HMS Ajax (F114)
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HMS Ajax underway
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History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name | HMS Ajax |
Builder | Cammell Laird |
Laid down | 12 October 1959 |
Launched | 16 August 1962 |
Commissioned | 10 December 1963 |
Decommissioned | 31 May 1985 |
Identification | Pennant number: F114 |
Nickname(s) | White tornado[citation needed] |
Fate | Scrapped 1988 |
Badge | |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Leander-class frigate |
Displacement |
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Length | 372 ft (113 m) |
Beam | 41 ft (12 m) |
Draught | 18 ft (5 m) |
Propulsion |
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Speed | 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
Range | 5,300 nmi (9,800 km; 6,100 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
Complement | 251 as built, 257 after Ikara refit |
Armament |
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Aircraft carried | 1 × Wasp helicopter |
HMS Ajax was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was built by the famous Cammell Laird company of Birkenhead. Ajax was launched on 16 August 1962 and commissioned on 10 December 1963. She was originally intended to be named HMS Fowey, and laid down as a Rothesay class, but instead became part of Batch 1 of the Leander class.
Construction
Ajax was built by
The ship was 372 feet (113.4 m) long
A twin
As built, Ajax was fitted with a large Type 965 long range air search
Service history
In 1964, Ajax deployed to the Far East, becoming the leader of the 24th Escort Group. It was a long deployment, and she did not return to the UK until 1968.[9] Activities included taking part in the Beira Patrol, covering the withdrawal of British forces from operations off Aden, and acting as guardship for Hong Kong.[10] In 1970, Ajax became the Gibraltar guard ship,[9] a required deployment at that time due to the tense fears of invasion by General Franco.
In September 1970, Ajax began a modernisation at Devonport Dockyard that lasted until 1973,[9] having her 4.5-inch gun turret replaced by an Ikara anti-submarine missile system. A pair of quadruple GWS22 SeaCat launchers were fitted aft while the two Bofors guns were retained but moved forward to abreast the ship's mainmast. The Limbo anti-submarine mortar and Wasp helicopter were retained. The long-range Type 965 radar was removed, with improved navigation and target indicating radars fitted, and the ADAWS 5 computer-aided combat direction system added to direct Ikara operations, while the Type 199 VDS was restored.[11][12]
Following her conversion she became leader of the
In 1977, Ajax underwent a refit at Devonport Dockyard,
Fate
She was decommissioned 31 May 1985, then replaced HMS Salisbury as a static training ship at Devonport. On 3 August 1988, Ajax arrived at Millom, Cumbria to be broken up.
Her anchor is now located at the local Royal Canadian Legion Branch (Hunt Street) and bell hangs in the Ajax Town Council Chamber in Ajax, Ontario.
Commanding officers
From | To | Captain |
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1963 | 1965 | Captain The Hon D P Seely RN
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1965 | 1966 | Captain Gordon Tait DSC RN |
1966 | 1968 | Captain George A de G Kitchin RN |
1968 | 1969 | Captain David Hepworth RN |
1969 | 1970 | Captain Harry R Keate RN |
1970 | 1973 | Refit (Ikara Conversion) |
1973 | 1974 | Captain Richard J Bates RN |
1974 | 1976 | Captain David J MacKenzie RN |
1976 | 1977 | Captain Robert Squires RN |
1977 | 1978 | Captain Peter Cobb RN |
1978 | 1980 | Captain M J F Rawlinson RN |
1980 | 1981 | Captain Timothy M. Bevan RN |
1981 | 1983 | Captain Jeremy Michael Porter RN |
1983 | 1984 | Captain Peter Abbott RN |
1984 | 1985 | Captain John F S Trinder RN |
References
- ^ Osborne and Sowdon 1990, pp. 32, 109, 112.
- ^ Osborne and Sowdon 1990, p. 33.
- ^ Osborne and Sowdon 1990, pp. 36, 109.
- ^ Osborne and Sowdon 1990, p. 111.
- ^ Osborne and Sowdon 1990, pp. 33–34.
- ^ Osborne and Sowden 1990, pp. 33, 35.
- ^ Osborne and Sowdon 1990, pp. 33–34, 112.
- ^ Marriott 1983, p. 79.
- ^ a b c d e Critchley 1986, p. 116.
- ^ "Ajax Home After Four Years Abroad". Navy News. March 1968. p. 7. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ Osborne and Sowdon 1990, pp. 55–57, 111.
- ^ Marriott 1986, pp. 80, 82.
- ^ Mackie, Colin. "I: Royal Navy Senior Appointments". British Armed Forces (1900–). p. 187. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
- ^ Osborne and Sowdon 1990, p. 60.
- ^ Mackie, Colin. "II: Royal Navy- Captains Commanding Warships". British Armed Forces (1900–). Retrieved 19 January 2014.
Publications
- ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
- Critchley, Mike (1986). British Warships Since 1945: Part 5 Frigates. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. ISBN 0-907771-13-0.
- Marriott, Leo (1983). Royal Navy Frigates 1945–1983. Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1322-5.
- Osborne, Richard; Sowdon, David (1990). Leander Class Frigates. Kendal, UK: World Ships Society. ISBN 0-905617-56-8.