View source for HMS Ariadne (F72)

{{Short description|Type 12I or Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy and Chilean Navy}}
{{other ships|HMS Ariadne}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2014}}
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{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMS Ariadne F72 (Leander-class frigate).jpg
|Ship caption=HMS ''Ariadne''
}}
{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag=[[Image:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|60px|RN Ensign]]
|Ship name=HMS ''Ariadne''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship operator=[[Royal Navy]]
|Ship ordered=
|Ship awarded=
|Ship builder=[[Yarrow Shipbuilders]]
|Ship original cost=
|Ship laid down=1 November 1969
|Ship launched=10 September 1971
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|Ship commissioned=10 February 1973
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|Ship decommissioned= May 1992
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|Ship identification=[[Pennant number]]: F72
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|Ship fate=Sold to Chile, 1992
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{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country=Chile
|Ship flag=[[Image:Flag of Chile.svg|60px|Chilean Naval Ensign]]
|Ship name=''General Baquedano''
|Ship namesake=[[Manuel Baquedano]]
|Ship operator=[[Chilean Navy]]
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|Ship commissioned= 1992
|Ship recommissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=December 1998
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|Ship fate=Sunk as target in 2004
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Ship class={{sclass|Leander|frigate}}
|Ship displacement={{convert|3200|LT|t|0|lk=in|abbr=on}} full load
|Ship length= {{convert|113.4|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|12.5|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draught= {{convert|5.8|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship depth=
|Ship decks=
|Ship propulsion=2 × [[Babcock & Wilcox]] boilers supplying steam to two sets of White-[[English Electric]] double-reduction geared turbines to two shafts
|Ship speed={{convert|28|kn|km/h}}
|Ship range={{convert|4600|nmi|km}} at {{convert|15|kn|km/h}}
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|Ship complement=223
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|Ship armament=*'''As built:'''
* 1 × twin [[QF 4.5-inch Mk I – V naval gun|4.5 inch (114 mm) guns]]
* 1 × quadruple [[Seacat (missile)|Sea Cat]] anti-aircraft missile launchers
* 1 × [[Limbo (weapon)|Limbo anti-submarine mortar]]
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|Ship aircraft=*1 × [[Westland Wasp]] helicopter
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'''HMS ''Ariadne''''' was a [[Leander class frigate|''Leander''-class]] frigate of the [[Royal Navy]]. She was launched in 1971, was sold to Chile in 1992 and sunk as a target hulk in 2004.
==Construction==
''Ariadne'' was one of two ''Leander''-class frigates ordered from [[Yarrow Shipbuilders]] as part of the 1967–68 construction programme for the Royal Navy, the last two ships of the class<ref name="osbornep109">{{Harvnb|Osborne|Sowdon|1990|p=109}}</ref> with the order announced on 29 July 1968.<ref name="jfs71p350">{{Harvnb|Blackman|1971|p=350}}</ref> ''Ariadne'' was [[Keel laying|laid down]] at Yarrow's [[Scotstoun]] shipyard on 1 November 1969,<ref name="jfs71p350"/><ref name="Friedp338">{{Harvnb|Friedman|2008|p=338}}</ref><ref name="Marp94">{{Harvnb|Marriott|1983|p=94}}</ref> and was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 10 September 1971 and completed on 10 February 1973,<ref name="Marp94"/> commissioning on 2 March 1973 at [[HMNB Devonport|Devonport]].<ref name="critp132">{{Harvnb|Critchley|1992|p=132}}</ref> She was the last of the ''Leander'' class to be completed.<ref name="osbornep31">{{Harvnb|Osborne|Sowdon|1990|p=31}}</ref> Like the rest of the ''Leander'' class, she was named after a figure of Greek mythology; [[Ariadne]] was the daughter of [[Minos|King Minos]] of [[Cretan|Crete]].<ref>{{harvnb|Manning|Walker|1959|p=88}}</ref> She was the eighth ship of that name to serve with the Royal Navy.<ref>{{harvnb|Colledge|Warlow|2006|p=20}}</ref>
''Ariadne'' was a Batch 3, "Broad-Beamed" ''Leander'', and as such was {{convert|372|ft|m|1}} long [[length overall|overall]] and {{convert|360|ft|m|1}} [[Waterline length|at the waterline]], with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|43|ft|m|1}} and a maximum [[Draft (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|19|ft|m|1}}. [[Displacement (ship)|Displacement]] was {{convert|2500|LT|t}} standard and {{convert|2962|LT|t}} full load. Two oil-fired boilers fed steam at {{convert|550|psi}} and {{convert|850|F|C}} to a pair of double reduction geared [[steam turbine]]s that in turn drove two propeller shafts, with the machinery rated at {{convert|30000|shp|kW}}, giving a speed of {{convert|28|kn}}. She had a range of {{convert|4000|nmi|mi km}} at {{convert|15|kn|mph km/h}} or {{convert|1000|nmi|mi km}} at top speed.<ref name="osbornep111">{{Harvnb|Osborne|Sowdon|1990|p=111}}</ref>
A twin [[QF 4.5-inch Mk I – V naval gun#Variants|4.5-inch (113 mm) Mark 6]] gun mount was fitted forward. A single [[Sea Cat]] [[surface-to-air missile]] launcher was fitted aft (on the Helicopter hangar roof), while two [[Oerlikon 20mm cannon]] provided close-in defence.  A [[Limbo (weapon)|Limbo]] anti-submarine mortar was fitted aft to provide a short-range anti-submarine capability, while a hangar and helicopter deck allowed a single [[Westland Wasp]] helicopter to be operated, for longer range anti-submarine and anti-surface operations.<ref name="osbornep33-4,6,111">{{Harvnb|Osborne|Sowdon|1990|pp=33–34, 36, 111}}</ref><ref name="Marp79">{{Harvnb|Marriott|1983|p=79}}</ref> ''Ariadne'' was fitted with a large Type 965 long range air search [[radar]] on the ship's mainmast, with a Type 993 short range air/surface target indicating radar and Type 978 navigation radar carried on the ship's foremast. An MRS3 fire control system was carried to direct the 4.5-inch guns.<ref name="osbornep33,35,4">{{Harvnb|Osborne|Sowdon|1990|pp=33, 35, 44}}</ref> The ship had a [[sonar]] suite of Type 184 medium range search sonar, Type 162 bottom search and Type 170 attack sonar, together with a Type 199 [[variable depth sonar]] (VDS).<ref name="osbornep33-4,44">{{Harvnb|Osborne|Sowdon|1990|pp=33–34, 44}}</ref><ref name="Friedp253">{{Harvnb|Friedman|2008|p=253}}</ref> She had a crew of 260 officers and other ranks.<ref name="osbornep111"/>
==Royal Navy==
In the year of her commission, ''Ariadne'' undertook a fishery protection patrol during the [[Second Cod War]] with [[Iceland]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Stanhope |first=Henry |title=British frigates move outside 50-mile limit |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=4 October 1973 |issue=58904 |page=1}}</ref>
From January to October 1974, ''Ariadne'' in company with the guided missile destroyer {{HMS|Fife|D20|2}} (FOF2 embarked), {{HMS|Apollo|F70|2}}, {{HMS|Argonaut|F56|2}}, {{HMS|Danae|F47|2}}, {{HMS|Londonderry|F108|2}} and {{HMS|Scylla |F71|2}} supported by oilers {{ship|RFA |Tidespring|A75|2}} and {{ship|RFA|Tidereach |A96|2}} and the stores ship {{ship|RFA|Tarbatness|A345|2}}, made a nine-month deployment to the Far East, visiting Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Mauritius, South Africa and Gibraltar.<ref>{{harvnb|Roberts|2009|pp=101–102}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Royal Navy Calls at Cape Town |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=29 August 1974 |issue=59178 |page=8}}</ref> ''Ariadne'' participated in the [[Beira Patrol]]. She also refuelled from an old oiler permanently moored at Gan in the Indian Ocean. Between 1975 and 1976 she was commanded by Captain [[Benjamin Bathurst (Royal Navy officer)|Benjamin Bathurst]].
In 1976, ''Ariadne'' completed a refit at [[HMNB Devonport|Devonport]],<ref name="critp132"/> and the following year took part in the annual group deployment, visiting a variety of ports in [[South America]] and [[West Africa]], as well as performing naval exercises.
In 1977, ''Galatea'' also took part in the [[Fleet Review, Royal Navy|Fleet Review]], in honour of [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II's]] [[Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Silver Jubilee]]. ''Ariadne'' was part of the [[7th Frigate Squadron]].<ref>Official Souvenir Programme, 1977. ''Silver Jubilee Fleet Review'', HMSO</ref> Following the Silver Jubilee Review, ''Ariadne'' was appointed guardship at [[Belize]].<ref name="nn190">{{cite news |title=Ships of the Royal Navy: No. 409: Ariadne's Starring Role |newspaper=[[Navy News]] |date=January 1990 |p=5 |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/images/navynews/archivepdfs/1990s/1990/navy-news-january-1990-issue-426.pdf |access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref> From May to August 1979, ''Ariadne'' served as part of [[Standing Naval Force Atlantic]] (STANAVFORLANT), a [[NATO]] multi-national squadron.<ref name="critp132"/>
''Ariadne'' was intended for modernisation, which would have included the removal of her one 4.5-in Mk.6 gun, which would have been replaced by the [[Exocet]] anti-ship missile, as well as the addition of the [[Sea Wolf missile]], but the 1981 [[Defence Review]] by the defence minister [[John Nott]], cancelled the modernisation for ''Ariadne'' and other Batch III ''Leander''-class frigates. In 1981 ''Ariadne'' became the [[Standing Royal Navy deployments#Atlantic Patrol Tasking North|West Indies Guard Ship]] and, while there, performed a variety of duties in that region.
In 1983 she shadowed the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] cruiser [[Soviet cruiser Slava (1979)|''Slava'']]. It was a common practice during the [[Cold War]], with Soviet warships quite often shadowing Royal Navy vessels in return. In 1987 ''Ariadne'' joined the [[List of squadrons and flotillas of the Royal Navy#Frigates|6th Frigate Squadron]].
[[File:HMS Ariadne (F72) off Yorktown in 1981.JPEG|thumb|right|HMS ''Ariadne'' off Yorktown, Virginia, in 1981]]
''Ariadne'' came out of refit in [[Rosyth Dockyard]], [[Fife, Scotland]] in 1989 and replaced  {{HMS|Juno|F52|6}} in the Dartmouth Training Squadron.
In 1990, in consort with HM ships {{HMS|Bristol|D23|2}} and {{HMS|Minerva|F45|2}}, she took part in ''Endeavour '90'', a six-month [[circumnavigation]] of the globe. During this deployment she travelled 32,000 miles.<ref>{{cite news |title=Around the world with Endeavour 90: Dartmouth Training Squadron on Patrol |newspaper=[[Navy News]] |date=September 1990 |page=13 |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/images/navynews/archivepdfs/1990s/1990/navy-news-september-1990-issue-434.pdf |access-date=12 August 2024}}</ref> Between 1988 and 1990 she was commanded by Commander [[Adrian Johns]].
''Ariadne'' was formally adopted by Scunthorpe Borough Council on 8 March 1973. The ship's anchor is still located outside the now North Lincolnshire Council's main administrative Civic Centre, and the ship's bell is situated outside the council chamber inside the Civic Centre.
==Chilean Navy==
''Ariadne'' was finally decommissioned by the Royal Navy in May 1992 and was subsequently sold to [[Chile]], being renamed ''General Baquedano''. She was decommissioned from the [[Chilean Navy]] in December 1998 and sunk as target in 2004.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|editor-last=Blackman |editor-first=Raymond V. B. |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1971–72|year=1971 |publisher=Sampson Low Marston & Co., Ltd|location=London |isbn=0-354-00096-9}}
*{{Cite Colledge2006}}
*{{cite book|last=Critchley |first=Mike |title=British Warships Since 1945: Part 5: Frigates|year=1992| publisher=Maritime Press|location=Liskeard, UK|isbn=0-907771-13-0}}
*{{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Destroyers & Frigates: The Second World War and After|year=2008|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-84832-015-4}}
* {{cite book |last1=Manning |first1=T. D. |last2=Walker |first2=C. F. |title=British Warship Names |year=1959 |location=London |publisher=Putnam}}
* {{cite book|last=Marriott|first=Leo|year=1983 |title=Royal Navy Frigates 1945–1983|publisher=Ian Allan Ltd|location=Shepperton, Surrey, UK |isbn= 0-7110-1322-5}}
*{{cite book|last1=Osborne|first1=Richard|last2=Sowdon|first2=David |title=Leander Class Frigates |year=1990 |publisher = World Ships Society |location= Kendal, UK | isbn=0-905617-56-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Roberts |first=John |title=Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy |year=2009 |location=Annapolis, Maryland, US |publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=978-1-59114-812-8}}
{{Leander class frigate}}
{{Chilean frigates (Modern Era)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ariadne (F72)}}
[[Category:Leander-class frigates]]
[[Category:1971 ships]]
[[Category:Leander-class frigates of the Chilean Navy]]
[[Category:Ships sunk as targets]]