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The Sixth Euryalus - F15 Leander Class Frigate:1964 - 1989

The Sixth Euryalus - F15 Leander Class Frigate
1964 - 1989

Courtesy of the Anti Submarine Warfare Instructors Association www.aswi.co.uk

The sixth Euryalus was a LEANDER class frigate, pennant number F15.

Launched at Scott's in Greenock on 6 June 1963, Euryalus commissioned in September 1964 into the Home Fleet as a General Purpose frigate. With her long range 965 radar (with its distinctive bedstead array on the mainmast) and the latest electronic warfare kit, Euryalus was an important unit in fleet air defence, while her 4.5-in guns provided anti-air and anti-surface firepower. Her hull-mounted sonars, depth-bomb mortar and torpedo-armed Wasp helicopter were her antisubmarine weapons. After testing and tuning her electronics and a work-up, she deployed to the Far East as leader of the 26th Escort Squadron. Based in Singapore, Euryalus took part in the Indonesian Confrontation, mainly patrolling the Malacca Straits to deter and intercept terrorists infiltrating Malaysia; none crossed the straits while she was on patrol. With other RN and Commonwealth ships, she also exercised with the US 7th Fleet. One of the first frigates to be fitted with a helicopter, she explored new tactics in the use of this aircraft. The gunnery team won the Far East Fleet A.A. Trophy as the “Fastest Gun in the East!" As Confrontation tension eased, she was able to visit Hong Kong and Australia (Christmas in Geraldton).

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Badge of STANAVFORLANT

Badge of STANAVFORLANT
(Standing Naval Force Atlantic)
NATO Multinational Squadron

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In 1966 Euryalus recommissioned and refitted in Devonport. In April 1967, after work up, she joined the STANAVFORLANT (Standing Naval Force Atlantic) the NATO multinational squadron; overseas visits included the Canadian Centennial. She deployed to the Far East in December 1967 as Leader of the 1st Frigate Squadron, spending Christmas in Simonstown (South Africa). In 1968 she carried out a two week Beira Patrol, aimed to prevent oil reaching Rhodesia, followed by Internal Security duty in Mauritius during inter-racial tension preceding independence. The deployment continued with visits to Sydney, Auckland, New Hebrides and Japan and Fleet exercises. In April 1968, in Hong Kong, Euryalus met 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers (see the history of The Fourth Euryalus... and The Fifth Euryalus...) for the last time as such at the ceremony of their amalgamation into the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (RRF). There were further exercises and visits to Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia before she returned home in December 1968 via Fiji, Pearl Harbor and the Panama Canal, becoming one of the few HM Ships to circumnavigate the globe.

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In 1969, Euryalus again returned briefly to the Far East, before participating in the withdrawal from “East of Suez". Euryalus was the Gibraltar guard ship for some months in 1970. Each time she entered harbour she was granted the unusual distinction of being greeted by the band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, a battalion being stationed on the Rock.

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The Sixth Euryalus - F15 (at sea after Ikara conversion)

The Sixth Euryalus - F15
(at sea after Ikara conversion)

Image Courtesy of www.navyphotos.co.uk

In 1972, Euryalus undertook another Beira Patrol and then paid off in 1973 to begin her modernisation at Devonport Dockyard. This included the removal of her 4.5-in guns to accommodate the Australian-designed Ikara antisubmarine missile system, fitting Seacat anti-air missiles and a Variable Depth Sonar. Further extensive modernisation was carried out ranging from the crew's quarters to a new computer-based command and control system, using information from all sensors and controlling all weapons. The modernisation, completed in March 1976, converted Euryalus into a specialist Anti-Submarine frigate, aimed at the large Soviet submarine threat of the last decades of the Cold War. In June 1977, Euryalus took part in the Silver Jubilee Fleet Review. 

In 1978, Euryalus joined the Second Frigate Squadron (the Portland Training Squadron). She took part in many exercises, including the dreaded regular "Thursday War", helping to train warships and auxiliaries of the Royal and foreign navies as part of maintaining their operational effectiveness. It was not all work and no play however, as she made visits to northern Europe and a "Meet the Navy" to her adopted town of South Shields, where she took part in the celebrations to commemorate the WW2 exploits of HMS Kelly. These included a visit by Earl Mountbatten of Burma.

On 25 May 1981, Euryalus returned to South Shields where she was awarded the freedom of the borough. For the traditional parade through the town with fixed bayonets, the Euryaluses were led by the band of the 6th Battalion RRF. Later that year, Euryalus undertook a Middle East patrol during the tense times in that region. In 1982, Euryalus, along with her sister-ship Leander, came to the aid of the Portuguese vessel MV Ave Maria ablaze off the Essex coast, rescuing 45 people. 

In 1984, Euryalus again became part of STANAVFORLANT until 1986, when she once again became the leader of the 1st Frigate Squadron. Euryalus decommissioned on the 31 March 1989 and was bought by Devonport Management Limited before being sold in 1990 for scrap at Millom, Cumbria.

In 1984, Euryalus went into refit in a commercial yard in her affiliated town of South Shields, emerging after several delays in 1986 as the leader of the First Frigate Squadron. Later that year she deployed to the South Atlantic. On return, Euryalus joined the Dartmouth Training Squadron, visiting many ports in 1987/88 in North America, West Indies, West Africa, the Mediterranean and the Baltic.

Euryalus decommissioned on the 31 March 1989 and was bought by Devonport Management Limited before being sold in 1990 for scrap at Millom, Cumbria.

2 x Babcock & Wilcox boilers (550 psi at 860°F)
2 shafts English Electric geared turbines 30,000 SHP