HMS Galatea (F18)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Galatea.

File:HMS Galatea (Leander-class frigate).jpg
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Galatea (F18)
Operator	Royal Navy
Builder	Swan Hunter
Laid down	29 December 1961
Launched	23 May 1963
Commissioned	25 April 1964
Decommissioned	31 January 1987
Motto	Nobis Mare Patria
Fate	Sunk as target, 21 July 1988
General characteristics
Class and type	Leander class frigate
Displacement	2,450 tons
Length	372 ft (113 m)
Beam	41 ft (12 m)
Draught	18 ft (5 m)
Propulsion	Twin oil-fired steam turbines, 30,000 HP (22 MW)
Speed	30 knots maximum
Range	8519km (4600nm)
Complement	251 (257 after Ikara upgrade)
Armament	Twin 4.5 inch (114 mm) guns (subsequently replaced by Ikara anti-submarine missile launcher) 2 × 40 mm anti-aircraft guns Limbo antisubmarine mortar
Aircraft carried	Wasp helicopter

HMS Galatea (F18) was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was built by Swan Hunter & Wigham on the Tyne. She was launched on 23 May 1963 and commissioned on 25 April 1964 and was the 8th ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name. She was also nicknamed the "Black Pig".

First deployments

Upon her commission, Galatea was immediately stationed in the Mediterranean. 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, a fleet soon to be consigned to the history books. In 1968, Galatea was present with HMS Dainty 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'.

Refitting and Cod Wars

In 1971, Galatea began a period of refit and modernisation, which included the installation of the Ikara and Sea Cat weapons systems. The refit was completed in 1974. The following year, Galatea was engaged in operations during the Third Cod War with Iceland, patrolling against possible aggression towards British fishing trawlers. In 1976, the Icelandic gunboat Baldur rammed Galatea.

Galatea's last decade

In 1977, Galatea underwent a refit before 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 HMS Phoebe and the cruiser HMS Blake.

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 Gibraltar 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

From	To	Captain
1963	1965	Captain Roland F Plugge DSC RN
1965	1967	Captain Henry Leach RN
1968	1968	Captain R D MacDonald CBE RN
1969	1971	Captain Anthony (Tony) John Cooke RN
1974	1974	Captain D Conrad Jenkin RN
1975	1977	Captain William S. Gueterbock RN
1977	1978	Captain D B Nolan RN
1978	1979	Captain A R Barnden RN
1979	1981	Captain Robin I. T. Hogg RN

Publications

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
• Jackson, Robert "Fighting Ships of The World." London: Amber Books Ltd, 2004 Pg. 277 ISBN 9781840136470
• Marriott, Leo, 1983. Royal Navy Frigates 1945-1983, Ian Allen Ltd. ISBN 07110 1322 5