HMS Andromeda (F57)

Andromeda was one of three Leander-class frigates ordered on 12 January 1965, the other two being {{HMS|Hermione|F58|2}} and {{HMS|Jupiter|F60|2}}.Osborne and Sowdon 1990, p. 37. She was laid down at HMNB Portsmouth on 25 May 1966,Blackman 1971, p. 350.Friedman 2009, p. 338.Marriott 1983, p. 94. launched on 24 May 1967 and commissioned on 2 December 1968 with the Pennant number F57.Osborne and Sowdon 1990, p. 109.

File:HMS Andromeda, 1967 (2) (IWM).jpg

Andromeda was a Batch 3, "Broad-Beamed" Leander, and as such was {{convert|372|ft|m|1}} long overall and {{convert|360|ft|m|1}} at the waterline, with a beam of {{convert|43|ft|m|1}} and a maximum draught of {{convert|19|ft|m|1}}. 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 turbines that in turn drove two propeller shafts, with the machinery rated at {{convert|30000|shp|kW}}, giving a speed of {{convert|28|kn}}.Osborne and Sowdon 1990, p. 111.

A twin 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 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.Osborne and Sowdon 1990, pp. 33–34, 36, 111.Marriott 1983, p. 79.

As built, Andromeda 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.Osborne and Sowden 1990, pp. 33, 35, 44. 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).Osborne and Sowdon 1990, pp. 33–34, 44.Friedman 2009, p. 253.{{#tag:ref|The VDS was later removed and its well plated over.Osborne and Sowden 1990, p. 43.|group=lower-alpha}}

Between 1977 and 1980, Andromeda underwent a major reconstruction, in which the ship's armament and sensors were greatly revised. The 4.5 inch gun turret, Sea Cat launcher and Limbo anti submarine mortar were removed, with a sextuple Sea Wolf surface-to-air missile launcher and four Exocet missiles fitted forward. Two triple STWS-1 {{convert|324|mm|in|adj=on}} torpedo tubes allowed anti-submarine torpedoes to be launched, while the ship's hangar and flight deck was enlarged to allow a Westland Lynx helicopter to be carried instead of the smaller Wasp. A completely new radar outfit was fitted, with a Type 967 air-search radar and a Type 968 low-level air warning and surface search radar fitted back to back on the ship's foremast, and with a Type 1006 navigation radar fitted lower down on the ship's foremast. A Type 2016 long-range search sonar replaced the Type 184 sonar, while the Type 162 bottom search sonar was retained.Osborne and Sowdon 1990, pp. 79–80, 111.Marriott 1983, pp. 84, 86, 88. Displacement increased to {{convert|2790|LT|t}} standard and {{convert|3300|LT|t}} full load, while speed dropped to {{convert|25|kn}}.Prézelin and Baker 1990, p. 714.

In 1969, Andromeda was deployed to the Persian Gulf and Far East as leader of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, taking part in the Beira Patrol, a deployment that was used to prevent oil reaching Rhodesia via Mozambique. On 1 June 1970, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker {{ship|RFA|Ennerdale|A213|6}}, on her way to refuel Andromeda, struck an uncharted pinnacle of rock off the Seychelles, and sank. Andromeda was the first ship on the scene of the accident, and helped to rescue the crew of Ennerdale, the wreck of which was later destroyed by explosives.Osborne and Sowdon 1990, p. 46.Critchley 1992, p. 127.{{cite web|url=http://www.historicalrfa.org/index.php/rfa-ennerdale-ship-information|title=RFA Ennerdale|publisher=Historical RFA|access-date=28 May 2012|archive-date=27 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927012829/http://www.historicalrfa.org/index.php/rfa-ennerdale-ship-information|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Obituaries: Captain David Smith|publisher=The Telegraph|date=31 March 2013|access-date=1 May 2015 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/naval-obituaries/9964078/Captain-David-Smith.html}} Later that year, Andromeda returned to European waters. On 23 October 1970, the Liberian-flagged tanker {{MV|Pacific Glory||2}} collided with the tanker {{MV|Allegro||2}} off the Isle of Wight and caught fire with 13 killed aboard Pacific Glory. The blazing Pacific Glory ran aground on 24 October, and Andromeda took part in the large scale clean up operation.{{cite web|title=The Pacific Glory|work=Isle of Wight History & Nostalgia|url=http://wightheritage.co.uk/the-pacific-glory/|access-date=1 May 2016|archive-date=2 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602090031/http://wightheritage.co.uk/the-pacific-glory/|url-status=dead}} On 9 October 1970, Andromeda and her helicopter went to the aid of the tug RMAS Samsonia which had suffered a mechanical breakdown when towing the landing ship {{HMS|Stalker|L3515|2}} in bad weather through the Pentland Firth.{{cite web|last=Mason|first=Geoffrey B. |title=Chronology, Part 3 - 1961–70|work=Royal Navy post-World War 2 |url=https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Ops-Events1961-70.htm |publisher=Naval-history.net|date=10 July 2011 |access-date= 2 May 2016}} In 1971 she was present at Portsmouth Navy Days.Programme, Navy Days Portsmouth, 29–31 August 1971, p13. In August 1971 she joined the 6th Frigate Squadron as leader.{{cite web|last=Mackie|first=Colin |title=Royal Navy Senior Appointments, 1865– |work=Colin Mackie's website: British Armed Forces (1860-)| url=https://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201865-.pdf|access-date=1 May 2016}}

{{Main|Cod Wars}}

In 1973, Andromeda took part in the Second Cod War, patrolling to intervene in case of interference on British fishing by Icelandic vessels. On 11 August 1973, Andromeda was rammed by the Icelandic gunboat {{Ship|ICGV|Óðinn||2}}. The following year, Andromeda had to evacuate British civilians from the Mediterranean island of Cyprus after Turkey had invaded it. In 1975, during the Third Cod War, the Icelandic gunboat {{Ship|ICGV|Týr||2}} rammed Andromeda on 28 December, damaging her guardrail and a chaff launcher. On 7 January 1976, Andromeda was involved in another ramming, this time with the gunboat Þór. Both warships were damaged, with Andromeda receiving a {{convert|12|ft|m}} dent as a result of this collision, and had to return to Devonport for repairs.Osborne and Sowdon 1990, p. 47.{{cite web|title=On This Day 1950–2005: 7 January: 1976: Iceland and Britain clash at sea|publisher=BBC|year=2008 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/7/newsid_2506000/2506347.stm |access-date=1 May 2016}}

File:SS Canberra & HMS Andromeda Falklands 1982.jpg]]

In 1977, Andromeda took part in the Fleet Review of the Royal Navy, during the Silver Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II.{{cite book|title=Silver Jubilee Fleet Review: Official Souvenir Programme|year=1977|url=http://www.axfordsabode.org.uk/pdf-docs/slvrjuble1.pdf|page=3|access-date=1 May 2016}} Between November 1977 and December 1980, Andromeda underwent modernisation, including the addition of Exocet and Sea Wolf missiles at Devonport dockyard. Andromeda took part in the Falklands War in 1982, returning to the United Kingdom from a deployment in the Western Atlantic in April 1982, before sailing for the South Atlantic as part of the 'Bristol Group', entering the Total Exclusion Zone on 25 May. She mainly acted as a close-escort for the aircraft carrier {{HMS|Invincible|R05|2}}, receiving no damage during the war. After visiting South Georgia in August, she sailed for home, reaching Devonport on 10 September.Marriott 1983, p. 90.Burden et al. 1986, p. 428.

In the subsequent years of the 1980s, Andromeda performed a number of varied duties, patrolling the Persian Gulf on Armilla Patrol, and deployments to the Falklands and West Indies. In late summer of 1984, Andromeda docked at Baltimore Harbor in the US for 10 days, on her way from the Falklands back home to England.

Armilla deployment 1983. Ports visited included Djibouti, Cochin, Singapore, Mombasa, Mauritius, Reunion and the Maldives

Falklands 1984

Armilla deployment 1985. Ports visited included Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Mombasa and Gibraltar.

Between 1990 and 1991, Andromeda underwent a refit. She was decommissioned two-years later. Andromeda was sold to the Indian Navy in 1995, where she was commissioned as the training ship, INS Krishna. Her armament had been reduced to two Bofors 40 mm guns and two Oerlikon 20 mm cannons.

Krishna was decommissioned on 24 May 2012 at Mumbai, 44 years to the day after her launch.{{cite web|url=http://www.kemmannu.com/index.php?action=highlights&type=3256|title= INS Krishna, one of Indian Navy's 1st Training Squadron Ships, decommissioned|publisher=kemmannu.com|access-date=28 May 2012}} The ship was sunk in the Bay of Bengal for target practice by Indian Navy ships.{{cite news| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/INS-Krishna-to-make-its-last-voyage/article13368592.ece| title = INS Krishna to make its last voyage| newspaper = The Hindu| date = 16 January 2012| publisher = The Hindu Times| access-date = 5 November 2020}}

{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|HMS Andromeda (F57)}}

• {{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 book|last1=Burden|first1=Rodney A.|last2=Draper |first2=Michael I. |last3=Rough |first3=Douglas A. |last4=Smith |first4=Colin R. |last5=Wilton |first5=David |title=Falklands: The Air War| year=1986 |publisher=British Aviation Research Group |isbn=0-906339-05-7}}
• {{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|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|editor1-last=Prézelin |editor1-first=Bernard|editor2=A.D. Baker III|title=The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1990/1991|year=1990|publisher= Naval Institute Press|location= Annapolis, Maryland, USA |isbn=0-87021-250-8}}

{{Leander class frigate}}

{{Falklands War British ships}}

{{Frigates of the Indian Navy}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Andromeda (F57)}}

Category:Leander-class frigates

Krishna

Category:Ships of the Fishery Protection Squadron of the United Kingdom

Category:Falklands War naval ships of the United Kingdom

Category:1967 ships

Category:Ships built in Portsmouth

Category:Ships sunk as targets