RN Frigates: Leander Class Improved Type 12

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Culverin
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RN Frigates: Leander Class Improved Type 12

Unread post by Culverin »

It is widely known the Leander class were named after mythological characters, invariably Greek.

2 names then get mentioned as not fitting this criteria, Sirius and Cleopatra.

Sirius is also known as the Dog Star.
Cleopatra, 69-60 BC, is dismissed for being an Egyptian Queen. Her full title was Queen Cleopatra VII Philopator. Her name is Greek and she was of Greek descent. A most valid reason for inclusion.

26 of these general purpose frigates served the grey navy under the white ensign, a number subsequently serving under other ensigns through 5 decades starting in the early 1960's.

All 26 are now history having contributed a significant part to the post WW2 cold era at sea.
Last edited by Culverin on Sat Aug 31, 2019 10:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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jbryce1437
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Location: Roker, Sunderland

Re: RN Frigates: Leander Class Improved Type 12

Unread post by jbryce1437 »

Some photos of the Class:

Achilles
achillies 2.jpg

Ajax
ajax colour[1].jpg

Andromeda
hms andromeda 245.jpg

Apollo
Apollo,5 001.jpg

Arethusa
hms arethusa 1970s.jpg

Argonaut
argo1b.jpg

Ariadne
ariadne 1.jpg

Aurora
Aurora hi res.jpg

Baccante
bacc 2.jpg

Charybdis
charybdis3.jpg

Cleopatra
cleo leander.jpg

Danae
danae1.jpg

Dido
dido-leander-class.jpg

Diomede
diomede-(1970's.)-pt.jpg

Euryalus
euryalus frigate.jpg

Galatea
galatea4.jpg

Hermione
hermione-(1970's.jpg

Juno
hms juno 1970s.jpg

Jupiter
hms jupiter venice 1970s.jpg

Leander
hms leander 123.jpg

Minerva
744hms_minerva.jpg

Naiad
hms naiad 25.jpg

Penelope
penelope-(1982)-south-atlan ply.jpg

Phoebe
hms phoebe st lucia 1972.jpg

Scylla
scylla-(1970)-pt ply.jpg

Sirius
sirius leanderfrig.jpg
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HMS Raleigh 1963 , HMS Collingwood 1963 & 67 , HMS Ark Royal 1964-7, HMS Undaunted 1968-71, HMS Victory (Fleet Maintenance Group) 1971-72, HMS Exmouth 1972-74
JEM, EM, OEM, LOEM, POOEL
Then 28 years in the Fire Brigade
Retired since 2002
Brian James
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Re: RN Frigates: Leander Class Improved Type 12

Unread post by Brian James »

Leander Class ASW Frigate HMS Ajax pictured at Toronto in 1976.
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Brian James
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RN Frigates: Leander Class Improved Type 12

Unread post by Brian James »

Leander Class Frigate HMS Cleopatra pictured at London in February 1987.She was built at HMNB Devonport and was launched on March 25th 1964, commissioned on January 4th 1966
In 1982 Cleopatra returned to Devonport to be converted to carry the new Type 1031 towed array sonar.To accommodate the new sonar,changes were made to reduce topweight. The forward Seacat launcher and director was removed, as was the long-range Type 965 radar, allowing the ship's mainmast to be replaced by a smaller mast. The Bofors guns were replaced by lighter Oerlikon 20 mm guns while the ship's boats were removed and the Exocet launchers and torpedo tubes lowered. A large cable reel was fitted to the aft end of the flight deck, while the Type 2031 I towed array sonar consisted of an acoustic array of passive hydrophones which were towed on the end of a 1,000–1,500 metres (1,100–1,600 yd) cable. The electronics needed to extract and display the sonar data was installed in the ships hangar, which meant that she was no longer able to operate a helicopter.Cleopatra completed her refit on June 10th 1983, the first Leander-class Frigate to be fitted with a towed array:by the late 1980s, her age was beginning to show and her time was coming to an end. On January 31st 1992, she was decommissioned. The following year, Cleopatra was sold for scrap.
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timlewin
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Re: RN Frigates: Leander Class Improved Type 12

Unread post by timlewin »

with passing reference to Queen Cleo, I believe the accepted perspective by historians of her period is that she was actually buried in Greece, they have identified her tomb. (saw it on telly not long ago!)
Brian James
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Re: RN Frigates: Leander Class Improved Type 12

Unread post by Brian James »

Leander Class ASW Frigate HMS Aurora pictured with her 'fully booted an' spurred' Budgie.
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Brian James
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Re: RN Frigates: Leander Class Improved Type 12

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Leander Class ASW Frigate HMS Andromeda pictured berthing at Rotterdam in July 1972.
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jbryce1437
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Re: RN Frigates: Leander Class Improved Type 12

Unread post by jbryce1437 »

I noticed that all of the flags are at half mast. I wonder if this was in honour of the Belgian Premier, Paul-Henri Spaak, who was also Secretary General of NATO, who died on 31st July 1972.

Jim
HMS Raleigh 1963 , HMS Collingwood 1963 & 67 , HMS Ark Royal 1964-7, HMS Undaunted 1968-71, HMS Victory (Fleet Maintenance Group) 1971-72, HMS Exmouth 1972-74
JEM, EM, OEM, LOEM, POOEL
Then 28 years in the Fire Brigade
Retired since 2002
Brian James
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Re: RN Frigates: Leander Class Improved Type 12

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Leander Class ASW Frigate HMS Euryalus pictured c1970.
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Brian James
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Re: RN Frigates: Leander Class Improved Type 12

Unread post by Brian James »

Leander Class ASW Frigate HMS Penelope pictured in December 1963.
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