Career
Ordered:
Laid down:	27th October 1966
Launched:	29th February 1968
Commissioned:	17th October 1969
Decommissioned:	1982
Fate:	Sold to Royal New Zealand Navy 1982
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HMS Bacchante (F69) was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy. Bacchante was built by Vickers on the Tyne. She was launched on the 29th February 1968 and commissioned on the 17th October 1969.

In 1970, Bacchante joined Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), a multi-national squadron of NATO, visiting a variety of ports, as-well as performing naval exercises. In 1971, Bacchante deployed to the West Indies, and while there, performed a number of naval exercises, which included the carriers HMS Ark Royal and USS America a deployment that has since been replaced by Atlantic Patrol Task (North). In 1973, Bacchante returned to the West Indies for the role of West Indies Guardship , a deployment that has since been replaced by Atlantic Patrol Task (North) .

In 1975, Bacchante joined up with STANAVFORLANT. Later that year, Bacchante collided with a warship, though suffered only minor damage. The following year, during the Third Cod War, Bacchante joined the Fishery Protection Squadron , seeing 'action' during that conflict. Bacchante later took part in an International Fleet Review at New York in celebration of the USA's Bicentennial. In 1977, Bacchante began a refit which was completed the following year. In 1978, Bacchante joined STANAVFORLANT yet again, and later that year, she helped rescue the crew of a fishing vessel in the English Channel. She later shadowed the large Soviet helicopter cruiser Kiev , which was part of the Moskva-class . It was a usual occurrence during the Cold War, with British, American and Soviet vessels often undertaking such duties. In 1979, Bacchante joined the NATO multi-national squadron STANAVFORLANT again.

In 1981, Bacchante deployed to the Persian Gulf, during the troubled times in that region, which included the Iran-Iraq War which had begun in 1980. In 1982, Bacchante became the Gibraltar Guardship and subsequently deployed to the South Atlantic to undertake duties around Falkland Islands in the tense aftermath aftermath of the Falklands War. Bacchante was later decommissioned from the Royal Navy that year, being subsequently sold to the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). She was renamed Wellington. She decommissioned from the RNZN in 2000.

See HMS Bacchante for other ships of the name.