HMS Malcolm (F88)

HMS "Malcolm" (F88) was a "Blackwood"-class anti-submarine frigate of the Royal Navy, commissioned on 12 December 1957 and decommissioned in 1978. She the second ship to be borne "Malcolm" and was named after Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm and was, as of 2008, the final ship of that name.

The Cod Wars

Just after she was commissioned, a dispute started in the North Atlantic. Relations between the United Kingdom and Iceland deteriorated and there was concern that the "Landhelgisgæsla" (the Icelandic Coast Guard) might threaten British fishermen.

HMS "Malcolm" was part of a five-ship group that was deployed to Iceland for "fishery protection duties" in what became known as the Cod Wars. She operated out of Edinburgh during the first Cod War [http://www.stfaith.com/october03.htm The Parish Magazine of St. Faith, Havant with St. Nicholas, Langstone] , and from Rosyth after that. [http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/hmsmanxman/life/brad/brad.htm H.M.S. MANXMAN]

In December 1970, Kevin McNamara MP raised concerns that HMS "Malcolm" would not be replaced by another frigate after its return to home waters, stressing that "Malcolm"'s medical support was essential to fishing operations off Iceland. The Ministry of Defence decided not to immediately replace "Malcolm", probably because the situation had calmed somewhat (1970 was between the first and second Cod Wars). Responsibility for supporting the fishing fleet was henceforth the Department of Trade and Industry's. [http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1970/dec/18/fishing-fleet-icelandic-waters#S5CV0808P0-08309 Fishing Fleet, Icelandic Waters]

The dispute ended in 1976 in a face-saving treaty and victory for Iceland. Two years later, HMS "Malcolm" was decommissioned. She was considered too small to act as a modern frigate and therefore unable to continue service into the 1980s.

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