HMS Galatea (F18)

HMS "Galatea" (F18) was a "Leander"-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was built by Swan Hunter & Wigham on the Tyne. She was launched on the 23 May, 1963 and commissioned on the 25 April, 1964. She was nicknamed the "Black Pig".

Upon her commission, "Galatea" was immediately stationed in the Mediterranean. The following year, "Galatea" was involved in exercises in that region, and in 1966 joined the 27th Escort Group which were also based in the Mediterranean. Later that year, "Galatea" returned to United Kingdom waters when she joined the Home Fleet, a fleet soon to be consigned to the history books. In 1968, "Galatea" was present in West Germany during the Kiel Week event, which combines a yachting race and festival entertainment.

In 1971, "Galatea" began a modernisation refit, which included the fitting of the Ikara and Sea Cat weapons systems. The refit was completed in 1974. The following year, "Galatea" took part in the Third Cod War with Iceland, patrolling against any aggression towards British fishing trawlers from Icelandic vessels, including gunboats. In 1976, "Galatea" truly got involved in the 'war', when she was rammed by the Icelandic gunboat "Baldur", a gunboat that became notorious for such actions during the Cod Wars.

In 1977, "Galatea" underwent a refit, and later that year as part of the 1st Frigate Squadron, "Galatea" was leader of the squadron during the last ever, so far, Fleet Review of the Royal Navy, in celebration of Her Majesty the Queen's Silver Jubilee. "Galatea" was positioned in between her sister-ship HMS "Phoebe" and the cruiser HMS "Blake". In 1978, "Galatea" was stationed once again in the Mediterranean where she took part in a number of patrols, as well as exercises. In 1981, she had another refit, this time in Gibraltar, and the following year, remained in sunny climes when she deployed to the Persian Gulf on Armilla Patrol during the tense times of the Iran–Iraq War, where she remained until about 1983. Her career was coming to an end like many Batch 1 Leanders, and in January 1987, "Galatea's" career did come to an end when she was decommissioned. The following year in July, "Galatea" came to an explosive end when she was sunk as a target during naval exercises in the North Sea.