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HMS Ajax

HMS Ajax (F114) was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was built by the famous Cammell Laird company of Birkenhead. Ajax was launched on 16 August 1962 and commissioned on 10 December 1963. She was originally intended to be named HMS Fowey, and laid down as a Rothesay class, but instead became part of Batch 1 of the Leander class.

In 1964, Ajax deployed to the Far East, becoming leader of the 24th Escort Group. It was a long deployment, and Ajax did not return to the UK until 1968. In 1970, Ajax became the Gibraltar guard ship, a required deployment at that time due to the tense fears of invasion by General Franco. Later that year, Ajax began modernisation that lasted to 1973, having her 4.5 inch turret replaced by an Ikara anti-submarine missile system. GWS22 SeaCat (2 x 4) was fitted aft and 40 mm guns were mounted amidships.

In 1974, Ajax assisted in the evacuation of British citizens after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. In 1976, while on a visit to Canada, Ajax visited the town of Ajax, Ontario, which had been named in honour of her predecessor which had been a Leander class cruiser, which had seen service at the Battle of the River Plate during the Second World War. The 'new' Ajax was granted the freedom of the city of Ajax.

In 1977, Ajax underwent a refit at Devonport Dockyard. In 1979, Ajax deployed to the Mediterranean. In 1980, she underwent a refit at Gibraltar which was completed in 1981. That year, Ajax became leader of the 1st Frigate Squadron. She did not take part in the 1982 Falklands War, but was deployed as Persian Gulf guard ship. She participated in further deployments that culminated in the highlight of her final year in 1985, when she escorted the HMY Britannia, which had a number of the Royal Family on a tour of Italy. She was decommissioned 31 May, then replaced HMS Salisbury as a static training ship at Devonport. On 3 August 1988, Ajax arrived at Millom, Cumbria to be broken up.

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