1979    

UK Exocet Leander class

UK Leander class

Frigate

ships



Units shown below are those which were not further modified from the initial Exocet fit (see Towed Array Exocet Leander). Conversions below to Exocet operation began with HMS Minerva in Dec 1975 and completed when HMS Penelope returned to service in 1981.



  Specifications


230crew

4Missile Launcher MM38 Exocet single launcher




helicopter   Aircraft


Typical Max
UK Royal Navy Westland Wasp 11
EC Ecuadorian Navy Bell 206 01









  Shipyards


UK HMD Devonport - Devonport1
UK Vickers-Armstrong - High Walker2



  List of Ships


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19631991UKRoyal NavyF127HMS PenelopeGHWM - PN
19912008 EC Ecuadorian Navy FM01 BAE Presidente Eloy Alfaro
19661992UKRoyal NavyF45HMS MinervaGNZU - MV
19671991UKRoyal NavyF47HMS DanaeGQDA - DN
19912008 EC Ecuadorian Navy FM02 BAE Morán Valverde



3 units



  Events


1959OrderedOrdered UK F127 HMS Penelope as Type 61 Cathedral Class HMS Coventry
1961-mar-14Laid downLaid down UK F127 HMS Penelope Yard No 165
1962-aug-17LaunchedLaunched UK F127 HMS Penelope
1963-jul-25Laid downLaid down UK F45 HMS Minerva Yard No 179
1963-oct-31CommissionedCommissioned UK F127 HMS Penelope with deck letters PE
1964-jan-16AircraftAircraft UK F127 HMS Penelope assigned 700W Sq Wasp XS534/184-PE and transferred as XS534/454-PE when 829 Sq formed in Mar 1964, until Oct 1966
1964-aug-01DeploymentDeployment UK F127 HMS Penelope present at Plymouth Navy Days 1964
1964-dec-16Laid downLaid down UK F47 HMS Danae
1964-dec-19LaunchedLaunched UK F45 HMS Minerva
1965-augDeploymentDeployment UK F127 HMS Penelope present at Plymouth Navy Days 1965
1965-oct-31LaunchedLaunched UK F47 HMS Danae
1966-apr-15CommissionedCommissioned UK F45 HMS Minerva known informally as the Mighty Min
1966-aug-27 UK F47 HMS Danae present at Plymouth Navy Days 1966
1966-novRefitRefit UK F127 HMS Penelope Sea Wolf refit for Seawolf trials
1967-jun-23TrialsTrials UK F127 HMS Penelope became Seawolf trials ship
1967-sepAircraftAircraft UK F47 HMS Danae assigned 829 NAS Wasp HAS.1 XT415 as Danae Flt/464, until Sep 1969
1967-sep-07CommissionedCommissioned UK F47 HMS Danae
1967-oct-10TrialsTrials UK F47 HMS Danae trials and work-up around Portland
1967-novDeploymentDeployment UK F45 HMS Minerva part of Task Force 318 to cover the British withdrawal from Aden during Operation Magister.
1967-decDeploymentDeployment UK F45 HMS Minerva Beira Patrol off Mozambique, for sanctions enforcement
1968-sepAircraftAircraft UK F45 HMS Minerva assigned 829 Sq Wasp HAS.1 XT424 as Minerva Flt /424, until c Sep 1969
1968-oct-18DeploymentDeployment UK F47 HMS Danae departed HMNB Devonport for 13 month Far East and Australasian deployment, returned 2 Oct 1969.
1968-decDeploymentDeployment UK F47 HMS Danae Beira Patrol off Mozambique Channel, enforcing UN sanctions.
1969-feb-28Port VisitPort Visit UK F47 HMS Danae visit to Auckland, NZ, departed on 10 Mar
1969-mar-19DeploymentDeployment UK F45 HMS Minerva Operation Sheepskin ordered to Anguilla, after collecting parts of 2 PARA flown from the UK to the Caribbean. Operated in company with HMS Rothesay.
1969-aug-11DeploymentDeployment UK F47 HMS Danae Beira Patrol off Mozambique Channel, enforcing UN sanctions until 18 Aug.
1969-sep-06AircraftAircraft UK F47 HMS Danae Wasp XT415/464 ditched after engine failure off Cape Town. Float bags deployed and airframe recovered. To Fleetlands by Oct 1969.
1969-novAircraftAircraft UK F45 HMS Minerva assigned 829 Sq Wasp HAS.1 XT788 as /424-MV by Nov 1969 until c Aug 1975
1969-nov-23Port VisitPort Visit UK F47 HMS Danae 3 day visit to Hugh Town, Isles of Scilly, departed on 26 Nov.
1970-feb-12Port VisitPort Visit UK F47 HMS Danae visited Lisbon, until 16 Feb 1970
1970-aug-29Port VisitPort Visit UK F47 HMS Danae Ship open to visitors at Plymouth Navy Days 1970.
1971-aug-28Port VisitPort Visit UK F127 HMS Penelope Ship open to visitors at Plymouth Navy Days 1971.
1972DeploymentDeployment UK F47 HMS Danae Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea deployment.
1972-marRefitRefit UK F45 HMS Minerva at HMD Chatham, until Jul 1972
1973-feb-12DeploymentDeployment UK F45 HMS Minerva departed HMNB Devonport for 6 month Caribbean deployment, returning to HMNB Portsmouth 28 Aug 1973.
1973-mayAircraftAircraft UK F47 HMS Danae assigned 829 NAS Wasp HAS.1 XS572 as Danae Flt/477, until c Apr 1977
1974-janDeploymentDeployment UK F47 HMS Danae departed UK as escort to HMS Fife, Flagship of Task Group 317.1 for 9 month Indian Ocean and Australia group deployment in company with HMS Apollo, HMS Argonaut, HMS Ariadne and HMS Londonderry, supported by RFA Tarbatness. Returned to HMNB Devonport on 4 Oct.
1975-novDeploymentDeployment UK F47 HMS Danae participated in large NATO exercise in NE Atlantic and Norwegian Sea.
1975-decRefitRefit UK F45 HMS Minerva MM38 Exocet single launcher Conversion to Exocet began at HMD Chatham, completed Mar 1979
1976-aprAircraftAircraft UK F47 HMS Danae took Arethusa Flt Wasp HAS.1 XT437 on loan until May
1977-janDeploymentDeployment UK F47 HMS Danae departed HMNB Devonport with 7th Frigate Squadron for South Atlantic deployment. Returned 23 May.
1977-jun-25DeploymentDeployment UK F47 HMS Danae Fleet Review: Silver Jubilee of HM The Queen Present at Silver Jubilee Fleet Review (7th Frigate Squadron), off Browndown
1977-aug-01RefitRefit UK F47 HMS Danae MM38 Exocet single launcher Conversion to Exocet began, completed 1980
1977-aug-27 UK F47 HMS Danae present at Plymouth Navy Days 1977, in refit
1978-janRefitRefit UK F127 HMS Penelope MM38 Exocet single launcher Conversion to Exocet and Lynx operations began, completed Jan 1981, deck letters PN
1981-aug-29Port VisitPort Visit UK F47 HMS Danae Ship open to visitors at Plymouth Navy Days 1981
1982-janAircraftAircraft UK F127 HMS Penelope assigned 815 Sq Lynx HAS.2 XZ730 / 454-PN, until 3 Apr 1982, when it was transferred to HMS Minerva
1982-apr-03AircraftAircraft UK F45 HMS Minerva transferred 815 Sq Lynx XZ730 in from HMS Penelope, via Hercules from Yeovilton and onward relay by RFA Fort Austin to the South Atlantic, although the transfer never materialised with XZ730 going to HMS Arrow on 17 Apr.
1982-apr-24AircraftAircraft UK F127 HMS Penelope assigned 815 Sq Lynx HAS.2 XZ691 / (454) until c Jul 1982
1982-may-10DeploymentDeployment UK F45 HMS Minerva Operation Corporate Departed HMNB Devonport for South Atlantic as part of Bristol Group. Relieved HMS Argonaut as Anti-Air Warfare Command. Relieved by HMS Penelope in Port William on 14 Jul, leaving theatre on 15 Jul.
1982-may-10DeploymentDeployment UK F127 HMS Penelope Operation Corporate Departed HMNB Devonport for South Atlantic as part of Bristol Group, leaving theatre on 23 Aug 1982.
1982-may-10AircraftAircraft UK F45 HMS Minerva Following the postponement of her planned refit in Apr, after a series of complex aircraft swaps, HMS Minerva 815 NAS 210 Flt eventually embarked Sea Skua equipped Lynx XZ698 (/424, but not worn ?) on 10 May.
1982-augDeploymentDeployment UK F47 HMS Danae to South Atlantic, patrolling the Falklands and escort for HMS Illustrious, on station
1982-nov-22DeploymentDeployment UK F45 HMS Minerva Struck HMS Yarmouth in stern, off Portland.
1982-nov-29DeploymentDeployment UK F45 HMS Minerva assigned to 815 Squadron
Deployed to South Atlantic from HMNB Devonport on 29 Nov, with Lynx HAS.2 XZ698 / 424-MV embarked. Returned 24 Mar 1983 and Lynx flown off to Portland on 25 Mar.
1985DeploymentDeployment UK F47 HMS Danae to South Atlantic, patrolling the Falklands
1985-julDeploymentDeployment UK F127 HMS Penelope Deployed to South Atlantic patrol with HMS Amazon. Visits to South Georgia and Falkland Islands ports. Nov 85: Relieved by HM ships Danae and Avenger. Visits to St Vincent and Antigua on return leg back to UK, arriving at Devonport just prior to Christmas 1985.
1986-jan UK F127 HMS Penelope into reserve, until Sep 1986
1987 UK F47 HMS Danae NATO Standing Naval Forces Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT). Included visits to Azores, Bermuda, Halifax (Canada), Baltimore
1988DeploymentDeployment UK F127 HMS Penelope during Ex Teamwork 88, collided with HMCS Provider sustaining damage on port side
1989-aug-28DeploymentDeployment UK F47 HMS Danae present at Plymouth Navy Days 1989
1990-jan-15DeploymentDeployment UK F45 HMS Minerva departed for a 6 month round the world Endeavour 90 training cruise, escorting HMS Bristol (flagship) and in company with HMS Ariadne, as part of the Dartmouth Training Squadron. Returned to HMNB Devonport on 13 Jul.
1990-julDeploymentDeployment UK F47 HMS Danae departed HMNB Devonport for 5 month South Atlantic deployment, returning Dec 1990 after being relieved by HMS Cumberland.
1991DecommissionedDecommissioned UK F47 HMS Danae
1991-aprFate: transferedFate: transfered UK F127 HMS Penelope to Ecuador as Presidente Eloy Alfaro
1991-may-25Fate: transferedFate: transfered EC FM01 BAE Presidente Eloy Alfaro ex UK RN HMS Penelope (F127)
1991-julFate: transferedFate: transfered UK F47 HMS Danae to Ecuador as Moran Valverde
1991-julFate: transferedFate: transfered EC FM02 BAE Morán Valverde to Ecuador, ex UK RN HMS Danae (F47)
1992-marDecommissionedDecommissioned UK F45 HMS Minerva
1993Fate: scrappedFate: scrapped UK F45 HMS Minerva
2008-mar-19DecommissionedDecommissioned EC FM01 BAE Presidente Eloy Alfaro
2008-oct-15DecommissionedDecommissioned EC FM02 BAE Morán Valverde









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