HMS Cleopatra (F28)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Cleopatra.
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Cleopatra (F28)
Operator: Royal Navy
Builder: HMNB Devonport
Laid down: 19 June 1963
Launched: 25 March 1964
Commissioned: 4 January 1966
Decommissioned: 31 January 1992
Homeport: Devonport
Nickname(s): Cleo
Fate: Sold for scrap 1993
General characteristics
Class and type: Leander-class frigate

HMS Cleopatra (F28) was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy (RN). Cleopatra was built at HMNB Devonport. She was launched on 25 March 1964, commissioned on 4 January 1966 and decommissioned on 31 January 1992.

Operational Service

Upon Cleopatra's commissioning, she joined the 2nd Destroyer Squadron, Far East Fleet and then participated in the Beira Patrol, which was designed to prevent oil reaching the landlocked Rhodesia via the then Portuguese colony of Mozambique (Lorenzo Marques).

In 1969, Cleopatra was present at the Evans-Melbourne collision.

In 1971, HMS Cleopatra's helicopter crash landed into the sea.[1]

In 1972, Cleopatra took part in escort duties during the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's South East Asia tour. In 1973, Cleopatra was dispatched to protect British trawlers against the Icelandic Coast Guard in the Second Cod War.[2] Afterwards, Cleopatra began her modernisation, becoming the first Batch Two Leander to do so, which included the removal of her one twin 4.5-in gun to allow the addition of the Exocet anti-ship missile system. In 1977, Cleopatra, like many other Leanders, took part in the Fleet Review of the RN in celebration of HM the Queen's Silver Jubilee. Cleopatra was positioned in the middle of HM ships Zulu and Arethusa. At this time she was leader of the 4th Frigate Squadron.[3]

The National Archives records that MOD has on file details of intelligence collection activities by Cleopatra in January–March 1978. The original document is still closed, but the bare fact of the activity itself is available.

In 1981, Cleopatra deployed to the Mediterranean, which still had a large RN presence at the time. The following year, Cleopatra was fitted with the new towed array sonar. Further duties were undertaken but by the late 1980s, Cleopatra's age was beginning to show and her time was coming to an end. On 31 January 1992, Cleopatra was decommissioned. The following year, Cleopatra was sold for scrap.

Commanding Officers

HMS Cleopatra at Tobermory, Mull, (1978).
FromToCaptain[4]
19661966Commander M Wemyss RN
19661969Commander M Burgoyne RN
19761977Captain Charles E T Baker RN
19771978Captain J M Webster RN
19781981Captain J M Tait RN
19811982Commander PK Haddacks RN
19831984Captain Guy F Liardet RN
19841985Captain R T Newman RN
19851987Captain Peter Dalrymple-Smith RN
19871989Captain Thomas M Le Marchand RN
19891990Commander Tony Rowe RN
1990 1992 Commander James Rupert Fanshawe RN

References

  1. ↑ File:Wasp_463_a.JPG
  2. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/20/newsid_2510000/2510837.stm
  3. ↑ Official Souvenir Programme, 1977. Silver Jubilee Fleet Review, HMSO
  4. ↑ Royal Navy Senior Appointments, Colin Mackie
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