HMS Scylla (F71) was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy, commissioned in 1970 and decommissioned in 1993. Built at Devonport Royal Dockyard, she was the last RN frigate constructed there as of 2025. The vessel was laid down on 17 May 1967, launched on 8 August 1968, and commissioned on 14 February 1970, with the pennant number F71. As a "Broad-Beam" variant of the Leander class, she featured a modern design tailored for versatile patrol and combat duties. Throughout her service, HMS Scylla participated in numerous significant operations. In 1973, she was involved in a collision with the Torpoint ferry during sea trials following a refit, which resulted in a court martial reprimand for her commanding officer. The ship played a key role during the Second and Third Cod Wars, supporting British fishing trawlers and engaging in patrols aimed at countering Icelandic coast guard ships. Notably, she was involved in a collision with the Icelandic gunboat Aegir in 1973, marking a tense period in maritime fisheries disputes. HMS Scylla also provided ceremonial support, such as escorting the royal yacht Britannia during Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Finland in 1976 and participating in the Spithead Fleet Review for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. In 1980, after a major refit costing nearly £80 million, she was equipped with advanced sonar, missile launchers, and a Westland Lynx helicopter, which enhanced her operational capabilities. She subsequently served in the West Indies, the Persian Gulf during the Armilla Patrol, and was involved in humanitarian assistance during Hurricane Cayman Brac in 1980. During her later years, HMS Scylla faced mechanical issues, including steering problems that led to a collision with the RFA Gold Rover in 1993. Her service concluded with her last deployment to the South Atlantic. She was decommissioned in December 1993 and later bought by the National Marine Aquarium. In 2004, she was deliberately sunk off Whitsand Bay, Cornwall, to create an artificial reef. Over the years, her wreck has become an ecologically significant site, hosting a diverse marine life, though it has also been the site of divers’ fatalities, prompting advisories against entry.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.