- HMS Andromeda (F57)
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 "Dreadnought". 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 reachingRhodesia viaMozambique , "Andromeda" was the first to reach the stricken tanker RFA "Ennerdale", also on Beira Patrol, who had struck an uncharted pinnacle of rock off theSeychelles . 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 theIsle of Wight , after a collision with another tanker.In 1973, "Andromeda" took part in the Second Cod War, patrolling against any aggression by Icelandic vessels. During the 'war', "Andromeda" was rammed by the Icelandic gunboat "Odin". The following year, "Andromeda", as-well as other RN vessels, including her sistership "Argonaut", 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 slightly 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 theExocet and SeaWolf missiles. She joined theFalklands 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 onArmilla Patrol , and deployments to the Falklands andWest Indies . In late summer of 1984, "Andromeda" docked atBaltimore 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 theIndian Navy in 1995. Recommissioned as the INS "Krishna", the frigate remains in the Indian Navy as of 2004, and is used as a training ship. Her armament has been reduced to twoBofors 40 mm gun s andOerlikon 20 mm cannon s.
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