HMS Hermione (F58)

HMS "Hermione" (F58) was a "Leander"-class frigate of the Royal Navy (RN). She was, like the rest of her class, named after a figure of mythology. "Hermione" was built by Alexander Stephen and Sons, though she was completed by Yarrow Shipbuilders. She was launched on the 26th April 1967 and commissioned on the 11th July 1969.

In 1970, "Hermione" deployed to the Far East and Pacific visiting a variety of places and performing a number of duties. "Hermione" became quite used to such warm climates during the 1970s. In 1977, "Hermione", like many other Leanders, took part in the Fleet Review of the Royal Navy, in celebration of HM the Queen's Silver Jubilee.

In January 1980, "Hermione" began her modernisation programme, which included the addition of the Sea Wolf missile and the Exocet anti-ship missile, which forced the removal of "Hermione's" twin 4.5 in guns. The modernisation was completed in 1983 at Chatham Naval Dockyard, and "Hermione" was the last ship to leave when the dockyard closed. Upon the completion of her modernisation, "Hermione" joined the 6th Frigate Squadron. "Hermione" saw much service in the Middle East, also being involved in the so-called 'Tanker War' during the Iran–Iraq War. In 1991, "Hermione" returned to the Middle East on an Armilla Patrol deployment, but just the following year "Hermione" was decommissioned and in 1997 she was sold to India for scrap.

The ship also enjoyed fame on BBC TV, through starring as "HMS "Hero"" in the acclaimed drama series "Warship". All members of the crew were given "HMS "Hero"" cap tallies for filming purposes. The main ship used for filming was, however, HMS "Phoebe".

ee also

* Warship (TV series)
* HMS "Hero"
* Royal Navy

External links

* [http://www.hmshermione.co.uk/ HMS Hermione Association website]
* [http://www.action-tv.org.uk/guides/warship.htm "Warship" Episode Guide]
* [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/27878 British Film Institute site on "Warship"]
* [http://www.btinternet.com/~neilavery999/Phoebe-Herobooklet.PDF Royal Navy leaflet on "Warship", from the HMS Phoebe Association website]
* [http://www.michaelbriant.com/warship.htm Comments on "Warship" by series Director Michael Briant]
* [http://www.mjbird.org.uk/Warship.html Webpage (at Home > Scriptwriting > Warship) about Michael J Bird's scripts for "Warship"]