HMS Sluys (D60)

HMS "Sluys" (D60) was a Battle-class destroyer of the Royal Navy (RN). She was named in honour of the Battle of Sluys which occurred in 1340 during the Hundred Year's War, and which resulted in a decisive English victory over a French fleet. "Sluys" was built by Cammell Laird of Birkenhead. She was launched on 28 February 1945 and commissioned on 30 September 1946.

Upon commission, "Sluys" joined the 1st Destroyer Flotilla, part of the Home Fleet, which was based in the UK. In 1947, "Sluys", along with her sister-ship "Cadiz", escorted the aircraft carrier HMS "Vengeance", which was flying the flag of the First Sea Lord, to Norway, where the small group made a variety of fly-the-flag visits to ports, as-well as performing other duties.

In 1953, "Sluys" was decommissioned and subsequently placed in Reserve. She was sold to Iran in 1967 after a major rebuild which completely changed her outline. After this major refit the ship appeared with a fully enclosed bridge and equipped with a seacat missile system. This despite tensions between the UK and Iran during the 1960s, which was centred around tensions and disputes in the Middle East. "Sluys" was renamed "Artemiz" upon joining the Iranian Navy.

After some years service with the Iranian Navy "Sluys" underwent another major refit, this time carried out by the Russians, and received amongst other things, a brand new Russian surface to air missile system to replace the British seacat. However, she did keep her original 4.5" mark 4 turrets, albeit with an updated radar and fire control system. It is reported that she remained in service into the 1990s, an astonishing service life, considering that by then, "Sluys" was very antiquated.

ee also

* Current Iranian Navy vessels