F12 HMS Achilles 1983

18 June 1983, Portsmouth: 

HMS Achilles (F12) was a Leander-class frigate built by Yarrow at Glasgow. She was launched on 21 November 1968. In 1970, Achilles deployed to the Far East where there was a large British naval presence.

 

In 1974, Achilles joined the 3rd Frigate Squadron, and later that year deployed to the Far East on a nine-month deployment as part of Task Group 317.2. The Task Group visited a number of African ports including South Africa on their way to the Far East and Indian Ocean. Achilles was active as a radio relay vessel during the fall of South Vietnam.

 

In 1975 Achilles collided with the Greek tanker Olympic Alliance in the Dover Strait, causing a number of wounded, as well as heavy damage to Achilles bow. The following year, Achilles joined the Fishery Protection Squadron during the Third Cod War with Iceland.

 

By the late 1980s, Achilles career was coming to an end. In 1989 she joined the Dartmouth Training Squadron, and became the first RN warship to visit East Germany as well as hosting a Dinner to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of the River Plate. In January 1990, Achilles decommissioned and was sold to Chilean Navy serving 1991-2006 with the name 'Ministro Zenteno'.

 

From the year 2006 until late February 2010 she was in Reserve but the Earthquake and Tsunami that struck Chile on February 27, 2010, moved the ship by the force of the sea several nautical miles from the site in the Talcahuano Naval base, to near the coastal city of Dichato. In March 2010, the Chilean Navy decided to sink the ship to ensure free navigation of the area where the ship was aground. The mission was performed for the crew of the ship 'Piloto Pardo' OPV 81.