Timeline
| Date | |
|---|---|
| 1958 | as Rothesay Class, HMS Hastings |
| Feb 12, 1959 | |
| Dec 22, 1961 | delayed by poor visibility, by a day after the naming ceremony |
| Sep 18, 1963 | |
| Sep 10, 1967 | Simons Town SANEX |
| May 16, 1969 | Fleet Review at Spithead |
| Aug 1970 | departed UK for Far East deployment, returned Aug 1971 |
| Aug 12, 1970 | Lost ships flight Wasp HAS.1 XT789 in accident near Mull of Kintyre. Accident |
| Jun 8, 1973 | departed HMNB Portsmouth as escort for HMS Tiger, Flagship for Far East group deployment of Task Group 317.1, in company with HMS Hermione and HMS Rhyl. The group was supported by RFA Regent and RFA Tidespring, until it returned to the UK on 21 Dec 1973. |
| Jul 1975 | Commenced Ikara refit, completed 1978 Ikara |
| May 8, 1979 | departed HMNB Devonport in company with HMS Arrow. Joined up in English Channel with HMS Norfolk, Flagship of Task Group 317.8 for a 6.5 month Indian Ocean and Far East group deployment. Other units of the Portsmouth group were HMS Achilles, HMS Arethusa, HMS Falmouth, RFA Black Rover, RFA Olmeda and RFA Regent. Returned to Devonport on 14 Dec 1978. |
| Aug 29, 1981 | HMD Devonport Ship open to visitors at Plymouth Navy Days 1981 Navy Days 1981 |
| 1982 | |
| Jul 1983 | ex RN HMS Dido, to New Zealand as HMNZS Southland |