HMS Naiad (F39)
Encyclopedia
HMS Naiad (F39) was a Leander-class
frigate of the Royal Navy
(RN). Like the rest of the class, Naiad was named after a figure or figures of mythology, in this case the Naiad
s of Greek mythology
. Naiad was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders
of Scotstoun
. She was launched on the 4th November 1963 and commissioned on the 15th March 1965.
In 1966, Naiad became the leader of the Northern Ireland Squadron
and subsequently deployed to the Far East
and South America
. In 1970, Naiad deployed to the Far East, and while there, participated in the Beira Patrol
, designed to prevent oil reaching the landlocked Rhodesia
via the then Portuguese colony of Mozambique
. She performed her second patrol the following year. The Beira Patrol would be a regular deployment for the RN until 1975.
In January 1973, Naiad began her modernisation that included her one twin 4.5-in gun being replaced by the Australian designed Ikara
anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missile system. The modernisation was completed in 1975. The following year, Naiad undertook a Fishery Protection Patrol during the Third Cod War, and while there, was rammed by the Icelandic gunboat Tyr causing some hull damage. In 1977, Naiad, like many other Leanders, took part in the last Fleet Review
, so far, of the Royal Navy, and which took place at Spithead
in celebration of HM the Queen's
Silver Jubilee. Naiad was positioned in the middle of Brighton
and her sister-ship Andromeda
. In 1979, Naiad deployed to the Far East once again.
In 1981, Naiad deployed to the Mediterranean. In 1983, Naiad began a refit at Devonport Dockyard
which was completed in 1984. In 1985, Naiad returned to the Mediterranean, as part of the NATO multi-national squadron Naval On-call Force of the Mediterranean (NAVOCFORMED), the predecessor of the Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED). The following year, Naiad joined the Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), another NATO multi-national squadron. In April 1987, Naiad decommissioned and in 1989 was used as a static trials ship for weapons testing. In September 1990, Naiad was sunk as a target.
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). Like the rest of the class, Naiad was named after a figure or figures of mythology, in this case the Naiad
Naiad
In Greek mythology, the Naiads or Naiades were a type of nymph who presided over fountains, wells, springs, streams, and brooks....
s of Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
. Naiad was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders
Yarrow Shipbuilders
Yarrow Limited , often styled as simply Yarrows, was a major shipbuilding firm based in the Scotstoun district of Glasgow on the River Clyde...
of Scotstoun
Scotstoun
Scotstoun is a historic district of Glasgow, Scotland, west of Glasgow City Centre. It is bounded by Yoker and Knightswood to the west, Victoria Park, Broomhill and Whiteinch to the east, Jordanhill to the north and the River Clyde to the south...
. She was launched on the 4th November 1963 and commissioned on the 15th March 1965.
In 1966, Naiad became the leader of the Northern Ireland Squadron
Northern Ireland Squadron
The Northern Ireland Squadron was a unit of the Royal Navy. It was established during the conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles to interdict the movement by sea of illegal arms for paramilitaries and to provide other material support for anti-terrorist operations in Northern...
and subsequently deployed to the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. In 1970, Naiad deployed to the Far East, and while there, 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...
, designed to prevent oil reaching the landlocked 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 the then Portuguese colony of 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...
. She performed her second patrol the following year. The Beira Patrol would be a regular deployment for the RN until 1975.
In January 1973, Naiad began her modernisation that included her one twin 4.5-in gun being replaced by the Australian designed Ikara
Ikara (missile)
The Ikara missile was an Australian ship-launched anti-submarine missile, named after an Australian Aboriginal word for "throwing stick". It launched an acoustic torpedo to a range of , allowing fast-reaction attacks against submarines at ranges that would otherwise require the launching ship to...
anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missile system. The modernisation was completed in 1975. The following year, Naiad undertook a Fishery Protection Patrol during the Third Cod War, and while there, was rammed by the Icelandic gunboat Tyr causing some hull damage. In 1977, Naiad, like many other Leanders, took part in the last Fleet Review
Fleet Review, Royal Navy
A fleet review is a traditional gathering of ships from a particular navy to be observed by the reigning monarch or his or her viceroy, a practice allegedly dating back to the 15th century. Such an event is not held at regular intervals and originally only occurred when the fleet was mobilised for...
, so far, of the Royal Navy, and which took place at Spithead
Spithead
Spithead is an area of the Solent and a roadstead off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds, except those from the southeast...
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. Naiad was positioned in the middle of Brighton
HMS Brighton (F106)
HMS Brighton was a Rothesay or Type 12I class anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy....
and her sister-ship Andromeda
HMS Andromeda (F57)
HMS Andromeda 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...
. In 1979, Naiad deployed to the Far East once again.
In 1981, Naiad deployed to the Mediterranean. In 1983, Naiad began a refit at Devonport Dockyard
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...
which was completed in 1984. In 1985, Naiad returned to the Mediterranean, as part of the NATO multi-national squadron Naval On-call Force of the Mediterranean (NAVOCFORMED), the predecessor of the Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED). The following year, Naiad joined the Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), another NATO multi-national squadron. In April 1987, Naiad decommissioned and in 1989 was used as a static trials ship for weapons testing. In September 1990, Naiad was sunk as a target.