HMS Eskimo (F119)

HMS Eskimo (F119) was a Tribal-class frigate of the Royal Navy in service from 1963 to 1980. She was scrapped in 1992.

Eskimo was built by J. Samuel White, of Cowes, at a cost of £4,670,000. The frigate was launched on 20 March 1960 and commissioned on 21 February 1963.

Service
Eskimo began her third commission in October 1966. In 1967, Eskimo transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet, with which the ship took part in a number of port visits and exercises.. In June, Eskimo replaced her sistership Ashanti off Aden in response to the start of the Six-Day War. In 1968 she took part in Portsmouth 'Navy Days'.

In 1976, Eskimo served as the West Indies Guardship. She escorted Queen Elizabeth II aboard Britannia as part of America's Bi-Centennial celebrations. Eskimo returned to the Caribbean in 1977.

Due to a manpower shortage in the Royal Navy, Eskimo was reduced to the reserve in 1980, being placed into the Standby Squadron, and in 1981 was put on the disposal list. In 1984 she was cannibalised for spare parts for three Tribal-class frigates sold to Indonesia. On 16 January 1986, Eskimo was towed from Portsmouth to Pembroke Dock to be used as a target, but was not used as such. In May 1992 she was towed from Pembroke to Bilbao, Spain to be scrapped.

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