HMS Hydra (A144) - Commanding Officers

Commanding Officers

• Commander John Paton RN - 1966-1967
• Commander Robert A G Nesbitt RN (d. 1979) - 1967 to July 1969
• Commander Michael J Baker RN - August 1969 to - November 1970
• Acting Commander Roger O Morris RN † (CB 1990) - November 1970 to March 1972 (see also 1979-80 below)
• Captain David W Haslam OBE RN - †† (KBE 1984, CB 1979) (1923–2009) - March 1972 to 1973
• Captain R Chester Read FRICS RN § (CBE 1980) (1925-2005 - see ) - 1973 to June 1975
• Commander Richard J Campbell FRICS RN § - June 1975 to February 1977 (see also 1980-82 below)
• Commander Robert I C Halliday FRICS RN - February 1977 to January 1979
• Captain Roger O Morris FRICS RN † (CB 1990) (1932-) - February 1979 to January 1980
• Commander Richard J Campbell FRICS RN § (OBE 1983; promoted Honorary Captain RN on retirement. See portrait at ) (1933-) - January 1980 - October 1982
• Commander David C B Webb RN (1943-) - October 1982 to July 1984
• Commander Charles F Heron-Watson RN - July 1984 to March 1986

_{Commanding officers from 1966 were qualified in Hydrographic Surveying (Charge Grade) † Promoted to Rear-Admiral 28 January 1985 and Hydrographer of the Navy 1985-1990 †† Promoted to Rear-Admiral 7 July 1975 and Hydrographer of the Navy 1975-1985 § Qualified Royal Navy submariner, transferring later to the Hydrographic Service}

From September 1981, her ship's company of 120 changed little for a year, notably the addition of wartime medical staff in April 1982. All the ship's company involved in Operation Corporate in 1982 were awarded the South Atlantic Medal (see ), with rosette, engraved with their rank, name and ship's name.