Dates: 1967 - 1991
H.M.S.Danae (F47)
Built by: Devonport Docks
Laid down: 16th of December 1964
Launched: 31st of October 1965
Commissioned: 10th of October 1967
Fate: Sold to Ecuador in April 1991 and renamed the “Moran Valverde”
H.M.S Danae was a General Purpose improved type 12 Leander class frigate. The Leander class is a derivative of the Whitby class of frigate having a similar hull form and machinery, however, ships of the Leander class had improved and more diversified weapon systems and were in general more sophisticated ships. Danae was primarily an Anti-Submarine frigate but could be used in an Anti-Aircraft protection role. She carried a complement of 17 Officers and 246 Ratings.
‘Danae’ was laid down at Devonport on the 16th of December 1964 and launched by Miss Anthea Talbot, daughter of Vice-Admiral Fitzroy Talbot on the 31st of October 1965. She was completed on the 7th of September 1967 and commissioned on the 10th of October the same year.
During the commission she traveled some 100,000 miles. One of her more interesting jobs was that of escorting, in company with HMS Naiad, the Royal Yacht Britannia on the Queens visit to South America.
After completing a long and eventful career, including escorting the Aircraft Carrier Illustrious during the Falklands war in 1982 she was finally sold off to Ecuador in April 1991 and renamed the “Moran Valverde”
Other Royal Navy ships names Danae
The name ‘Danae’ first appears in the Royal Navy in the year 1759 when a French gun Frigate of 941 tons named ‘La Danae’ was captured after a fierce running battle by H.M.S. Southampton. She was purchased by the Admiralty and in recognition of her stiff resistance the name ‘Danae’ was retained. Later she took part in the successful blockade of Dunquerque and in 1761 captured the French privateer ‘Colibry’
The second ‘Danae’ also captured from the French off St. Malo in 1779, was a smaller vessel of 689 tons and 32 guns. Apart from convoy duty to Newfoundland in 1782 little is known of her subsequent service.
In 1798 the French corvette ‘Valiante’ captured by H.M.S. Indefatigable became the third ship to bear the name ‘Danae’. After refitting in Plymouth she returned to service in 1799 and captured the French lugger ‘Le Sans Quartier’. In 1800 the crew mutinied alleging poor and overcrowded accommodation (with, probably, some justification as her Captain, Lord Proby, had written to the Admiralty some time before complaining bitterly about thelack of of living space and enclosing the dimensions of his own cabin which was five feet in height and some six feet by nine in area). The mutineers sailed the ship into Brest and returned her to the French.
The first British built ‘Danae’ was a single screw steam and sail corvette commissioned at Portsmouth in 1867. She took part in the blockade of Dahomery, Niger, in 1876/77 followed by police duty in the Pacific Islands. She ended her days in 1905 having been moored in the Mersey as a submarine mining hulk for the last fourteen years of her life.
The fifth ‘Danae’ a light cruiser built by Armstrong Whitworth Co. of Newcastle was completed in 1918. Between the world wars she saw service in the China station during the troubles in 1923 and took part in the world cruise in company with H.M.S. Hood. She was commissioned from reserve shortly before the outbreak of World War II and despite her age carried out patrol and escort duties around the world. Her last operational task In the Royal Navy was in support of the Normandy landings after which she was loaned to the Polish Navy and renamed “O.R.P. Conrad” (see ‘The Ship’ link for more information). She was returned to Britain for scrapping after the war.
Other Royal Navy Leander class frigates
Achilles, Ajax, Andromeda, Apollo, Arethusa, Ariadne, Argonaut, Aurora, Bacchante, Charybdis, Cleopatra, Danae, Dido, Diomede, Euryalus, Galatea, Hermione, Juno, Jupiter, Leander, Minerva, Naiad, Penelope, Phoebe, Scylla, Sirius.< src=http://ww
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Danae
"Looking for the SUPPLY Division from Hms danae, and crew from 1970-72,Im trying to find all ,I hoping I get a few replies,I have found two cooks,one L/ro barnard,& L/reg,john shorter,Iam looking for,Keith whitley,L/SA,BILLY BENSON,JOCK Mcewan, george quinn,PTI Taff roberts,S/a speedy Durrant, Barry ranson, If you are out their,please get in touch.From slinger wood,ships,cook."
Click For More
" Hms Danae 1970/72 looking for all ships company from that 2rd commision if you are out their please get in touch.slinger wood ex ships Cook.We have so far nearly 30 ships company from those years intouch, you will be suprised ,ring me 02476610487 REUNION in Coventry july 1st 05,or Dave Parry,01270500463.we are waiting.Thank you. Last edited by tony wood"
Click For More
" hms danae.looking for J.M.E. M ,Wilkins. please contact me.slinger wood. thank you.: tel. 02476 610487. or dave parry. 01270500463. Last edited by tony wood"
Click For More
" My name slinger wood ex cook hms danae. I am looking for all cooks who served on board Danae 1970/72 Iam looking for cook Hewitt,RT. cook Ramsdem.T. cook Tanner,D.M. I know these cooks are out their but finding them is another matter, I would dearly love the help of any body out their that ..."
Click For More
" Hms Jupiter, Iam looking for PO/sa. Keith whiteley who served on board hms jupiter 1977 78 79.He was also a great foot ball player he had ginger hair, also played for plymstock united, with a steward called martin gower, They both served on board hms Danae too.If any body knows the where abouts of ..."
Click For More
