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HMS Minerva (F45)
Encyclopedia
HMS Minerva (F45) was a Leander-class
frigate of the Royal Navy
. She was built by Vickers Armstrong
. She was launched on the 19 December 1964, and commissioned on 14 May 1966.
In 1968, Minerva deployed to the West Indies during some troubles there, operating from Bermuda. Island hopping was carried to show the"flag". In 1970, Minerva, like many other British vessels including other Leanders, deployed on Beira Patrol
, an operation designed to prevent oil from reaching the landlocked Rhodesia
via Mozambique
, before visiting various ports around Asia and the Pacific. The following year, Minerva deployed on her second Beira Patrol which proved relatively quiet.
In November 1972, the Prince of Wales
joined Minerva. The following year, in February, Minerva, along with the Prince, deployed to the Caribbean
. While there Minerva was involved in a number of exercises, including Exercise "Rum Punch" at Puerto Rico
, involving British and American forces. The ship returned to the UK in November.
In 1975, Minerva returned to the Caribbean, performing a variety of duties there. Between December 1975 and March 1979, Minerva underwent modernisation, including the addition of Exocet
missiles. While she was undergoing post refit trials Minerva suffered a Stbd boiler explosion which destroyed both boiler uptakes forcing her to be towed to Chatham Dockyard
for repairs. In December the following year, a dockyard crane smashed into Minerva during a storm, causing damage to the ship's superstructure. In 1980, Minerva deployed to the Mediterranean where she carried out exercises with other NATO warships. While there Minerva got involved in the Cold War
when she shadowed the Kiev
, the nameship of a three-ship class of large aircraft carriers. In 1981, Minerva was involved in further exercises in the Persian Gulf
.
In 1982 during the Falklands War
Minerva was part of the 'Bristol Group
' and thus joined the war rather late, not reaching the Falkland Islands
until the 26th May. While there, Minerva performed a number of duties, including escort for other vessels. She suffered no damage during her deployment during the Falklands War. She returned to Devonport
in September, crowds greeting her upon her return.
In November, Minerva accidentally rammed the Rothesay-class
frigate Yarmouth
. In late 1984, Minerva returned to the South Atlantic
on a deployment that encompassed all British South Atlantic territories, a deployment which lasted into 1985. She continued service throughout the rest of the 1980s, seeing much of the world, including being involved in a number of exercises with NATO allies and acting as patrol ship in a number of deployments. By the early 1990s, Minerva's age was showing, and in March 1992, her long and eventful career came to an end. The following year Minerva was sold for scrap.
Leander class frigate
The Leander class, or Type 12I frigates, comprising twenty-six vessels, was among the most numerous and long-lived classes of frigate in the Royal Navy's modern history. The class was built in three batches between 1959 and 1973...
frigate of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. She was built by Vickers Armstrong
Vickers Armstrong
Vickers-Armstrongs Limited was a British engineering conglomerate formed by the merger of the assets of Vickers Limited and Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Company in 1927...
. She was launched on the 19 December 1964, and commissioned on 14 May 1966.
In 1968, Minerva deployed to the West Indies during some troubles there, operating from Bermuda. Island hopping was carried to show the"flag". In 1970, Minerva, like many other British vessels including other Leanders, deployed on Beira Patrol
Beira Patrol
The Beira Patrol was a blockade of oil shipments to Rhodesia through Beira, Mozambique, resulting from United Nations trade sanctions after Rhodesia declared its independence...
, an operation designed to prevent oil from reaching the landlocked Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
via Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, before visiting various ports around Asia and the Pacific. The following year, Minerva deployed on her second Beira Patrol which proved relatively quiet.
In November 1972, the Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
joined Minerva. The following year, in February, Minerva, along with the Prince, deployed to the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
. While there Minerva was involved in a number of exercises, including Exercise "Rum Punch" at Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, involving British and American forces. The ship returned to the UK in November.
In 1975, Minerva returned to the Caribbean, performing a variety of duties there. Between December 1975 and March 1979, Minerva underwent modernisation, including the addition of Exocet
Exocet
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
missiles. While she was undergoing post refit trials Minerva suffered a Stbd boiler explosion which destroyed both boiler uptakes forcing her to be towed to Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England, came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional...
for repairs. In December the following year, a dockyard crane smashed into Minerva during a storm, causing damage to the ship's superstructure. In 1980, Minerva deployed to the Mediterranean where she carried out exercises with other NATO warships. While there Minerva got involved in the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
when she shadowed the Kiev
Soviet aircraft carrier Kiev
Kiev was a heavy aircraft carrying cruiser that served the Soviet and Russian navies from 1975 to 1993. It was built from 1970 till 1975 at Chernomorski factory in Nikolayev and was the first ship of its class -Service life:The Kiev was laid down on 21 July 1970 and launched on 26 December 1972...
, the nameship of a three-ship class of large aircraft carriers. In 1981, Minerva was involved in further exercises in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
.
In 1982 during the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
Minerva was part of the 'Bristol Group
Bristol group
The Bristol group was a group of British warships that were sent to the "Total Exclusion Zone" as reinforcements late in the Falklands War. It consisted of:DestroyersFrigatesRoyal Fleet Auxiliaries*RFA Bayleaf*RFA Olna...
' and thus joined the war rather late, not reaching the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
until the 26th May. While there, Minerva performed a number of duties, including escort for other vessels. She suffered no damage during her deployment during the Falklands War. She returned to Devonport
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
in September, crowds greeting her upon her return.
In November, Minerva accidentally rammed the Rothesay-class
Rothesay class frigate
The Rothesay class, or Type 12M frigates were a class of frigates serving with the Royal Navy, South African Navy and the New Zealand Navy....
frigate Yarmouth
HMS Yarmouth (F101)
HMS Yarmouth was the first Modified Type 12 frigate of the Rothesay class to enter service with the Royal Navy. From her commissioning in 1960, she performed in numerous roles, including the Third Cod War and the Falklands War....
. In late 1984, Minerva returned to the South Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
on a deployment that encompassed all British South Atlantic territories, a deployment which lasted into 1985. She continued service throughout the rest of the 1980s, seeing much of the world, including being involved in a number of exercises with NATO allies and acting as patrol ship in a number of deployments. By the early 1990s, Minerva's age was showing, and in March 1992, her long and eventful career came to an end. The following year Minerva was sold for scrap.