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HMS Sirius (F40)
Encyclopedia
HMS Sirius (F40) was a Leander-class
frigate of the Royal Navy
(RN) built by H.M. Dockyard Portsmouth
, and was the penultimate RN warship to be built there for a period of forty years, until Vosper Thorneycroft built HMS Clyde
. Sirius was launched on the 22nd September 1964 and commissioned on the 15th June 1966.
, which was designed to prevent oil reaching landlocked Rhodesia
via the then Portuguese colony of Mozambique
. Sirius subsequently deployed to the Far East
and Pacific, which included a number of 'fly-the-flag' visits to a variety of ports. Sirius also took part in the Coronation of Taufa'ahau Tupou IV
of Tonga
. The following year, Sirius deployed to the West Indies.
In 1970, Sirius again deployed to the West Indies, where she would perform the role of guard ship in that region. The West Indies Guardship deployment was eventually replaced by the Atlantic Patrol Task. While in the West Indies, Sirius assisted during the St. Kitts disaster, when a ferry sank, killing 700 people. Sirius helped rescue 100 people from that vessel. For the actions of her crew, Sirius was awarded the Wilkinson Sword of Peace. In 1973, Sirius became guard ship to the West Indies once more, performing a variety of duties while there, including counter-drug operations.
In 1974, Sirius joined Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), a multi-national squadron of NATO, taking part in naval exercises in the process and visiting a variety of ports, and one of many deployments with NATO's multi-national squadrons. In 1975, Sirius began her modernisation which included the removal of her single 4.5-in twin gun in favour of the Exocet
anti-ship missile system, as well as the amount of Sea Cat missile
s she carried, increased. The modernisation was completed in October 1977. In 1978, Sirius became the leader of the 6th Frigate Squadron.
In September 1982, Sirius deployed to the Falkland Islands
to perform a Falkland Islands patrol in the tense aftermath of the Falklands War
. The following year, Sirius received the towed array sensor. In 1988, Sirius, as part of the group deployment Exercise 'Outback 88', deployed to the Far East
and Pacific, visiting a variety of ports in the process.
On the 27th February 1993, Sirius decommissioned. She was subsequently towed to Pembroke Dockyard in preparation for her to be sunk as a target. However, her sinking was delayed due to environmentalist groups delaying the sinking. In 1998, Sirius was finally sunk as a target in the Atlantic Ocean
by the submarine Spartan
, ending a truly illustrious career. Her sinking left just one Leander, Scylla
, afloat in the UK
. Scylla was sunk as an artificial reef on the 27th March 2004.
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) built by H.M. 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...
, and was the penultimate RN warship to be built there for a period of forty years, until Vosper Thorneycroft built HMS Clyde
HMS Clyde (P257)
HMS Clyde is the ninth ship in the Royal Navy to bear the name. She was launched on 14 June 2006 in Portsmouth Naval Base by VT Group shipbuilders in Portsmouth, England and is the fourth vessel of the River class and the first of a lengthened variety with a larger displacement of 1,850 tonnes and...
. Sirius was launched on the 22nd September 1964 and commissioned on the 15th June 1966.
Operational history
In January 1967, Sirius undertook a Beira PatrolBeira 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 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...
. Sirius 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 Pacific, which included a number of 'fly-the-flag' visits to a variety of ports. Sirius also took part in the Coronation of Taufa'ahau Tupou IV
Taufa'ahau Tupou IV
Tāufaāhau Tupou IV, King of Tonga, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, KStJ son of Queen Sālote Tupou III and her consort Prince Viliami Tungī Mailefihi, was the king of Tonga from the death of his mother in 1965 until his own death in 2006...
of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
. The following year, Sirius deployed to the West Indies.
In 1970, Sirius again deployed to the West Indies, where she would perform the role of guard ship in that region. The West Indies Guardship deployment was eventually replaced by the Atlantic Patrol Task. While in the West Indies, Sirius assisted during the St. Kitts disaster, when a ferry sank, killing 700 people. Sirius helped rescue 100 people from that vessel. For the actions of her crew, Sirius was awarded the Wilkinson Sword of Peace. In 1973, Sirius became guard ship to the West Indies once more, performing a variety of duties while there, including counter-drug operations.
In 1974, Sirius joined Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), a multi-national squadron of NATO, taking part in naval exercises in the process and visiting a variety of ports, and one of many deployments with NATO's multi-national squadrons. In 1975, Sirius began her modernisation which included the removal of her single 4.5-in twin gun in favour 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, as well as the amount of Sea Cat missile
Sea Cat missile
Sea Cat was a British short-range surface to air missile system intended to replace the ubiquitous Bofors 40 mm gun aboard warships of all sizes. It was the world's first operational shipboard point-defence missile system and was designed so that the Bofors guns could be replaced with minimum...
s she carried, increased. The modernisation was completed in October 1977. In 1978, Sirius became the leader of the 6th Frigate Squadron.
In September 1982, Sirius deployed to the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
to perform a Falkland Islands patrol in the tense aftermath of 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...
. The following year, Sirius received the towed array sensor. In 1988, Sirius, as part of the group deployment Exercise 'Outback 88', 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 Pacific, visiting a variety of ports in the process.
On the 27th February 1993, Sirius decommissioned. She was subsequently towed to Pembroke Dockyard in preparation for her to be sunk as a target. However, her sinking was delayed due to environmentalist groups delaying the sinking. In 1998, Sirius was finally sunk as a target in the Atlantic Ocean
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...
by the submarine Spartan
HMS Spartan (S105)
HMS Spartan is a nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Royal Navy's Swiftsure class. HMS Spartan was launched on April 7, 1978 by Lady Lygo, wife of Admiral Sir Raymond Lygo. The boat was built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, England...
, ending a truly illustrious career. Her sinking left just one Leander, Scylla
HMS Scylla (F71)
HMS Scylla was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy . She was built at Devonport Royal Dockyard and was the last RN frigate to be built at the Dockyard so far. Scylla was launched in August 1968 and commissioned in 1970...
, afloat in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Scylla was sunk as an artificial reef on the 27th March 2004.