the 2nd Destroyer Squadron based in the Mediterranean, serving there until April 1960 when it transferred back to the British Isles to join the 5th Destroyer Squadron. Duties included fishery protection patrols. On 25 August 1960, she was carrying out steam trials while moored alongside the minelayer at Portsmouth, when steam was let into the ship's turbines, driving the ship forward and breaking Apollos mooring lines. Apollo then collided with the frigate , which also broke free from her moorings and struck the Caisson at the entrance to a dock. Apollos stem was damaged, while Wakeful suffered buckled plates from the impact by Apollo and a badly damaged bow from the collision with the caisson. On the night of 18/19 September 1960, Battleaxe was berthed at Londonderry Port undergoing minor repairs before being due to depart for an exercise the next morning, when one of her crew cut the feeder cable to the Type 965 radar, putting the radar system out of order. Battleaxe put into Rosyth Dockyard to repair the radar. The crewman responsible was tried and pleaded guilty to wilfully damaging the ship's radar, and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and dismissed with disgrace from the Navy. On 1 August 1962, during a night-time exercise in the Firth of Clyde, Battleaxe collided with the Type 15 frigate . The damage to Battleaxe was considered not economical to repair and the ship was laid up at Rosyth to await disposal. Battleaxe arrived at Blyth Shipbuilding Company for scrapping on 20 October 1964. Three of Battleaxes crew, including her commanding officer, were officially reprimanded by Courts Martial following the accident. References Publications External links Scottish Film Archive footage of the damage to Battleaxe and Ursa following their collision Weapon-class destroyers Ships built on the River Clyde 1945 ships Cold War destroyers of the United Kingdom