| Career (UK) | |
|---|---|
| Class and type: | Rothesay class frigate |
| Name: | HMS Plymouth |
| Builder: | Devonport Dockyard |
| Laid down: | 1 July 1958 |
| Launched: | 20 July 1959 |
| Commissioned: | 11 May 1961 |
| Decommissioned: | 28 April 1988 |
| Status: | Preserved |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 2,150 tons standard 2,560 tons full load |
| Length: | 370 ft (110 m) |
| Beam: | 41 ft (12 m) |
| Draught: | 17.3 ft (5.3 m) |
| Propulsion: | 'Y-100 plant Two Babcock and Wilcox boilers Two English Electric steam turbines 2 shafts 30,000 shp |
| Speed: | 30 knots (56 km/h) |
| Range: | 400 tons oil fuel, 5,200 nautical miles (9,600 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h) |
| Complement: | 152, later 225, modified to 235 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
Electronics (as built):
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| Armament: | Armament (as built):
|
| Aircraft carried: | Wasp helicopter |
| Notes: | Pennant number F126 |
HMS Plymouth is a Rothesay class frigate, which served in the United Kingdom Royal Navy from 1959 to 1988. She was named after the English city of Plymouth. Since decommissioning as a warship, HMS Plymouth has been preserved, and opened to the public at various United Kingdom ports.
Contents |
Plymouth was built at Devonport Dockyard, in her namesake city of Plymouth, and was launched by Viscountess Astor on 20 July 1959.
During her lifetime, Plymouth served in a variety of locations, including the Far East and Australia. She saw action in the Cod Wars between the United Kingdom and Iceland and also the Falklands War in 1982.
Plymouth was one of the first Royal Navy ships to arrive in the South Atlantic following the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Plymouth alongside HMS Antrim, HMS Brilliant and HMS Endurance took part in the recapturing of South Georgia on 28 April during Operation Paraquet. Plymouth landed Royal Marines from her Westland Wasp helicopters and bombarded Argentine troop positions on the island. Later her Wasp helicopter took part in an attack on the ARA Santa Fe, which was badly damaged and later captured by Royal Marines.
Plymouth rejoined the task force and supported troops on the ground by bombarding Argentine troop positions with her 4.5-inch (114 mm) guns.
On June 8, Plymouth was attacked by Dagger fighter bombers of FAA Grupo 6. Able seaman Phil Orr fired her Sea Cat missile system at them, claiming the destruction of two aircraft. Later it was determined that no Dagger was lost in action that day.[1]
Plymouth was hit by four bombs and several cannon shells. One Bomb hit the flight deck, detonating a depth charge and starting a fire, one went straight through her funnel and two more destroyed her Limbo anti-submarine mortar. All of the bombs failed to explode. Five men were injured in the attack and repairs were effected by 1st Class MEM's John Fearon, Gary Borthwick, David Rance and LMEM's Robin Cunningham and Ray Potts. She returned to Rosyth Dockyard after the war for full repair and refit
The following year, Plymouth served as the West Indies Guardship which included several days anchored off Belize.
On the 11th March 1984 Plymouth was involved in a collision with the German Frigate FGS Braunschweig and in 1986 she suffered a boiler room fire, killing two sailors.
HMS Plymouth was decommissioned on the 28th April 1988, and was the last Type 12 in service. After decommissioning, the Warship Preservation Trust acquired the ship for preservation. In 1990 the ship was towed to Glasgow and placed on display at a berth on the River Clyde. Subsequently she was relocated to Birkenhead for display alongside other ships and submarines. On 6 February 2006, the Warship Preservation Trust closed, citing financial difficulties and, by default, is currently owned by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company (MDHC) following the demise of the Trust.[2] Plymouth's future as a museum ship is now uncertain. Immediately after the demise of the Trust, rumours began circulating the Plymouth would be sold off to an independent company to be transformed into either a floating restaurant or floating hotel.
Plymouth City Council had expressed an interest in HMS Plymouth,[3] and the HMS Plymouth Preservation Trust undertook to raise the £250,000 needed to bring the warship back to her home city.[4] It had been hoped that the frigate could be berthed at Millbay Docks, but the offer of a berth was withdrawn in January 2007 by Associated British Ports.[5]
A petition, on 10 Downing Street's E-petitions web site sought to encourage the UK government to provide a berth for the ship.[6]
The wardroom of the Plymouth was where the surrender of Argentine Forces in South Georgia was signed by Lieutenant Alfredo Astiz. Despite surrender, Astiz continued his act as a combatant. His surrender was more pro forma than actual, but he was never tried for these actions.
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