Themes

Conflict and Change

• Introduction

• In Focus: 1900

• In Focus: World War One

• In Focus: Interwar

• In Focus: World War Two

• In Focus: Post War Conflict

  • Surface Fleet

  • Royal Marines

• In Focus: Cold War Climate

• In Focus: Falklands and Beyond

• Special Exhibition: Falklands 25

Learning

• How To: Understand Propaganda

• Propaganda Image Galleries

• Education Project: Sea With Your Own Eyes

Post War Conflict: Surface Fleet

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• The Yangtze Incident

• Suez Operation

• The Cod Wars

• The Beira Patrol

• Technological Developments

The Beira Patrol

Between 1966 and 1975 the Royal Navy conducted a blockade of the port of Beira in Mozambique in an attempt to stop oil from reaching Southern Rhodesia (today Zimbabwe) following their unilateral declaration of independence. The Royal Navy named the duty the Beira Patrol. This patrol is an example of where political objectives were more important than military ones. Warships off Beira were powerful symbols and as such however ineffective they were Britain could not remove them whilst it remained committed to sanctions against Rhodesia.

This is a painted bucket used as a sports trophy for ships on Beira Patrol. The bucket was inaugurated as a trophy for intership sports, when the Beira Patrol was carried out. Over the years, the various holders 'decorated' the bucket and it now bears the names and trophies of many of the ships, which served in the waters off Beira. (RNM)

The initial commitment to the patrol on 1st March 1966 was a carrier, two frigates and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship. For the remaining nine years of the blockage two destroyers or frigates were on duty at all times in addition to RAF Shackletons flying daily patrols. The shore-based patrol aircraft detected suspect tankers then the ships intercepted them.

The Beira patrol finished on 25 June 1975 when Mozambique became independent. They assured Britain that they would not tranship oil to Rhodesia. HMS Salisbury was the last of the 76 RN ships that had supported the patrol.