Leander-class Batch 2 Exocet Conversion.
HMS Minerva {F45) was built by Vickers-Armstrong on the Tyne, launching 19 December 1964 and commissioning 14 May 1966, she was part of the Batch 2 of six ships fitted with Y.136 steam machinery plant layout. She was the 12th Leander of 26 built for the Royal Navy over the decade from 1963, and the 16th ship in service to carry the name. She was 372ft long with a 41ft beam and displacement of 2,350tons standard, a speed of almost 30kt and a Ship’s Company of 264. She is shown here as she appeared from 1967 to 75. Armament initially fitted was the twin 4.5in DP guns in a Mk 6 mounting, two single 20 mm Oerlikon guns, one quadruple Seacat launcher and one Mk 10 Limbo AS mortar. She also carried one Westland Wasp helicopter. Between 1975 and ’79 she was converted at Chatham to the Exocet anti-ship missile system, this was protracted owing to a boiler room explosion while on post refit sea trials in October 1978. Then in December 1979 while at Devonport dockyard a dockside crane fell during a storm, causing damage to the hangar and the starboard Seacat launcher. Although due to go into refit and despite ongoing engine trouble, Minerva took part in the Falklands Campaign in 1982. She paid off on 30 April 1992.