Tribal Class General Purpose Frigates (Type 81)

The 1951 frigate programme resulted in four types of specialised frigate: anti submarine (Type 12), anti-aircraft (Type 41), aircraft direction (Type 61) and utility (Type 16). However these units were costly and, as specialised frigates, could only undertaken certain tasks. A standardised design would not only be cheaper to construct and operate but the multi-rôle capability would make operational deployments easier.

The Type 81 was first conceived in 1954 as sloop equipped to undertake anti-submarine, anti-aircraft and aircraft direction operations. They were designed to be able to operate independently in all climates but particularly in hot conditions such as the Far East, West Indies and Persian Gulf, where they would replace the ageing Loch Class. However Britain was committed to allocating seventy frigates to NATO and in order to meet this target they were re-designated General Purpose Frigates. It was planned to construct a large number of Type 81 Frigates: twenty-three, including replacements for the command frigates Alert and Surprise. They would be built in prefabricated sections so, in the event of nuclear war, they could be built at factories and plants not usually associated with shipbuilding before being transported to shipyards around the country where they could be assembled in large numbers as quickly as possible.

Seven units were ordered and bore the names of distinguished Second World War Destroyers. However they proved costly to construct and plans to build any further units were abandoned in favour of developing the Type 12 design, resulting in the Leander Class.

The Tribal class had a standard displacement of 2,300 tons and measured 360ft in length, 45.2ft in beam and 17.5ft in draught. Their complement numbered 13 officers and 240 ratings and included a Royal Marines detachment. For anti aircraft operations they were armed with two single 4.5 inch guns (one forward, one aft) which had been removed from scrapped C Class Destroyers, and two quadruple Seacat Surface-to-Air (SAM) missile launchers. However only one vessel, Zulu, was actually completed with Seacat, so the other six vessels were completed with two 40mm Bofor guns and were fitted with Seacat during refits. They were also later fitted with 20mm Orelikon guns for patrol and guardship operations. Anti-submarine weaponry consisted of a single three barrelled Limbo mortar and the Westland Wasp Helicopter: the Tribal Class were also the first Royal Navy frigates built to operate a helicopter. A small flight deck was positioned between the mortar and the aft 4.5 inch gun and served as the roof of a small hanger. The Tribal Class were designed with self contained service in the Far East, West Indies and Persian Gulf in mind and accordingly were fitted with air conditioned accommodation, cafeteria messing and all bunk sleeping.

The Tribal Class were the first Royal Navy warships powered by COSAG- a Combined Steam and Gas Turbine. A single steam turbine (powered by a Babcock & Wilcox Y100 Boiler) and a G6 gas turbine were both connected to a single gearbox, driving a single shaft. The steam turbine was used for normal cruising while the gas turbine was used for sustained bursts of high speed or when it was necessary to get underway quickly without waiting for steam to be raised. When both engines were running, speeds of 28 knots could be attained.

The Tribal Class played an active role in the so called ‘Cod Wars’, where they acted as Fishery Protection Vessels and attempted to protect British trawlers. During these operations numerous skirmishes, collisions and rammings occurred with Icelandic Gunboats. They also served as guardship at Gibraltar, the West Indies, the Far East and other locations ‘flying the flag’ and providing a credible deterrent.

In 1980 Tartar entered the Standby squadron at Chatham Dockyard and was followed in 1981 by Eskimo, Gurkha, Zulu, Mohawk and Nubian. John Nott’s 1981 Defence Review - ‘The Way Forward’ - placed increased emphasis on submarine warfare at the expensive of the surface fleet. Consequently Gurkha, Zulu and Tartar were earmarked for disposal. However the Fleet’s hasty deployment to the South Atlantic following the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands left several gaps in the Navy’s ability to meet operational commitments. Also, added to the loss of two frigates and two destroyers were the numerous other ships that were damaged and required extensive repairs upon return. Accordingly, Gurkha, Zulu and Tartar were withdrawn from the Standby Squadron and underwent hasty refits before recommissioning to cover the increased commitments in home waters. Eskimo, Nubian and Mohawk provided spare parts to keep their sisterships operational.

Having undergone refits to remain in service after the Falklands War, Gurkha, Zulu and Tartar were attractive to foreign buyers and were sold to Indonesia in 1984. The three ships underwent a $40 million refit at Vosper Thornycroft in 1985 before transferring. Of the four other Tribal Class frigates, three were sunk as missile or torpedo targets and one was sold for scrap.

Ship	History
Ashanti	In 1971 Ashanti participated in the withdrawal from Malta. In February 1974 Ashanti was struck by a freak wave 80 miles off Bermuda and two of her sailors were killed. In 1976 she was fitted with Variable Depth Sonar. On March 3rd 1977 three crew members were killed after being trapped in a boiler room fire whilst Ashanti was in the Bristol Channel. Ashanti paid off in May 1977 and underwent a refit at Chatham before entering reserve. In 1981 she became Engineers Harbour Training ship at Gosport, replacing the Destroyer Diamond. Ashanti was sunk on September 14th 1988 by Spearfish torpedoes and sub-harpoon missiles from submarines Sceptre and Swiftsure.
Eskimo	After a refit Eskimo entered the Standby Squadron at Chatham in 1979. In August 1981 she was placed on the disposal list. Used as a target vessel by the Research Establishment at Aberporth.
Gurkha	In 1966 Gurkha embarked a company from the British Army whilst in the Persian Gulf during an oil dispute. In 1969 Gurkha was fitted with Variable Depth Sonar (VDS). In 1971 Gurkha was onhand should the need have arisen to evacuate British Nationals because of the Indo-Pakistan war. In 1976 Gurkha undertook ‘Cod War’ Fishery Protection Patrols and was involved in no less than seven collisions with Icelandic Gunboats: she collided four times with Odinn on May 6th and three more times the following day. In 1977 Gurkha attended the Silver Jubilee Fleet Review at Spithead. Gurkha paid off into the Standby Squadron at Chatham in 1980 and was placed on the disposal list the following year. However in 1982 the Falklands conflict promoted her withdrawal from the Standby Squadron and she underwent a refit Rosyth and recommissioned on July 24th 1982. In Spring 1983 she underwent a further refit at Portsmouth before becoming Gibraltar Guardship. Gurkha paid off at Portsmouth on March 30th 1984 and was sold to Indonesia. After a refit at Vosper Thornycroft she recommissioned on October 16th 1985 as Wilhelmus Zakarias Yohannes.
Mohawk	In 1970 Mohawk was destined to join the Dartmouth Training Squadron and in preparation, underwent a refit at Portsmouth. Her aft 4.5inch gun was removed, extra boats were added and her hanger was transformed into a Navigational Training classroom. Despite these modifications it was decide not to use her as a training ship and the refit was reversed. In 1979 Mohawk underwent a refit at Devonport before entering the Standby Squadron at Chatham. In 1981 she was placed on the disposal list. Mohawk was sold to Shipbreaking (Queenborough) Ltd for £45,150. She left Chatham in November 1982 and arrived at Cairnryan on December 3rd, and was broken up the following summer.
Nubian	In 1969 Nubian became Guardship for the Transatlantic Air Race held for the 50th Anniversary of the first Atlantic flight by Alcock and Brown. Nubian attended the 1977 Silver Jubilee Fleet Review at Spithead. In April 1978 Nubian took over from Rothesay Class Frigate Yarmouth in organising the cleanup around the grounded oil tanker Amoco Cadiz. In 1979 Nubian underwent a refit at Rosyth prior to entering the Standby Squadron at Chatham. In August 1981 she was placed on the sales list and whilst awaiting disposal at Portsmouth was used as a static training ship by the Royal Marines. Sunk as a target in the North Atlantic.
Tartar	In 1975 Tartar undertook Fishery Protection Duties in the Barents Sea and the following year in Icelandic waters. She collided twice with the Icelandic Gunboat Tyr on April 1st and on May 22nd and May 26th she collided with the Aegir. In October 1976 Tartar searched for and successfully located the wreckage of a Cuban DC8 Airliner which had suffered an explosion shortly after take off from Barbados. Tartar attended the 1977 Silver Jubilee Fleet Review at Spithead. Tartar joined the Standby Squadron at Chatham in March 1981 and was placed on the disposal list in August the same year. In 1982 the Falkland Conflict saw Tartar withdrawn from the standby Squadron. She underwent a refit at Devonport before recommissioning on July 17th 1982. In June 1983 Tartar used explosives to sink a merchant vessel that had collided with a drilling rig. Tartar paid off at Portsmouth on March 29th 1984 and was sold to Indonesia. Commissioning on April 3rd 1986 she was named Hasanuddin.
Zulu	Zulu attended the 1977 Silver Jubilee Fleet Review at Spithead. In 1979 Zulu joined the Standby Squadron at Chatham and the following year was scheduled for disposal. However the Falklands conflict led to her undergoing a refit and recommissioning at Chatham on August 9th 1982. In 1983 she undertook Guardship duties at Gibraltar. Zulu paid off at Portsmouth on March 30th 1984 and was sold to Indonesia. After a refit at Vosper Thornycroft she was commissioned on May 2nd 1985 as Martha Kristina Tiyahahu.

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Ship	Pennant	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Commissioned
Ashanti	F117	Yarrow	January 15th 1958	March 9th 1959	November 23rd 1961
Eskimo	F119	JS White	October 22nd 1958	March 20th 1960	February 21st 1963
Gurkha	F122	JI Thornycroft	November 3rd 1958	July 11th 1960	February 13th 1963
Mohawk	F125	Vickers Armstrong	December 23rd 1960	April 5th 1962	November 29th 1963
Nubian	F131	HMD Portsmouth	September 7th 1959	September 6th 1960	October 9th 1962
Tartar	F133	HMD Devonport	October 22nd 1959	September 19th 1960	February 26th 1962
Zulu	F124	Alex Stephens	December 13th 1960	July 3rd 1962	April 17th 1967