HMS Arethusa (F38)

HMS Arethusa (F38) was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy (RN). She was, like the rest of the Leanders, named after a figure of mythology. Arethusa was built by J.S. White & Company Shipbuilders of Cowes. Arethusa was launched on 5 November 1963 and commissioned on 24 November 1965.

In 1967, Arethusa deployed to the Mediterranean. At the end of 1967 Arethusa docked down for a Docking and Essential Defect (DED) period finishing in the spring of 1968. After re dedication the ship worked up at Portland later deploying to the Mediterranean. In 1969 Arethusa together with HMS Juno, HMS Hampshire (D06) and RFA Lyness visited Barbados, transited the Panama Canal and proceeded to Callao(Lima Peru), Valparaiso, Falkland Islands, Montevideo returning to the UK for Easter. Later in 1969 Arethusa was deployed as West Indies Guard Ship. Visits included Punta Del Garda, Bermuda, Washington DC, Norfolk Virginia, Key West, Anguilla, Antigua, St Lucia, Curaçao, St Kitts, Tortola, St Vincent, Carriacou, Nassau, Freeport Grand Bahama, transiting the Panama Canal again to San Diego and San Francisco; returning via the Panama Canal to Trinidad. She continued to Cartegena, Dominica, St Martin, Bequia, Georgetown, Belize, Fort Lauderdale arriving in Portsmouth in April 1970. Arethusa was guard ship for the hand-over of independence to British Guiana.

In 1970, Arethusa deployed to the Far East and while there, helped escort HM the Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh on their South East Asian tour. In 1972, Arethusa undertook a Beira Patrol which was designed to prevent oil reaching the landlocked country of Rhodesia via the then Portuguese colony of Mozambique. The following year, Arethusa undertook a Fishery Protection Patrol during the Second Cod War, and during that patrol was rammed by the Icelandic gunboat Odin.

Later that year, Arethusa began her modernisation which included the removal of her one twin 4.5-in gun, with the Ikara anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missile system taking its place. The modernisation was completed in April 1977. In that same year, Arethusa, like many Leanders, took part in the Royal Navy's last Fleet Review so far, in celebration of HM the Queen's Silver Jubilee. Arethusa was positioned in the middle of HM ships Cleopatra and HMS Arrow. In 1979, Arethusa deployed to the Far East and Pacific.

In 1980 Arethusa underwent a refit that was completed the following year. She then joined Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), a NATO multi-national squadron, a squadron that Arethusa saw much service in. In 1985, Arethusa was fitted with the towed array sonar. On 4 April 1989, at Portsmouth, Arethusa decommissioned. She was eventually sunk as a target in 1991.