HMS ''Galatea'' (F18) was a of the Royal Navy. She was built by Swan Hunter & Wigham on the

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. She was launched on 23 May 1963 and commissioned on 25 April 1964 and was the eighth ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name.

First deployments

Upon her commission, ''Galatea'' was immediately stationed in the Mediterranean Sea. The following year, ''Galatea'' was involved in exercises in that region, and in 1966 joined the 27th Escort Group which were also based in the Mediterranean. Later that year, ''Galatea'' returned to United Kingdom waters when she joined the

Home Fleet The Home Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy that operated from the United Kingdom's territorial waters from 1902 with intervals until 1967. In 1967, it was merged with the Mediterranean Fleet creating the new Western Fleet. Before the First ...

. In 1968, ''Galatea'' was present with in West Germany during the Kiel Week event, which combines a yachting race and festival entertainment. In the same year she took part in Portsmouth 'Navy Days'. Galatea's personal arrive by helicopter (37651610341)

Galatea's personal arrive by helicopter (37651610341)

Refitting and Cod Wars

In 1971, ''Galatea'' began a period of refit and modernisation, which included the installation of the

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and Sea Cat weapons systems. The refit was completed in 1974. The following year, ''Galatea'' was engaged in operations during the

Third Cod War The Cod Wars ( is, Þorskastríðin; also known as , ; german: Kabeljaukriege) were a series of 20th-century confrontations between the United Kingdom (with aid from West Germany) and Iceland about fishing rights in the North Atlantic. Each of ...

with Iceland, patrolling against possible Icelandic interference with British fishing trawlers. On 26 March 1976, ''Galatea'' collided with the stern of the Icelandic Coast Guard vessel , damaging the frigate's bow.

''Galatea''s last decade

In 1977, ''Galatea'' underwent a refit after participating in a Fleet Review, in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee. ''Galatea'', leader of the 1st Frigate Squadron, was positioned between her sister ship and the

cruiser A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several roles. The term "cruiser", which has been in use for several hu ...

. In 1978, ''Galatea'' returned to the Mediterranean, where a number of patrols and exercises were undertaken. Much of 1980 was spent in the Far East, but a planned nine-month deployment ended with the start of the Iran–Iraq War. In 1981, ''Galatea'' refitted in

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before deploying to the Persian Gulf on Armilla Patrol, where she remained until about 1983. The frigate decommissioned in January 1987 and was sunk as a target in July 1988, as part of naval exercises in the North Atlantic.

Commanding officers

Notable commanding officers include

Henry Leach Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy), Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Conyers Leach, (18 November 1923 – 26 April 2011) was a Royal Navy officer who, as First Sea Lord, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff during the early 1980s, was instru ...

from 1965 to 1967Royal Navy Senior Appointments, Colin Mackie and Anthony (Tony) John Cooke between 1969 and 1971.

References

Publications

* * Jackson, Robert "Fighting Ships of The World." London: Amber Books Ltd, 2004 Pg. 277 * Marriott, Leo, 1983. ''Royal Navy Frigates 1945-1983'', Ian Allan Ltd. {{DEFAULTSORT:Galatea (F18) Leander-class frigates 1963 ships Ships of the Fishery Protection Squadron of the United Kingdom Ships built by Swan Hunter