HMS Mohawk (F125)

HMS Mohawk (F125) was a Tribal-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was named after a tribe of Native Americans who are located in southeast Canada and New York State. Mohawk was built by Vickers of Barrow-in-Furness. She was launched on 5 April 1962 and commissioned on 29 November 1963. She had a number of nicknames, including the 'Mighty Mo'.

In 1965, Mohawk was deployed to the Persian Gulf, and in 1966 deployed on Beira Patrol, a task designed to prevent oil reaching Rhodesia via the then Portuguese colony of Mozambique. The following year, Mohawk deployed to the West Indies, performing a variety of duties. Soon after, Mohawk also deployed to the Mediterranean. In 1968, Mohawk became the Gibraltar guardship and in 1969, Mohawk was back in the West Indies.

In 1970, Mohawk underwent a drastic conversion to accommodate her planned role of training ship, which included the removal of her aft 4.5-in gun. Astonishingly, the changes that were made to her were reversed and she did not become a training ship.

In 1971, Mohawk underwent a troublesome refit in Portsmouth resulting in the installation of the gearbox from sister ship HMS Tartar in 1972.

In 1973, Mohawk deployed for the Far East visiting South Africa, Singapore, Padang, Penang, Jakarta, Hong Kong and Gibraltar. She sailed in company with the latest Guided Missile Destroyer (GMD) HMS Antrim. They relieved HMS Devonshire and HMS Lincoln in the Far East Squadron. She also participated in the Beira Patrol before returning to the UK on 14 August 1973. Later that year she went on a tour of the Norwegian coast, visiting Harstad, Bodo, Tromso and Hammerfest. She was called into the search for the Gaul, a fishing vessel that went missing in the Barents Sea.

In 1974, Mohawk deployed to the West Indies once more and subsequently to the Mediterranean.

In 1977, Mohawk joined Naval On-call Force of the Mediterranean (NAVOCFORMED), a NATO multi-national squadron, and the predecessor of Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED).

Later that year, Mohawk, along with her sister-ship HMS Zulu, was part of the eight-ship Group 6 deployment, led by the cruiser HMS Tiger, that deployed to the Far East, visiting a variety of ports in fly-the-flag visits. While on the return journey home the following year, via the Mediterranean, Mohawk suffered a slight embarrassment during the Group's visit to Malta. While in Dockyard Creek, Mohawk was preparing to leave, waiting for HMS Rhyl to slip her moorings. Rhyl slipped her moorings too early, which forced Mohawk to also slip her moorings too early, and once she did get into Grand Harbour, she attempted to turn to port, so that she could subsequently join up with the column. However, Mohawk's manoevres went awry, and she ended up on the steps of Customs House. Mohawk suffered some hull damage but was soon able to get underway.

In 1979, Mohawk was placed in Reserve, the Standby Squadron. In 1980 Mohawk decommissioned and the following year was placed on the disposal list and subsequently sold for scrap.