Dates: 1966 - 1993
H.M.S. Sirius (F40)
Built by: H.M. Dockyard Portsmouth
Laid down: 9th August 1963
Launched: 22nd September 1964
Commissioned: 15th June 1966
Decommissioned: 27th February 1993
Fate: Sunk as target 1998
H.M.S.Sirius (F40) was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy (RN) built by H.M. Dockyard Portsmouth, and was the penultimate RN warship to be built there for a period of forty years, until Vosper Thorneycroft built H.M.S.Clyde. Sirius was launched on the 22nd September 1964 and commissioned on the 15th June 1966.
In January 1967, Sirius undertook a Beira Patrol, which was designed to prevent oil reaching landlocked Rhodesia via the then Portuguese colony of Mozambique. Sirius subsequently deployed to the Far East and Pacific, which included a number of ’fly-the-flag’ visits to a variety of ports. Sirius also took part in the Coronation of Taufa’ahau Tupou IV of Tonga. The following year, Sirius deployed to the West Indies.
In 1970, Sirius again deployed to the West Indies, where she would perform the role of guard ship in that region. The West Indies Guardship deployment was eventually replaced by the Atlantic Patrol Task. While in the West Indies, Sirius assisted during the St. Kitts disaster, when a ferry sank, killing 700 people. Sirius helped rescue 100 people from that vessel. For the actions of her crew, Sirius was awarded the Wilkinson Sword of Peace. In 1973, Sirius became guard ship to the West Indies once more, performing a variety of duties while there, including counter-drug operations.
In 1974, Sirius joined Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), a multi-national squadron of NATO, taking part in naval exercises in the process and visiting a variety of ports, and one of many deployments with NATO’s multi-national squadrons. In 1975, Sirius began her modernisation which included the removal of her single 4.5-in twin gun in favour of the Exocet anti-ship missile system, as-well as the amount of Sea Cat missiles she carried, increased. The modernisation was completed in October 1977. In 1978, Sirius became the leader of the 6th Frigate Squadron.
In September 1982, Sirius deployed to the Falkland Islands to perform a Falkland Islands patrol in the tense aftermath of the Falklands War. The following year, Sirius received the towed array sensor. In 1988, Sirius, as part of the group deployment Exercise ’Outback 88’, deployed to the Far East and Pacific, visiting a variety of ports in the process.
On the 27th February 1993, Sirius decommissioned. She was subsequently towed to Pembroke Dockyard in preparation for her to be sunk as a target. However, her sinking was delayed due to environmentalist groups delaying the sinking. In 1998, Sirius was finally sunk as a target in the Atlantic Ocean by the submarine Spartan, ending a truly illustrious career. Her sinking left just one Leander, Scylla, afloat in the UK. Scylla was sunk as an artificial reef on the 27th March 2004.
Motto: Heaven’s light our guide
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.
Seven ships of the Royal Navy have been named H.M.S.Sirius after the brightest star in the night time sky.
H.M.S.Sirius of 1786 was a ship of the First Fleet to Australia.
H.M.S.Sirius of 1797 was a 36-gun fifth-rate frigate, and served during the Napoleonic Wars.
H.M.S.Sirius of 1813 was a fifth-rate frigate built to replace the previous one, lost at Mauritius.
H.M.S.Sirius of 1868 was a sloop sold in 1885.
H.M.S.Sirius of 1892 was an Apollo-class protected cruiser that served in World War I.
H.M.S.Sirius of 1940 was a Dido-class light cruiser in World War II.
H.M.S.Sirius (F40) of 1966 was a Leander-class frigate in service until 1993.
"Any old shipmates remember the hurricane we hit and lost a member of the watch on deck overboard .I was up in the hanger having some freshes and we released some liferafts but it was hopeless the seas were massive.The ship took a right battering"
