HMS Apollo (F70)

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Apollo.

Career (UK)
Name:	HMS Apollo (F70)
Operator:	Royal Navy
Builder:	Yarrow Shipbuilders
Laid down:	1 May 1969
Launched:	15 October 1970
Commissioned:	28 May 1972
Decommissioned:	31 August 1988
Fate:	Sold to Pakistan, 1988
Career (Pakistan)
Name:	PNS Zulfiqar (F262)
Operator:	Pakistan Navy
Commissioned:	1988
Decommissioned:	29 October 2006
Fate:	Sunk as target, 12 March 2010
General characteristics
Class and type:	Leander class frigate

HMS Apollo (F70) was a Batch 3B Broadbeam Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy (RN). She was, like the rest of the class, named after a figure of mythology. Apollo was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders of Scotstoun. She was launched on 15 October 1970 and commissioned on 28 May 1972 (the penultimate Leander).

Propulsion: 2 x steam turbines developing 30,000 HP providing a top speed of 28 Knots and a range of 4,000 miles at 15 Knots.

Dimensions: 2,500 tonnes (standard load)/2962 tonnes (full load) displacement; 372 ft length; 43 ft beam and 18 ft draught.

Both the Apollo and the Ariadne are easily distinguished from the other Leanders' by their 'witches hat' - fitted to the top of the foremast as a part of the electronic warfare array.

Apollo was fitted out as a general purpose frigate. Her armaments were: 2 x 4.5 inch (114mm) Vickers 45 Mk6 naval guns mounted in a single twin turret with MRS3/Plessey Type 904 gunnery control system; quadruple Seacat missile launcher platform with GWS22 guidance system; Mk10 anti-submarine triple barrel mortar tubes (auto-load, 92 kg warhead); Westland Wasp helicopter and two 20mm Oerlikon heavy machine guns.

She saw her first 'action' during the Second Cod War in 1973, during the fishing disputes with Iceland, when Apollo, while on a Fishery Protection Patrol, was rammed by the Icelandic gunboat V/s Ægiron 29 August 1973.

In January 1977 the UK extended its territorial waters from 12 miles to 200 miles to create an Exclusive Economic Zone for fishery rights. Apollo took turns with other frigates to police the North Sea pending the introduction into service of the Island Class fishery protection vessels. This short action was termed 'The Herring War'.

In 1977, Apollo took part in the last Fleet Review of the Royal Navy so far, in celebration of HM the Queen's Silver Jubilee. As Captain of the Second Frigate Squadron, Apollo was responsible for anchorages of all warships at the Royal Fleet Review. In recognition of this work, the admiralty awarded the ship four rather than two 1977 QEII Silver Jubilee Medals. Apollo was positioned in the middle of HM ships Hardy and Salisbury.

Apollo was intended to be modernised, which would have included the removal of her one 4.5-in twin gun, which would have been replaced by the Exocet anti-ship missile, but the modernisation was cancelled due to the 1981 Defence Review by the minister John Nott. In July 1982, Apollo was sent to patrol the South Atlantic in the aftermath of the Falklands War and returned home in September. In late 1983, Apollo once again returned to the South Atlantic. On this occasion Apollo encountered heavy seas in the South Atlantic that damaged her hull.

In 1988, Apollo's Royal Navy career came to an end when she was decommissioned and subsequently sold to Pakistan, being renamed PNS Zulfiqar. From 1991-93 she underwent a major refit - 20mm and seacat system replaced by twin 25mm mounts, Westland Wasp replaced by SA 319B Alouette III helicopter (standard PN helo). Zulfiqar continued in service for 18 years with the Pakistan Navy until 29 October 2006 when she was decommissioned into training (http://www.pakistantimes.net/2006/10/29/top6.htm).

On Friday 12 March 2010, Apollo was sunk as a target in the Arabian sea. Torpedoes and missiles were fired from a F-22P frigate, P3C aircraft and Agosta 90B submarine.( http://slide.mil.news.sina.com.cn/slide_8_240_3125.html#p=2 )

External links

• HMS Apollo Facebook group - [1]