Dates: 1965 - 1994

The H.M.S HECATE was a 5th of the line named Survey ship, which belonged to the ’Hecla Class’ of ships.

The ship had a displacement of 1915 Tons and was launched from the Yarrow shipyard, on 31/03/1965.

In the mid-1970s she was in the Persian Gulf surveying the entrance areas in the event of conflicts while based in Banada Abbas, Iran.

During the Falklands War, Hecate, unlike her sister ships, was painted grey and sent south to assume HMS Endurance’s role as the Ice Patrol Ship.

The ship was decommissioned in 1990 and scrapped in India in 1994.

The 1st ship of the ’Hecate’ Line was a Gunboat launched from Frindsbury on 02/05/1797, it was Sunk as breakwater at Harwich 1809.

Memories of HMS Hecate

HMS Hecate The Gulf in 1978
Written by Ian. Bailey
Contact this person >>

"one memory that really sticks is when we were on the Hecate in the gulf surveying for the Shah and ending up on the beach . Two of us had to sit on the end of a pier and measure the tide rise and falls. a local girl came down to the beach wearing the full iranian black garb, stripped it all off and underneath was the smallest thong and bikini top , now thats what you call a perk of the job. it definately perked us up.

1978 Boat Party at St Ives. on the Hecate living in a local holiday home above the golf course. we presented the owner with A Plaque and signed photo by the crews who were based there in 78. went back to see him in 2001 and he was demolishing the place so gave me the plaque and Photo that had hung in the bar all that time. offered it to local RNA who showed no interest in it."

Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Hecate

"Just watching a 1988/9 video from HMS Hecate. If you are interested, Tweet me: @disklabs and I’ll get you a copy. Would love to get in touch with Bomber Mills, Brum Tongue, South African Graham, Stan Standaft, Bob ’the pulverisor’ Pulley and the Welsh contingent - there were many."

Click For More

View your bookmarks