mythology. Arethusa was built by J.S. White & Company Shipbuilders of Cowes...
.
The National Archives records that MOD has on file details of intelligence collection activities by Cleopatra in January-March 1978. The original document is still closed, but the bare fact of the activity itself is available.
In 1981, Cleopatra deployed to the Mediterranean, which still had a large RN presence at the time. The following year, Cleopatra was fitted with the new towed array sonar. Further duties were undertaken but by the late 1980s, Cleopatra's age was beginning to show and her time was coming to an end. On the 31st January 1992, Cleopatra was decommissioned. The following year, Cleopatra was sold for scrap.