HMS Leopard (F14)

HMS Leopard (F14), was a Leopard-class Type 41 anti aircraft frigate of the British Royal Navy, named after the leopard.

Leopard was built at Portsmouth dockyard at a cost of £3,545,000. She was launched on 23 May 1955 and commissioned on 30 September 1958.

Service
The ship, first commanded by Commander R.G. Gaunt, was to serve in the South Atlantic and South America upon commission. In 1961, Leopard sailed for the island of Tristan da Cunha after a volcanic eruption. Her crew assisted in the relief effort, as well as the recovery of personal belongings left behind by the island's inhabitants.

In 1963, Leopard suffered serious damage when she collided with the South African minesweeper Pietermaritzburg during exercises off Cape Point. In February 1966 she commissioned for the fourth time and in August 1966 sailed for the Far East where she spent a busy year of exercises. In 1968, she was diverted to Bermuda in response to civil unrest. In the same year she took part in Portmouth 'Navy Days' and completed her fourth commission in that year.

During Britain's fishing dispute with Iceland in 1973, Leopard was accused by Iceland of threatening to fire on the patrol ship Ægir. The British government refuted the claims, accusing the Icelandic ship of trying to cut the trawling wires of the German fishing vessels Teutonia and Dusseldorf, and of firing several shots. The government further stated that Leopard had only warned the Ægir that she would fire back if more shots were fired. Leopard provided further support for British trawlers during another fishing dispute with Iceland in 1975.

She was scrapped at Dartford in 1977.

Publications

 * Gardiner, Robert & Chesneau, Roger (1995), Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships, 1947-1995, Conway Maritime Press, London, ISBN 978-0-8517-7605-7.
 * Marriot, Leo, 1983. Royal Navy Frigates 1945-1983, Ian Allen Ltd.  ISBN 07110 1322 5
 * Marriot, Leo, 1983. Royal Navy Frigates 1945-1983, Ian Allen Ltd.  ISBN 07110 1322 5