HMS Ursa (R22) was a U-class

U and V class destroyer

The U and V class was a class of sixteen destroyers of the Royal Navy launched in 1942–1943. They were constructed in two flotillas, each with names beginning with "U-" or "V-"...

 destroyer

Destroyer

In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...

 of the British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

 that saw service during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. She was later converted into a Type 15

Type 15 frigate

The Type 15 frigate was a class of British anti-submarine frigates of the Royal Navy. They were conversions based on the hulls of World War II-era destroyers built to the standard War Emergency Programme "utility" design.-History:...

 fast anti-submarine

Anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....

 frigate

Frigate

A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...

, with the new pennant number

Pennant number

In the modern Royal Navy, and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth, ships are identified by pennant numbers...

 F200.

In September 1955 at Chatham dockyard. H.M.S.Ursa now converted to a type 15 Anti-Submarine Frigate: Pennant Number F200, was commissioned under the Command of Commander Powers R.N. After acceptance trials, and work-up at Portland Naval Base, under Flag Officer Sea training (FOST), she then joined the Sixth Frigate Squadron, and left in November 1955, for the Royal Naval Fleet on the Mediterranean Station. Arriving at Sliema Creek Malta, in company with H.M.S.Undine (Captain F), H.M.S.Ulysses and H.M.S. Urania.

On Boxing day 1955, the whole Squadron put to sea at short notice into heavy seas, where upon H.M.S. Ulysses lost several crew members overboard from the forecastle area (understood to be five),(IT WAS 2) of which three perished..., (2 perished)the others being rescued by a Maltese Tug. The (Seagiant.) A/B Seaman F. Burt. HMS ULYSSES. Four crew members went overboard. Two were later picked up, but two lost their lives.

H.M.S.Ursa undertook regular anti-gun running patrols off Cyprus. Patrolling the island, in company with other member of the Squadron, trying to thwart the efforts of EOKA terrorist groups..., fighting for independence from British rule. These patrols were generally of six weeks duration and then a relief.

In June/July 1956 she underwent a minor refit of approximately five weeks in Gibraltar, later going into the King George IV dry dock, with the whole Squadron, and two Mine Sweepers for bottom scrapes.

In November/December 1956 H.M.S.Ursa, was attached with the whole Squadron in operations in "the Suez Campaign" to oust 'Colonel Nasser,' after his Occupation, and Confiscation of the 'Suez Canal' from France and British Ownership. H.M.S.Ursa was initially attached to the Carrier Force providing Anti-Submarine Sreening, and crash destroyer duties for H.M.S.Albion and H.M.S.Bulwark. Leaving the Carrier Force by night to refuel. Towards the end of the Suez Campaign, she was transferred to providing Anti-Submarine Screening and protection for the Tanker force.

She decommissioned in April 1957 at Chatham Dockyard.

Towards the end of her service, she completed a refit in Malta

Malta

Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...

 in 1961 prior to the Royal Navy's relinquishment of the shipyard, commissioning in November of that year under the command of Commander Sam Brooks, DSO and Bar, DSC and Bar, RN. She spent the first half of 1962 in the Mediterranean, returning to the UK in June 1962. In January 1963, while on exercises near Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, in support of the submarine service, she collided with the destroyer HMS Battleaxe

HMS Battleaxe (D118)

HMS Battleaxe was a Weapon class destroyer of the Royal Navy, completed just after the Second World War....

. HMS Ursa suffered a damaged bow, while HMS Battleaxe suffered more consequentially, being struck athwartships. HMS Ursa returned to Devonport

HMNB Devonport

Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...

, where she was fitted with a new bow (with a stylish rake of a few more degrees than that of her original one) while HMS Battleaxe was decommissioned and scrapped.