HMS Ursa ( R22 ) HMS " Ursa " ( R22 ) was a U - class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during World War II . She was later converted into a Type 15 fast anti - submarine frigate , with the new pennant number F200 . Second World War Service . " Ursa " was first allocated to the 25th Destroyer Flotilla . She served with the Home Fleet and took part in support of the Operations to invade Normandy in June 1944 . In October of that year she was refitted for service in the Far East and joined the British Pacific Fleet where she served until the 1945 . She then returned to the United Kingdom and paid off in 1946 . During the War " Ursa " was adopted by the Borough of Hendon as part of " Warship Week " . The plaque from this adoption is held by the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth . Post War Service . During 1953 and 1954 " Ursa " was converted to a Type 15 Anti - Submarine Frigate with the new pennant number F200 . In September 1955 at Chatham dockyard " Ursa " , was commissioned under the Command of Commander Powers RN . 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 HMS Undine ( Captain F ) , HMS Ulysses and HMS Urania . On Boxing day 1955 , the whole Squadron put to sea at short notice into heavy seas , where upon " 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 . HMS 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 who 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 maintenance . In November 1956 , with the rest of the Squadron , " Ursa " formed part of the Royal Navy ' s force used during the Suez Operation . This was an Anglo - French - Israeli campaign to recapture the ' Suez Canal ' . " Ursa " was initially attached to the Carrier Force providing Anti - Submarine Sreening , and crash destroyer duties for HMS Albion and HMS 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 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 " Ursa " suffered a damaged bow , while HMS " Battleaxe " suffered more consequentially , being struck athwartships . HMS " Ursa " returned to Devonport , 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 . " Ursa " continued in service until placed in reserve in 1966 . She was subsequently sold for scrapping and arrived at Cashmore ' s in Newport in 1967 .