HMS Charybdis (F75)

HMS "Charybdis" (F75) was a "Leander"-class frigate of the Royal Navy (RN). She was built by the Harland & Wolff company of Belfast, and was the last ship to be built there for British naval forces until RFA Fort Victoria of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, was launched in 1990. "Charybdis" was launched on the 28th February 1968 and commissioned on the 2nd June 1969. Her nickname was the "Cherry B".

In 1969, "Charybdis" became guard ship of Gibraltar. The following year, "Charybdis" deployed to the Far East and Pacific at a time when there was a large RN presence in those regions. During her time there, "Charybdis" took part in a number of exercises with Commonwealth countries, including Exercise Longex with New Zealand. "Charybdis" visited many countries on 'fly the flag' duties, which remains a prominent role for a Royal Navy warship.

In 1973 "Charybdis" spent time in the Second Cod War when Iceland wanted to extend their control of the fishing waters from 12 miles to 50 miles. At that time there was normally three frigates and three ocean-going tugs deployed to protect the groups of British trawlers.

In 1976, "Charybdis" was deployed to the Mediterranean. The following year, "Charybdis" joined the Fishery Protection Squadron, just a year after the Third Cod War ended. "Charybdis" took part in the last RN Fleet Review so far, in celebration of the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. In early 1979, "Charybdis" underwent yet another Mediterranean patrol.

From 1979 to 1982, "Charybdis" underwent modernisation that included the fitting of Exocet and Sea Wolf missiles, and the removal of her twin 4.5-in guns. In late 1982, in the aftermath of the Falklands War, "Charybdis" deployed on a Falkland Islands patrol, which at the time was still a tense region. Through the rest of the 1980s, "Charybdis" undertook duties in the West Indies and Mediterranean, and in the Persian Gulf in 1988. In 1990, "Charybdis" was on Persian Gulf patrol, with several flying the flag visits in the far east. She was due to visit America and the Falklands in 1991, but was retasked to return to the eastern Mediterranean to act as Sea Wolf protection for the flagship "Ark Royal" during the first Gulf War.

In September 1991, "Charybdis" was decommissioned. She did not end her career quietly like some other vessels, instead she was sunk as a target on the 11 June 1993.