HMS Sirius (F40)

HMS "Sirius" (F40) was a "Leander"-class frigate of the Royal Navy (RN) built by H.M. Dockyard Portsmouth, and was the penultimate RN warship to be built there for a period of forty years, until Vosper Thorneycroft built HMS "Clyde". "Sirius" was launched on the 22nd September 1964 and commissioned on the 15th June 1966.

Operational history

In January 1967, "Sirius" undertook a Beira Patrol, which was designed to prevent oil reaching landlocked Rhodesia via the then Portuguese colony of Mozambique. "Sirius" subsequently deployed to the Far East and Pacific, which included a number of 'fly-the-flag' visits to a variety of ports. "Sirius" also took part in the Coronation of Taufa'ahau Tupou IV of Tonga. The following year, "Sirius" deployed to the West Indies.

In 1970, "Sirius" again deployed to the West Indies, where she would perform the role of guard ship in that region. The West Indies Guardship deployment was eventually replaced by the Atlantic Patrol Task. While in the West Indies, "Sirius" assisted during the St. Kitts disaster, when a ferry sank, killing 700 people. "Sirius" helped rescue 100 people from that vessel. For the actions of her crew, "Sirius" was awarded the Wilkinson Sword of Peace. In 1973, "Sirius" became guard ship to the West Indies once more, performing a variety of duties while there, including counter-drug operations.

In 1974, "Sirius" joined Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), a multi-national squadron of NATO, taking part in naval exercises in the process and visiting a variety of ports, and one of many deployments with NATO's multi-national squadrons. In 1975, "Sirius" began her modernisation which included the removal of her single 4.5-in twin gun in favour of the Exocet anti-ship missile system, as-well as the amount of Sea Cat missiles she carried, increased. The modernisation was completed in October 1977. In 1978, "Sirius" became the leader of the 6th Frigate Squadron.

In September 1982, "Sirius" deployed to the Falkland Islands to perform a Falkland Islands patrol in the tense aftermath of the Falklands War. The following year, "Sirius" received the towed array sensor. In 1988, "Sirius", as part of the group deployment Exercise 'Outback 88', deployed to the Far East and Pacific, visiting a variety of ports in the process.

On the 27th February 1993, "Sirius" decommissioned. She was subsequently towed to Pembroke Dockyard in preparation for her to be sunk as a target. However, her sinking was delayed due to environmentalist groups delaying the sinking. In 1998, "Sirius" was finally sunk as a target in the Atlantic Ocean by the submarine "Spartan", ending a truly illustrious career. Her sinking left just one "Leander", "Scylla", afloat in the UK. "Scylla" was sunk as an artificial reef on the 27th March 2004.