HMS Naiad (F39)

HMS "Naiad" (F39) was a "Leander"-class frigate of the Royal Navy (RN). Like the rest of the class, "Naiad" was named after a figure of mythology. "Naiad" was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders of Scotstoun. She was launched on the 4th November 1963 and commissioned on the 15th March 1965.

In 1966, "Naiad" became the leader of the Northern Ireland Squadron and subsequently deployed to the Far East and South America. In 1970, "Naiad" deployed to the Far East, and while there, participated in the Beira Patrol, designed to prevent oil reaching the landlocked Rhodesia via the then Portuguese colony of Mozambique. She performed her second patrol the following year. The Beira Patrol would be a regular deployment for the RN until 1975.

In January 1973, "Naiad" began her modernisation that included her one twin 4.5-in gun being replaced by the Australian designed Ikara anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missile system. The modernisation was completed in 1975. The following year, "Naiad" undertook a Fishery Protection Patrol during the Third Cod War, and while there, was rammed by the Icelandic gunboat "Tyr" causing some hull damage. In 1977, "Naiad", like many other "Leanders", took part in the last Fleet Review, so far, of the Royal Navy, and which took place at Spithead in celebration of HM the Queen's Silver Jubilee. "Naiad" was positioned in the middle of "Brighton" and her sister-ship "Andromeda". In 1979, "Naiad" deployed to the Far East once again.

In 1981, "Naiad" deployed to the Mediterranean. In 1983, "Naiad" began a refit at Devonport Dockyard which was completed in 1984. In 1985, "Naiad" returned to the Mediterranean, as part of the NATO multi-national squadron Naval On-call Force of the Mediterranean (NAVOCFORMED), the predecessor of the Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED). The following year, "Naiad" joined the Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), another NATO multi-national squadron. In April 1987, "Naiad" decommissioned and in 1989 was used as a static trials ship for weapons testing. In September 1990, "Naiad" was sunk as a target.

External links

* [http://www.hmsnaiad.co.uk Official HMS NAIAD website]