HMS Minerva (F45)

HMS "Minerva" (F45) was a "Leander"-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was built by Alex Stephens of Glasgow. She was launched on the 8th July 1964 and commissioned on the 15th April 1966.

In 1968, "Minerva" deployed to the West Indies during some troubles there. In 1970, "Minerva", like many other British vessels including other Leanders, deployed on Beira Patrol, an operation designed to prevent oil from reaching the landlocked Rhodesia via Mozambique, before visiting various ports around Asia and the Pacific. The following year, "Minerva" deployed on her second Beira Patrol which proved relatively quiet.

In November 1972, the Prince of Wales joined "Minerva". The following year, in February, "Minerva", along with the Prince, deployed to the Caribbean. While there "Minerva" was involved in a number of exercises, including Exercise "Rum Punch" at Puerto Rico, involving British and American forces. The ship returned to the UK in November.

In 1975, "Minerva" returned to the Caribbean, performing a variety of duties there. Between December 1975 and March 1979, "Minerva" underwent modernisation, including the addition of Exocet missiles. While she was undergoing refit "Minerva" suffered a boiler room fire forcing her to be towed to Chatham Dockyard for repairs. In December the following year, a dockyard crane smashed into "Minerva" during a storm, causing damage to the ship's superstructure. In 1980, "Minerva" deployed to the Mediterranean where she carried out exercises with other NATO warships. While there "Minerva" got involved in the Cold War when she shadowed the "Kiev", the nameship of a three-ship class of large aircraft carriers. In 1981, "Minerva" was involved in further exercises in the Persian Gulf.

In 1982 during the Falklands War "Minerva" was part of the 'Bristol Group' and thus joined the war rather late, not reaching the Falkland Islands until the 26th May. While there, "Minerva" performed a number of duties, including escort for other vessels. She suffered no damage during her deployment during the Falklands War. She returned to Devonport in September, crowds greeting her upon her return.

In November, "Minerva" accidentally rammed the "Rothesay"-class frigate "Yarmouth". In late 1984, "Minerva" returned to the South Atlantic on a deployment that encompassed all British South Atlantic territories, a deployment which lasted into 1985. She continued service throughout the rest of the 1980s, seeing much of the world, including being involved in a number of exercises with NATO allies and acting as patrol ship in a number of deployments. By the early 1990s, "Minerva's" age was showing, and in March 1992, her long and eventful career came to an end. The following year "Minerva" was sold for scrap.