The mystery ship was ordered from Yarrow by the Ghanaian Navy to serve as Fleet Flagship and Presidential Yacht. She was to have been named Black Star, but President Nkrumah was overthrown and the new government cancelled the order before the ship was launched. Yarrow completed her in 1968 and put her up for sale. Eventually the Royal Navy purchased her, refitted her and named her HMS Mermaid, pennant number F76, and put her into service in 1972. As the picture shows her without the pennant number, apparently on tow, I suspect she is on her way to be refitted. The RN sold her to the Malaysian Navy in April 1977 and she was renamed KD Hang Tuah. She currently serves as a training ship in Malaysia.
Peter Clarke, Staines
