HMS Naiad (F39)

HMS Naiad (F39) was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy (RN). Like the rest of the class, Naiad was named after a figure or figures of mythology, in this case the Naiads of Greek mythology. Naiad was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders of Scotstoun. She was launched on 4 November 1963 and commissioned on 15 March 1965.

Operational Service
In 1966, Naiad became the leader of the Northern Ireland Squadron and subsequently deployed to the Far East and South America. In June 1966 she was present at Kiel Woche and the Duke of Edinburgh held a state dinner on board in honour of President Heinrich Lubke. On 4 May 1967 she recommissioned for a general service commission and was present at Portsmouth Navy Days in that year.

In 1970, Naiad deployed to the Far East, and while there, participated in the Beira Patrol, designed to prevent oil reaching the landlocked Rhodesia via the then Portuguese colony of Mozambique. She performed her second patrol the following year. The Beira Patrol would be a regular deployment for the RN until 1975. In 1971 she was present at Portsmouth Navy Days.

In January 1973, Naiad began her modernisation at Devonport Dockyard that included her one twin 4.5-in gun being replaced by the Australian designed Ikara anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missile system. The modernisation was completed in 1975. The following year, Naiad undertook a Fishery Protection Patrol during the Third Cod War, and while there, was rammed by the Icelandic gunboat Tyr causing some hull damage. In 1977, Naiad, like many other Leanders, took part in the Fleet Review, of the Royal Navy at Spithead in celebration of HM the Queen's Silver Jubilee. Naiad was positioned in the middle of Brighton and her sister-ship Andromeda. In 1979, Naiad deployed to the Far East once again.

In 1981, Naiad deployed to the Mediterranean. In 1983, Naiad began a refit at Devonport Dockyard which was completed in 1984. In 1985, Naiad returned to the Mediterranean, as part of the NATO multi-national squadron Naval On-call Force of the Mediterranean (NAVOCFORMED), the predecessor of the Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED). The following year, Naiad joined the Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), another NATO multi-national squadron.

Decommissioning and Fate
In April 1987, Naiad decommissioned and in 1989 was used as a static trials ship for weapons testing. In September 1990, Naiad was sunk as a target.

Publications

 * Marriot, Leo, 1983. Royal Navy Frigates 1945-1983, Ian Allen Ltd, Surrey. ISBN 0 7710 1322 5
 * Marriot, Leo, 1983. Royal Navy Frigates 1945-1983, Ian Allen Ltd, Surrey. ISBN 0 7710 1322 5