HMS Nubian (F131)

History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Nubian
Builder:	Portsmouth Dockyard
Laid down:	7 September 1959
Launched:	6 September 1960
Commissioned:	9 October 1962
Identification:	Pennant number F131
Fate:	Sunk as target 1987
General characteristics
Class and type:	Tribal-class frigate
Service record
Operations:	Beira Patrol

HMS Nubian was a Tribal-class frigate of the Royal Navy in service from 1962 and 1979. She was named after the Nubian ethnic group, located in Egypt and Sudan. She was sunk as a target in 1987.

Nubian was built by Portsmouth Dockyard,^[1] at a cost of £4,360,000.^[2] She was launched on 6 September 1960 by Lady Holland-Martin, wife of Vice-Admiral Sir Deric Holland-Martin,^[3] and commissioned on 9 October 1962.^[1]

Operational service

In 1964, Nubian suffered a collision that caused minor damage. She joined the Beira Patrol off Mozambique in 1967, supporting the enforcement of an oil blockade of Rhodesia.^[4] Nubian constituted the escort for the trans-Atlantic air race in 1969 that commemorated the 50th Anniversary of Alcock and Brown's non-stop transatlantic flight from Newfoundland to Britain. In 1971 she was present at Portsmouth Navy Days.^[5] In 1972, Nubian reinforced the British garrison in Belize after Guatemala intensified its theats to annex the territory.^[6]

Nubian was present at the 1977 Spithead Fleet Review, held in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee. At this time she was part of the 5th Frigate Squadron.^[7]

In 1978, Nubian assisted in the cleanup after the supertanker Amoco Cadiz grounded off the coast of Brittany; more than 200,000 tons (180,000 metric tons) of oil had polluted the Brittany coastline.

Nubian entered the reserve in 1979, being placed in the Standby Squadron and put on the disposal list in 1981.^[8] While in reserve, Nubian became a training ship and had parts cannibalised for three sister-ships sold to Indonesia in 1984. The frigate was sunk as a target on 27 May 1987.^[9]

Commanding officers

From	To	Commanding Officer
1962	1964	Captain I W Jamieson RN
1964	1966	Captain E G Brown RN
1966	1969	Captain D E deM Leathes RN
1969	1971	Commander G T J O Dalton RN
1972	1974	Commander M J G Howitt RN
1974	1977	Commander R J Onslow RN
1977	1977	Commander J R Griffiths RN
1978	1979	Commander I D MacKenzie RN

References

1. Gardiner, Robert & Chesneau, Roger (1995), p. 518.
2. "Nuclear Submarine Costs £18M". The Times (55633): Col A, p. 6. 23 February 1963.
3. "Frigate In A Hurry". The Times (54870): Col B, p. 14. 7 September 1960.
4. "Navy Checks On Tanker Off Beira". The Times (56904): Col G, p. 1. 1 April 1967.
5. Programme, Navy Days Portsmouth, 29th-31st August 1971, p13.
6. "Britain winning support for Belize self-determination". The Times (59552): Col B, p. 7. 13 November 1975.
7. Official Souvenir Programme, 1977. Silver Jubilee Fleet Review, HMSO
8. Hansard (26 April 1982), hansard.millbanksystems.com. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
9. Colledge, J. J. & Warlow, Ben (2010), p. 284.

Publications

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.
• Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1995). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships, 1947-1995. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-8517-7605-7.
• Marriott, Leo (1983). Royal Navy Frigates 1945-1983. Surrey: Ian Allen Ltd.