Leopard class frigate

HMS Jaguar (F37) in the mid-1960s after being refitted with the Type 965 Air Search RDF.

The Type 41 or Leopard-class were a class of anti-aircraft defense frigates built for the Royal Navy (5 ships) and Royal Indian Navy (3 ships) in the 1950s. These ships were designed to provide anti-aircraft escorts to convoys, as a result they were not built for fleet speeds and made only 24 knots (44 km/h). They shared a common hull and machinery with the Salisbury-class vessels.

The Leopard class was also fitted with an early type of hydraulic stabilizer system consisting of two fins that could be extended outside the main hull to port and starboard, from a compartment between the two engine rooms. Gyro controlled with a relatively simple control system, they proved very effective in use. During testing every 3 months at sea, the ship could be easily driven into a 20°+ roll from the manual control on the bridge. Prior warning had to be given to allow stowage of loose items over the ship's tannoy system before testing was carried out. Slight reduction in top speed was also noticed when in use.

Unit Run

Royal Navy

• HMS Leopard (F14)
• HMS Lynx (F27)
• HMS Puma (F34)
• HMS Jaguar (F37)
• HMS Panther (F41)

Royal Indian Navy

• HMIS Brahmaputra (F34)
• HMIS Beas (F37)
• HMIS Betwa (F38)