View source for HMS Apollo (F70)

{{short description|Type 12I or Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy and Pakistan Navy}}
{{other ships|HMS Apollo}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2008}}
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|Ship image=HMS Apollo 1976 SMB-2008.jpg
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|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name=HMS ''Apollo''
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|Ship builder=[[Yarrow Shipbuilders]]
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|Ship laid down=1 May 1969
|Ship launched=15 October 1970
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|Ship commissioned=28 May 1972
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|Ship decommissioned= 31 August 1988
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|Ship identification=[[Pennant number]]: F70
|Ship fate=Sold to Pakistan, 1988
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|Ship country=Pakistan
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Pakistan|naval}}
|Ship name=PNS ''Zulfiqar''
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|Ship commissioned= 1988
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|Ship decommissioned=29 October 2006
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|Ship identification=[[Pennant number]]: F262
|Ship fate=Sunk as target, 12 March 2010
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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}}
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|Ship draught= {{convert|5.8|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
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|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=
* 1 × twin [[QF 4.5 inch naval gun|4.5 inch (114 mm) guns]]
* 1 × quadruple [[Sea Cat missile|Sea Cat]] anti-aircraft missile launchers
* 1 × [[Limbo (weapon)|Limbo anti-submarine mortar]]
|Ship aircraft=*1 × [[Westland Wasp]] helicopter
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'''HMS ''Apollo''''' was a batch 3B broadbeam {{sclass|Leander|frigate|1}} of the [[Royal Navy]]. She was, like the rest of the class, named after [[Apollo|a figure of mythology]]. ''Apollo'' was built by [[Yarrow Shipbuilders]] of [[Scotstoun]]. She was launched on 15 October 1970 and commissioned on 28 May 1972, making her the penultimate ''Leander''.

Both ''Apollo'' and ''Ariadne'' are easily distinguished from the other ''Leander''s by their 'witches hat' – fitted to the top of the foremast as a part of the electronic warfare array.

==Construction==
''Apollo'' was one of two ''Leander''-class frigates ordered on 29 July 1968 for the Royal Navy under the 1967–68 construction programme, the other being {{HMS|Ariadne|F72|2}} and were the last two ''Leander''s built for the Royal Navy.<ref name="Leander p47,109">{{Harvnb|Osborne | Sowdon|1990| p=37}}</ref><ref name="jfs71 p350">{{Harvnb|Blackman|1971|p=350}}</ref> She was [[keel laying|laid down]] at [[Yarrow Shipbuilders]]' [[Scotstoun]], [[Glasgow]] shipyard on 1 May 1969<ref name="Fried p338">{{Harvnb|Friedman|2008|p= 338}}</ref><ref name="Mar p94">{{Harvnb|Marriott|1983|p= 94}}</ref><ref name="jfs71 p350"/> as [[Yard number]] 1002.<ref name="Leander p112">{{Harvnb|Osborne | Sowdon|1990|p=112}}</ref> She was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 15 October 1970 and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 10 June 1972 with the [[Pennant number]] ''F70''.<ref name="Leander p109">{{Harvnb|Osborne|Sowdon|1990|p=109}}</ref>

''Apollo'' 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}}.<ref name="Leander p111">{{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="Leander p33-4,6, 111">{{Harvnb|Osborne|Sowdon|1990|pp= 33–34, 36, 111}}</ref><ref name="Mar p79">{{Harvnb|Marriott|1983|p=79}}</ref>

''Apollo'' 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="Leander p33,35,4">{{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.<ref name="Leander p33-4, 42">{{Harvnb|Osborne|Sowdon|1990|pp= 33–34, 42}}.</ref><ref name="Fried p253">{{Harvnb|Friedman|2008| p= 253}}</ref>
[[File:HMS Apollo Plaque.jpg|thumb|Ship's plaque presented to visitors.]]

==Royal Navy service==

''Apollo'' saw her first action during the [[Second Cod War]] in 1973, during the fishing disputes with [[Iceland]], when ''Apollo'', while on a fishery protection patrol, was in collision with the Icelandic gunboat {{ship|ICGV|Ægir}} on 29 August 1973. One Icelandic engineer died later while welding a plate on ''Ægir''{{'}}s damaged hull, the only recorded fatality of the Cod Wars.<ref name="critchv5 p132">{{Harvnb|Critchley|1986|p=132}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Þorskastríðin þrjú|last=Jóhannesson|first=Guðni Th.|author-link=Guðni Th. Jóhannesson|year=2006|pages=100}}</ref>

In January 1977 the UK extended its territorial waters from 12 miles to 200 miles to create an [[exclusive economic zone]] for fishery rights. ''Apollo'' took turns with other frigates to police the [[North Sea]] pending the introduction into service of the {{sclass2|Island|patrol vessel|0}} fishery protection vessels.

In 1977, ''Apollo'' took part in the last [[Fleet Review]] of the Royal Navy so far, in celebration of [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]]'s Silver Jubilee. As captain of the Second Frigate Squadron, ''Apollo'' was responsible for anchorages of all warships at the Royal Fleet Review. In recognition of this work, the admiralty awarded the ship four rather than two 1977 QEII Silver Jubilee Medals. ''Apollo'' was positioned between {{HMS|Hardy|F54|6}} and {{HMS|Salisbury|F32|6}}.<ref>Official Souvenir Programme, 1977. ''Silver Jubilee Fleet Review'', HMSO</ref>

''Apollo'' was intended to be modernised, (probably involving removal of her one 4.5-inch twin gun, which would have been replaced by the [[Exocet]] anti-ship missile and [[Sea Wolf (missile)|Sea Wolf]] anti-aircraft missiles, but possibly also involving fitting of a towed array sonar), but the modernisation was cancelled due to the [[1981 Defence White Paper|1981 Defence Review]] by the minister, [[John Nott]].<ref name="Leander p48">{{Harvnb|Osborne|Sowdon|1990|p=48}}</ref><ref name="Friedman p300-2">{{Harvnb|Friedman|2008|pp=300–302}}</ref> In June 1982, ''Apollo'' was sent to patrol the [[Atlantic Ocean|South Atlantic]] in the aftermath of the [[Falklands War]], encountering heavy seas that damaged her hull. She returned home in October.<ref name="critchv5 p132"/><ref>{{Harvnb|Burden|Draper|Rough|Smith|1986|p=436}}</ref> In late 1983 ''Apollo'' once again returned to the South Atlantic.<ref name="critchv5 p132"/>

''Apollo'' was refitted at [[HMNB Devonport|Devonport]] between 30 July 1984 and 17 May 1985 at a cost of £11,000,000, recommissioning on 28 June that year. The ship's armament was unchanged, but Type 1006 navigation radar was fitted and the ship's [[davit]]s and motor boat replaced by a light pole-[[derrick]] to handle lighter inflatable boats.<ref name="Leander p50-1">{{Harvnb|Osborne|Sowdon|1990|pp=50–51}}</ref>

==Sale to Pakistan==
{{other ships|PNS Zulfiqar}}
In 1988, ''Apollo''{{'}}s Royal Navy career came to an end when she was [[Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] on 7 July and sold to [[Pakistan]] on 15 July.<ref name="cf90p416">{{Harvnb|Prézelin|Baker|1990|p=416}}</ref> The ship was renamed PNS ''Zulfiqar'', and commissioning in the [[Pakistan Navy]] on 14 October 1988.<ref name="Leander p51">{{Harvnb|Osborne|Sowdon|1990|p=51}}</ref> From 1991 to 1993 she underwent a major refit and her 20&nbsp;mm guns and Seacat system were replaced by twin 25&nbsp;mm mounts, and her Westland Wasp was replaced by an [[Aérospatiale Alouette III|SA 319B Alouette III]] helicopter. ''Zulfiqar'' continued in service for 18 years with the [[Pakistan Navy]] until 29 October 2006 when she was decommissioned into training.

==Fate==
On 12 March 2010, ''Zulfiqar'' was sunk as a target in the [[Arabian Sea]]. Torpedoes and missiles were fired from an F-22P frigate, [[Lockheed P-3 Orion|P3C]] aircraft and an [[Agosta 90B submarine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slide.mil.news.sina.com.cn/slide_8_240_3125.html#p=2|title=China's sale of the first ship of the Pakistani Army F-22P warships|date=16 March 2010 |publisher=Sina|access-date=29 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYaoq_TA-r0&feature=youtube_gdata |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/YYaoq_TA-r0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=HMS Apollo sunk.|website=[[YouTube]] |date=12 March 2010 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Publications==
* {{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=1986|publisher=Maritime Books|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|title=Royal Navy Frigates 1945-1983|year=1983|publisher=Ian Allan|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-last=Baker |editor2-first=A. D. |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}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Apollo (F70)}}
[[Category:Leander-class frigates]]
[[Category:1970 ships]]
[[Category:Frigates of the Pakistan Navy]]
[[Category:Pakistan–United Kingdom relations]]
[[Category:Ships sunk as targets]]