HMS Scylla (F71)

The British frigate Scylla and the French destroyer La Galissonniere underway during NATO exercises on 18 November 1978
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Scylla
Operator:	Royal Navy
Builder:	Devonport Royal Dockyard
Laid down:	17 May 1967
Launched:	8 August 1968
Commissioned:	12 February 1970
Decommissioned:	December 1993
Fate:	Sunk as an artificial reef on 27 March 2004
General characteristics
Class and type:	Leander-class frigate
Displacement:	2,500 tonnes
Length:	113 m (371 ft)
Beam:	13 m (43 ft)

HMS Scylla (F71) was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was built at Devonport Royal Dockyard, the last RN frigate to be built there as of 2016. Scylla was commissioned in 1970, taken out of service in 1993 in accordance with Options for Change, and sunk as an artificial reef in 2004.

In early 1966, the British Admiralty ordered Scylla, a "Broad-Beam" Leander-class frigate, from Devonport Dockyard, at a cost of £6,600,000.Scylla was laid down on 17 May 1967, launched on 8 August 1968 and commissioned on 14 February 1970, receiving the pennant number F71.

On 22 January 1973, Scylla collided with the Torpoint ferry, one of three separate collisions involving four warships on the same day. Scyllas' collision had occurred while on sea trials following a refit. While Scylla resumed her journey, the ferry sustained a three-foot gash at the bows. A court martial in May reprimanded Scylla's commanding officer, Captain Peter Sutton. In May, Scylla was deployed with other frigates to support the Royal Navy's operations against Iceland during the Second Cod War. The frigate conducted patrols to counter Icelandic coast guard ships targeting fishing vessels. On 1 June, the Icelandic gunboat Aegir collided with Scylla, the first such incident to occur during the fishing dispute.

Fishing relations with Iceland deteriorated further in 1975, and the dispute escalated into the Third Cod War. From February 1976, Scylla began operating in support of British fishing trawlers. In May, Scylla provided the escort to the royal yacht Britannia during Queen Elizabeth II's state visit to Finland.Scylla attended At the Spithead Fleet Review, held in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee. During that review Scylla was situated between Berwick and sister-ship Euryalus.