HMNZS Southland (ex HMS Dido) alongside HMS Lowestoft

 

HMNZS Southland and HMNZS Canterbury, Hong Kong 1987

 

Royal New Zealand Navy Leander Class frigate HMNZS SOUTHLAND conducting a RAS with HMAS WESTRALIA.

 

HMNZS Southland (Former HMS Dido) and Wellington (Former HMS Bacchante) came as a package deal.

NZ originally wanted only Bacchante as they were looking for gun armed Leanders as general purpose frigates. Dido being a specialised ASW frigate with the Ikara wasn't an ideal fit, but the Royal Navy apparently only allowed for the transfer of both or nought. NZ at the time could not afford brand new frigates so ended up with both the second hand ships.

Southland did however provide valuable service and build up ASW knowledge during its service with the RNZN.

Ikara missile firing from Leander Class Frigate HMNZS SOUTHLAND in 1987

 

HMS Dido/HMNZS Southland (F104) was a Royal Navy (RN) Leander-class frigate.

 

HMS Dido/HMNZS Southland (F104) was a Royal Navy (RN) Leander-class frigate.

Entering service in 1961, Dido was involved in the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation, served with NATO's Standing Naval Force Atlantic on several occasions, and was one of the frigates used for the filming of the drama series Warship.

Following a defence review at the start of the 1980s, the ship was transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), and was recommissioned as HMNZS Southland. Southland remained in service until 1995. After decommissioning the frigate was towed to the Philippines where her boilers were removed, and then sent to India for scrapping.