Upon her commission, Galatea was immediately stationed in the Mediterranean Sea. The following year, Galatea was involved in exercises in that region, and in 1966 joined the 27th Escort Group which were also based in the Mediterranean. Later that year, Galatea returned to United Kingdom waters when she joined the Home Fleet. In 1968, Galatea was present with HMS Dainty in West Germany during the Kiel Week event, which combines a yachtingrace and festival entertainment. In the same year she took part in Portsmouth 'Navy Days'.[2]
Gatatea's Wasp helicopter landing personnel on Aldabra atoll, Indian Ocean in 1970
Refitting and Cod Wars
In 1971, Galatea began a period of refit and modernisation, which included the installation of the Ikara[3] and Sea Cat weapons systems. The refit was completed in 1974. The following year, Galatea was engaged in operations during the Third Cod War with Iceland, patrolling against possible Icelandic interference with British fishing trawlers. On 26 March 1976, Galatea collided with the stern of the Icelandic Coast Guard vessel Baldur, damaging the frigate's bow.[4][5]
In 1978, Galatea returned to the Mediterranean, where a number of patrols and exercises were undertaken. Much of 1980 was spent in the Far East, but a planned nine-month deployment ended with the start of the Iran–Iraq War. In 1981, Galatea refitted in Gibraltar before deploying to the Persian Gulf on Armilla Patrol, where she remained until about 1983. The frigate decommissioned in January 1987 and was sunk as a target in July 1988, as part of naval exercises in the North Atlantic.[7]