HMS Ulysses (R69)

HMS Ulysses by Arnold Barlow – Officers Cook. "Polyarno" (Polyarny), Russia, May 1944.

On commissioning Ulysses was allocated to the 25th Destroyer Flotilla and worked as part of the Home Fleet; this included work on the Arctic convoys.[1] In June 1944 she assisted with the invasion of Normandy, providing naval gunfire support. In late 1944 and early 1945 she was refitted for service in the Far East and in March 1945 left the UK to join the British Pacific Fleet. She returned to the UK in 1946 and was soon placed in reserve.

Between 1946 and 1951 Ulysses was held in reserve at Devonport. In December 1951 she was commissioned for the Plymouth local flotilla.[2] In 1953 she was again reduced to the reserve at Devonport. Between 1954 and 1955 she was converted to a Type 15 anti-submarine frigate, at Devonport Dockyard.

On 18 October 1955 she re-commissioned and formed part of the 6th Frigate Squadron, as part Mediterranean and Home Fleet. She also formed part of the Royal Navy's force used during the Suez Operation. In 1958 she was part of Operation Grapple, witnessing nuclear tests off Christmas Island. On 27 October 1958 she collided with sister ship Undine off Ushant.[2] In 1960 she became a training ship as part of the Plymouth local squadron and in December 1960 was placed into the Devonport reserve.

Ulysses was decommissioned in 1963 and in 1966 was still listed as in reserve. Used as accommodation and office space for standing by build of HMS Danae in 1967, she was scrapped at Plymouth in 1970.