Type 42 Class destroyer

HMS York (D98) entering Portsmouth Harbour on the 22nd June 2007.

Photos © Steve Wright (shipspotting.com)


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HMS Cardiff (D108) entering Portsmouth on the 4th March 2005.

Photos © Steve Wright (shipspotting.com)


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HMS Exeter (D89) entering Portsmouth Naval base on the 21st July 2006.

Photos © Steve Wright (shipspotting.com)


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HMS Exeter (D89) outbound from Portsmouth Naval Base on the 20th November 2006.

Photos © Steve Wright (shipspotting.com)


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HMS Exeter (D89) entering Sunderland harbour on 21 June 2007.

Photos © Jim Bryce (shipspotting.com)


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HMS York at Portsmouth, 13/08/2007.

Photos © Rambo (shipspotting.com)


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12th Oct 2007

HMS Southampton in South Georgia.

Southampton visited the island of South Georgia between 4th and 8th October. She deployed to the island with RFA Gold Rover to conduct Exercise Cape Reach, a disaster relief exercise. Embarked in Southampton was the Commander of British Forces in the South Atlantic, along with members of the Falkland Islands Roulement Infantry Company from the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment and the Falkland Islands’ Defence Force. The aim of the exercise was to test the ability of forces based in the Falklands to react to the scenario of a cruise ship grounding in South Georgia. This scenario concerned a simulated major fuel leak from the grounded cruise ship, along with the medical care and welfare of a significant number of civilian casualties and the loss of a civilian expedition group in the mountains, all requiring the assistance of the ships’ embarked personnel.

The island of South Georgia is 750 miles from the Falklands and is well known for its breathtaking scenery and wide range of wildlife. After the main element of the exercise was complete the Ship’s Company were able to get ashore to experience this most remarkable of habitats. In addition to visiting the abandoned whaling station at Grytviken, including the grave of the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and observing the antics of the many elephant seals, they were also able to get passports stamped ‘South Georgia’ in the small Post Office on the island run by staff from the British Antarctic Survey.

There was also the opportunity to take part in kayaking in the waters around Grytviken and for those who wanted to carry out their annual Royal Navy Fitness Test ashore in the snow. This was also an appropriate place for the Commanding Officer to present the Ship’s Gunnery Officer with the ‘Grytviken Trophy’ awarded each year for proficiency in Naval Gunfire Support.

After four days operating around South Georgia, Southampton and Gold Rover departed to return to the Falkland Islands.

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HMS Southampton passing King Edward Point Base South Georgia. (Photo Royal Navy)

Source : Royal Navy

HMS Manchester (D 95) entering Portsmouth harbour, 19/10/2007.

Photos © Chris Hunsicker (shipspotting.com)


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2 Nov 2007

Venerable warships still pack a mighty punch

HMS Edinburgh and HMS Liverpool have been demonstrating the Royal Navy's anti-air capability this week by completing a series of successful High Sea Firings of their primary missile system – the Sea Dart.

Weather conditions were perfect for the firing of the Sea Dart, a medium range area defence anti aircraft missile powered by a ramjet and solid fuel booster rocket. The ships' companies primed the missile as the two Type 42 destroyers met in the South West Approaches for the live firings.

Six missiles were fired in total, three from each ship, proving the Sea Dart capabilities of both platforms. Such 'high-seas' firings are the ultimate test of both the weapons system and its people. All targets were destroyed by both ships in what was a completely successful engagement.

A detachment from 792 Naval Air Squadron, based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose embarked in HMS Liverpool to provide 'MIRACH' targets for the Sea Dart missiles. MIRACHs are remote controlled miniature jet aircraft which fly at considerable range and speed to simulate an airborne threat.

Sea Dart is the primary weapons system of the Type 42 Destroyer, whose main role is Area Air Defence. The missile system enables the ship to protect not only itself but also other units within a Task Group.

The Sea Dart system has been successfully used in both the Falklands and Gulf regions; although associated with a conflict of 25 years ago it remains just as potent today due to continual upgrades in explosives, guidance systems and wider technological advances.

Commanding Officer of HMS Liverpool, Commander Craig Wood said:

"This was a hugely important test of both HMS Liverpool's and HMS Edinburgh's equipment and people. The resounding success of these firings is an endorsement of the Royal Navy's ability to conduct operations at any time, in any place."


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HMS Liverpool carries out a high seas firing of a sea dart missile, successfully shooting down a Mirach 100/5 target. [Picture: LA (Phot) Jannine Hartmann]

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Petty Officer Above Water Warfare (PO AWW) Dougie Barbour in the operations room of HMS Liverpool training for the high seas firing of the sea dart missile. [Picture: LA (Phot) Jannine Hartmann]

Source: Royal Navy

Venerable Warships Still Pack a Mighty Punch
HM Ships Edinburgh and Liverpool proved the Royal Navy's anti-air capability this week having just completed a series of successful High Sea Firings of their primary missile system -- The Sea Dart. .

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HMS York (D 98 ) outbound from Portsmouth Naval Base on the 5th November 2007.

Photos © Steve Wright (shipspotting.com)


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12 Nov 2007

HMS Manchester Sails for Joint Venture with Americans

Crisp autumnal sunshine greeted families waving off Portsmouth-based warship HMS Manchester as she sailed this morning (Monday) for a seven-month deployment. Her work will see her operating as part of an American Carrier Strike Group led by the giant aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman.

Although precise details of the operation are still under consideration it is expected the group will deploy to the Mediterranean and Middle East.

Manchester, a Type 42 destroyer, and nine other ships will contribute to ongoing NATO, US and UK commitments in the regions and conduct maritime security operations in support of counter terrorism objectives.

The routine deployment, which has been planned for some time, is the first extended integration of a Royal Navy ship into a US carrier-led group. It follows a Letter of Understanding signed by the two nations last year aimed at closer cooperation between the navies through joint task group operations.

Earlier this year the Manchester warmed-up for the coalition mission with weeks of exercises with the US Navy off America.

Her Commanding Officer, Commander David Dominy, said the 250 ship’s company were well aware of the unique nature of the deployment. "We have worked hard to ensure that we can play a full role in support of this deployment. My team can be justifiably proud that we have done so, and look forward to a rewarding period in support of coalition operations,” he said.

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Source: Royal Navy

13 Dec 2007

HMS Gloucester leaves Rosyth after £6m refit

Serene, magnificent, awesomely powerful… one of the Royal Navy's great warships is seen here profiled against an iconic Scottish image - the Forth Bridge - on a cold December morning.

After six months at Babcock Engineering Services at Rosyth Dockyard in Fife, HMS Gloucester this week returned to the Forth from her first sea trials following a major upkeep period. It sees her capabilities as a mainstay of the Royal Navy's air defence force significantly upgraded.

Newly fitted with the latest communications and sensor systems, she is now one of the country's foremost defence assets, able to interact with ease with other elements of both the UK's armed forces and also those of our NATO allies.

In addition to work on her war fighting systems, Gloucester has enjoyed a major package of work on her mechanical systems. Old boilers have been ripped out to be replaced with state-of-the-art environmentally friendly reverse osmosis water making facilities. Her hull has been completely overhauled and she has seen a full repaint of her entire superstructure. The propellers have been upgraded for better power and a transom flap has been added to her hull to improve stability and fuel efficiency.

Having successfully completed her recent package of sea trials, during which she achieved a top speed of 32.5 knots (60km/h), making her one of the UK's fastest warships, she is ready to sail for her imminent tasking as part of the UK's Joint Rapid Reaction Force:

"We are delighted to be returning to sea and regenerating full operational capability," said Commander Mike Paterson, Gloucester's Commanding Officer.

"Having taken delivery of a really major improvement to our already significant air warfare capabilities, Gloucester will form a central element of the Royal Navy's order of battle for years to come. I am extremely grateful to all who have worked so hard to ensure that Gloucester has completed its work in Rosyth on time and is ready to rejoin the Fleet fighting fit."

Proudly affiliated to the City of Gloucester for more than 20 years, members of Gloucester's Ship's Company made a real contribution to the relief work there during the floods of summer 2007. They successfully helped to prevent the flooding of an electricity substation at Walham and ensured continuity of electrical supplies to many hundreds of local residents.

The Ship's Company was delighted to have been invited to take part in the recent carnival in Gloucester; an event that highlighted the very real suffering of the people there during the floods.

"This level of assistance to the civilian community demonstrates the enduring flexibility, resourcefulness and relevance of the Royal Navy and its personnel," Cdr Paterson continued. "It was a great honour to be able to help our friends in Gloucestershire in their hour of need and we were proud to share in their celebration of triumph over adversity."


HMS Gloucester passes under the Forth Bridge on a cold December morning. [Picture: Royal Navy]

Source: Royal Navy

14 Dec 2007

Two Portsmouth Warships Return Home For Christmas

Two Portsmouth warships which have been operating in opposite parts of the globe have returned home for Christmas.

Type 42 destroyer HMS Southampton and minehunter HMS Middleton returned to the Naval Base today. Southampton has been protecting the UK’s interests in the South Atlantic for eight months while Middleton has spent four and-a-half months as part of a Nato force across northern Europe.

During regular patrols around the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Southampton provided reassurance to inhabitants of the UK overseas territories. She visited 14 foreign ports during the deployment and took part in large-scale exercises with forces from Chile, the United States, France and Argentina.

Southampton also trained with UK troops in the Falklands and conducted a disaster relief exercise in South Georgia, linking up with British forces and scientists from the British Antarctic Survey.

Her journey home via West Africa has included port visits to Cape Town, Lobito in Angola and Lagos, Nigeria. Commanding Officer, Commander Richard Morris, said: “The technical, logistical and human factors of operating a warship thousands of miles way from the UK for eight months are considerable.

“The successful conclusion of the deployment is a credit to the professionalism and dedication of the men and women who serve as Southampton’s ship’s company.”

Middleton meanwhile has spent most of her deployment on mine clearance operations in the eastern Baltic. She worked alongside 21 other ships from 11 nations clearing mines from both world wars off the coasts of Estonia and Lithuania and visited St Petersburg to further Nato and Russian relations.

In October the group worked in the more exposed waters of the English Channel, carrying out mine clearance in the Bay de Seine. The deployment was rounded off with exercises off Germany and the fjords of Norway.

The task group also acted as NATO’s immediate reaction force, on call to deploy anywhere in the region at short notice.

Middleton’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Steve Holloway, said: “Having worked with a multinational force for four months, we are confident in our ability to clear vital areas from historic ordnance that still presents a danger to today’s mariners.

“We have also proven we can turn our hand to most situations through a developed understanding of one another’s methods. It has been a busy but rewarding deployment.”


[Picture: Royal Navy]

Source: Royal Navy

19th Dec 2007

HMS Edinburgh December Update

Merry Christmas

Looking back to 2007, it has been a year of challenges, excitement and professionalism for all onboard HMS Edinburgh. Beginning the year in the South Atlantic patrolling the Falkland Islands the Ship has steamed over 20000 nautical miles of ocean returning to the United Kingdom in the summer.

One of the most demanding challenges of 2007 faced by Edinburgh’s crew was the participation in ‘Sea Swap’ with HMS Exeter (A slightly modified version of HMS Edinburgh). This required both Ships’ crews to change respective positions whilst the Ship remained in the South Atlantic; this proved to be materially and logistically very difficult. In true Edinburgh style, every member of the Ship’s Company displayed the ‘Edinburgh Spirit’ and applied determination and professional in ensuring that this trial was a success.

Edinburgh’s immediate focus remains on final preparations for Orion 08 deployment prior to leaving Portsmouth in early January not to return until August.

The Commanding Officer, Ship’s Officers and Men (and Women) would like to wish our family, friends and affiliates a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2008.


[Picture: Royal Navy]

Source: Royal Navy