On 22 January 1973, Scylla collided with the Torpoint ferry, one of three separate collisions involving four warships on the same day. Scylla's collision had occurred while on sea trials following a refit. While Scylla resumed her journey, the ferry sustained a three-foot (0.91 m) gash at the bow.[4] A court martial in May reprimanded Scylla's commanding officer, Captain Peter Sutton.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7] In May, Scylla provided the escort to the royal yachtBritannia during Queen Elizabeth II's state visit to Finland.[8]Scylla attended the SpitheadFleet Review, held in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee. During that review Scylla was situated between Berwick and sister shipEuryalus.
1980s
In 1980, Scylla provided support when Cayman Brac, part of the Cayman Islands, was struck by a powerful hurricane.[9]Scylla went into refit in 1980, to provision the frigate with Type 2016 sonar, Exocet and Sea Wolf missile launchers, and a Westland Lynx helicopter.[10] The refit lasted four years,[11] and cost £79,692,000,[12] rendering the frigate unavailable for service in the Falklands. After being recommissioned, Scylla acted as guard ship for the West Indies and patrolled the Persian Gulf as part of Armilla Patrol.[citation needed]. In November 1986 at the end of her first Armilla Patrol, she was the escort to Britannia during the Prince and Princess of Wales' visit to the Middle East firing a Royal Salute off Matrah, Oman and also visiting Jiddah. The Princess of Wales flew home from Hurghada and Syclla then escorted Britannia north through the Suez Canal and on to Akrotiri, Cyprus where Prince Charles disembarked.[citation needed] While on Armilla Patrol in late December 1987, Scylla and USS Elrod twice intervened after two ships, the Korean Hyundai No 7 and British Eastern Power, were targeted by Iranian gunships. After the Korean vessel had been attacked south of Abu Musa Island, Scylla's crew launched the frigate's Westland Lynx helicopter and evacuated some of the ship's crew.[13]
1990s
In 1990, Scylla underwent a 10-month refit at Rosyth.[14] By 1993, Scylla had become the last representative of her class in active service. The frigate's last deployment came that year when she deployed to the South Atlantic.[15] By then she was showing her age, and it had become difficult for the ship's engineers to maintain. Scylla suffered steering problems while on patrol and collided with the accompanying tanker RFA Gold Rover. While Scylla suffered only superficial damage, Gold Rover had to have repairs for hull damage.[citation needed]Scylla was decommissioned in December 1993. In 1992, Scylla, with the commanding officer, officers and members of the ship's company in attendance, was granted the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen.[citation needed]
Sinking and use as a dive site
Wreckage of HMS Scylla in 2015HMS Scylla after her Seawolf conversion in 1989
Within three months of sinking the wreck was colonised by sea anemone, mussels and scallops and by six months sea urchin and starfish were found in large numbers. By 2021, 250 species have been recorded.[16]
In 2007 two amateur divers were killed after entering the wreck. Two more experienced divers died inside the engine room on deck three in September 2021.[18] There are fears that the continuing deposition close to the wreck of dredged waste from the Tamar estuary has led to large quantities of silt spreading through the ship and frequently mixing with the moving water reducing visibility, thereby preventing divers from finding their way out before their air supply diminishes.[19] Following a 2014 survey the National Marine Aquarium who manage the site advised divers not to enter the wreck and solely to undertake scenic dives.[20]
HMS HMS Mercury HMS Raglan HMS Beagle HMS Mahratta (G23) HMS Surprise HMS Audacity HMS Belfast HMS Amfitrite (1804) HMS Thornborough HMS Fittleton HMS Alexandra HMS Victory HMS Hinchinbrook HMS Untamed HMS Eagle HMS Quebec HMS Unity HMS Thetis (N25) HMS Poseidon HMS Enterprise HMS Leopard HMS Discovery HMS Trincomalee HMS Dreadnought HMS Edinburgh HMS Pembroke HMS Alliance (P417) HMS Taurus (P339) HMS Atalanta HMS Varangian HMS Fisgard HMS Labuan HMS Neptune HMS Glorious HMS Triton HMS Invincible HMS Campbeltown (I42) HMS Lion HMS Beaver HMS Stalker (L3515) HMS Ossory (1682) HMS Example (P165)…
HMS Wallaroo HMS Cavalier (R73) HMS Networks HMS Shark HMS Surprise (replica ship) HMS P311 HMS Weazel HMS Frederick William HMS Bonaventure HMS Roberts (1915) HMS Worcester (D96) HMS Vervain HMS Britannia HMS Duchess (1679) HMS Global Maritime HMS Bronington (M1115) HMS Artifex HMS Trial HMS Mildura HMS Jersey HMS Beckford HMS Ringarooma HMS Tamar HMS Hood HMS Drury HMS Hornet HMS Highflyer HMS Folkestone HMS Warrior HMS Venomous HMS Resolute (1850) HMS Venetia HMS Tauranga HMS Jumna HMS Unruffled HMS Curacoa HMS Warspite HMS Upholder (P37) HMS Loring HMS Newcastle HMS Prince of Wales HMS Pomone (1811) HMS Courageous HMS Duncan HMS A5 HMS Glasgow (C21) HMS Titania HMS Dakins HMS Dalriada HMS Clyde (P257) HMS Vortigern (D37) HMS Ultor HMS Retalick RNAS Portland (HMS Osprey) HMS Perim HMS Wakeful (1943) HMS Greyhound HMS Hodgeston (M1146) HMS Victor Emmanuel (1855) HMS Taciturn HMS Vesper HMS Benbow HMS Riou HMS Rowley HMS Mercury (shore establishment) HMS Dampier HMS Javelin HMS Caledonia (base) HMS M3 (1918) HMS Havelock (1915) HMS Uproar HMS Culver HMS Wolf HMS Actaeon HMS Vandal HMS Gannet (stone frigate) HMS Deane HMS Dittany HMS United HMS Norwich (1693) HMS A1 HMS Unsparing