HMS Zulu (F124) was a Tribal-class (Type 81) frigate of the Royal Navy, in service from 1964 to 1984. Built by Alexander Stephen and Sons at Govan, she was launched on 3 July 1962 and commissioned on 17 April 1964 at a cost of approximately £5.1 million. Measuring 360 feet in length overall and 350 feet between perpendiculars, with a beam of 42 feet 3 inches, Zulu displaced about 2,300 long tons standard and up to 2,500 long tons at full load. Her hull had a draught of 13 feet 5½ inches, increasing to 17 feet 6 inches with propellers. Propulsion was provided by a combined steam and gas (COSAG) system, featuring a Babcock & Wilcox boiler and a geared steam turbine rated at 12,500 shp, supplemented by a Metrovick G-6 gas turbine delivering 7,500 shp. This arrangement enabled a top speed of approximately 27–28 knots, with a sustained speed of 21 knots on steam alone. Her armament included two QF 4.5-inch guns (salvaged from WWII destroyers) mounted fore and aft, complemented by two Seacat missile launchers for anti-aircraft defense, a Limbo anti-submarine mortar, and a hangar and flight deck for a Westland Wasp helicopter. She was equipped with various radars, including Type 965 long-range air search and Type 978 navigation radar, along with sonar suites for anti-submarine warfare. Zulu was notable as the only Tribal-class frigate completed with Seacat missiles. She served primarily east of Suez, participating in various operations such as the Beira Patrol enforcing the Rhodesian oil embargo, and rescue efforts including the 1970 fire aboard the tanker Pacific Glory. She also contributed to patrols during the Cold War, including anti-smuggling and policing duties. In 1979, manpower shortages led to her being placed in reserve, but she was reactivated during the Falklands War in 1982. She was decommissioned on 30 March 1984 and sold to Indonesia, where she was renamed KRI Martha Khristina Tiyahahu. After refit, she entered service with the Indonesian Navy in 1985, serving until she was struck from the register in 2000. HMS Zulu’s service highlights her as a versatile Cold War-era frigate with notable contributions to maritime security and naval operations.

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