HMS Edinburgh (D97)
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This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2008) |
 HMS Edinburgh, on patrol near the Falkland Islands. |
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| Career (UK) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Edinburgh |
| Operator: | Royal Navy |
| Builder: | Cammell Laird |
| Laid down: | 8 September 1980 |
| Launched: | 14 April 1983 |
| Sponsored by: | Lady Ann Heseltine; wife of then Secretary of State for Defence, Michael Heseltine (now Baron Heseltine, of Thenford in the County of Northamptonshire) |
| Commissioned: | 17 December 1985 |
| Homeport: | HMNB Portsmouth |
| Identification: | Pennant number: D97 Deck code: EB International callsign: GBBE[1] |
| Nickname: | "Fortress of the Sea"[2] |
| Status: | in active service, as of 2013[update] |
| Badge: | On a Field White, upon a mount of rock in base Proper, a castle, triple turreted, mason White. The flags, windows and portcullis Red. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type 42 destroyer |
| Displacement: | 5,200 tonnes |
| Length: | 141 m (463 ft) |
| Beam: | 15.2 m (50 ft) |
| Propulsion: | COGOG (Combined Gas or Gas) turbines, 2 x Olympus, 2 x Tyne, 2 shafts 2 turbines producing 36 MW (48,000 hp) |
| Speed: | 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
| Complement: | 287 |
| Armament: |
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| Aircraft carried: |
Lynx Mk 8 SRU armed with:
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HMS Edinburgh is a Type 42 (Batch 3) destroyer of the Royal Navy. Edinburgh was built by Cammell Laird of Birkenhead. She was launched on 14 April 1983 and commissioned on the 17 December 1985. The largest of the Type 42 destroyers, Edinburgh is known as the "Fortress of the Sea". Edinburgh will be the last Type 42 destroyer to serve in the Royal Navy and is scheduled to be decommissioned in June 2013.[3][4]
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Operations [edit]
In 1990, Edinburgh completed a refit, which included the fitting of the Phalanx Close-in weapon system (CIWS). In 1994, Edinburgh was present at a Fleet Review to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the D-Day landings in 1944. In 1998, Edinburgh deployed to the South Atlantic, where she patrolled the waters around the Falkland Islands, as well as making 'fly-the-flag' visits to various South American ports.
On the 27 September 2002, Edinburgh sailed into the River Mersey to escort the yachts at the end of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.[5]
In January 2003, Edinburgh deployed to the Persian Gulf and subsequently took part in the Second Gulf War against the dictator Saddam Hussein. While there, Edinburgh performed a variety of tasks, which included supporting the Royal Marines ashore, as well as being escort to the helicopter carrier Ocean. She returned to Portsmouth, where she is based, in May.
In April 2004, Edinburgh deployed to the Mediterranean, where she first joined Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED), and while there, Edinburgh took part in Operation Active Endeavour, designed to monitor sea lanes as part of the War on Terror.
On her return to the UK, Edinburgh went into an extensive refit in Rosyth. She left Rosyth in September 2005 to conduct trials to ensure that she was materially up to operational standard before conducting operational sea training in the New Year. Since then Edinburgh has taken part in Exercise Neptune Warrior off the coast of Scotland; conducted a High Seas Firing of her Sea Dart missile system and then took part in the multi-national BALTOPS exercise in the Baltic Sea. The time in the Baltic included visits to Sweden, Germany and Estonia.
During the visit to Estonia, Edinburgh took part in the naval parade celebrating an Estonian national holiday. The day prior to the parade, the destroyer rammed into the newly built dock on the island of Saaremaa when trying to dock. This led to a rather large hole in the upper part of the bow well above the waterline.[citation needed]
Edinburgh was deployed to the Middle and Far East from February until late July 2008 as part of Orion 2008, including a visit to Singapore and operations in the Gulf, during which she took part in an interception of a drugs cargo.[citation needed]
Distinctive appearance [edit]
Edinburgh can readily be distinguished by her distinctively different forecastle. When it was decided to fit the Phalanx CIWS to this class of warships, it was intended that the Edinburgh should carry a single CIWS unit, mounted forward between her 4.5" gun and the Sea Dart launcher. To this end, her breakwaters were enlarged and she was fitted with a raised bulwark, very like those carried on the Type 22 frigates.
This location proved to be an unsuitably wet one for the Phalanx system despite the modifications to this warship, and Edinburgh was later fitted with a pair of wing-mounted CIWS as carried by the other ships of the class, but she retains her distinctive bulwark and enlarged breakwaters.
Edinburgh also differs from some ships of her class in carrying her badges flush to the funnel sides rather than on the funnel wing platforms.[citation needed]
2010 Refit [edit]
Edinburgh became the final Type 42 destroyer to undergo a refit when she entered dry dock on 25 January 2010 at BAE Systems Surface Ships shipyard in Portsmouth Naval Base for work that will keep the ship in service until 2013.[6]
Under a £17.5 million contract, the company refurbished the destroyer's weapons and communications systems, added a transom flap to the stern and applied a coat of International Paint's Intersleek 900 foul-release paint. The refit included a renewal of crew living quarters, catering facilities and laundry equipment. Edinburgh's four Rolls-Royce gas turbine engines were removed; with two being replaced by new units (starboard Olympus TM3B and port Tyne RM1C). In a company statement on 18 January 2010, BAE Systems said that the modifications will cut fuel consumption by 15 per cent.
Edinburgh emerged from refit in September 2010 to undergo sea trials that include testing the ship's propulsion machinery, radar and communication equipment, as well as her ability to conduct flying operations. Edinburgh's signatures will be assessed for radar cross section, heat, magnetic and acoustics before trials culminating in live firings of medium and close range weapons.[7]
The 'Fortress of the Sea' was set to be formally accepted back into the fleet in late October 2010, followed by a rededication ceremony in early November.[citation needed]
2011 [edit]
In April 2011 Edinburgh successfully completed Sea-Dart missile firing trials.[8] May 2011 saw the ship begin an eight month deployment which will see her visit the Cape Verde and Falkland Islands.[2]
2012 [edit]
On April 13, 2012 Edinburgh fired the last ever operational Sea Dart missiles after a thirty year career. The last two remaining Type 42s, HMS York (D98) and Edinburgh will complete their careers without the system being operational.[9]
Affiliations [edit]
Images [edit]
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HMS Edinburgh Cape Town, 2006.
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HMS Edinburgh, Portsmouth, 2004.
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References [edit]
- ^ "Royal Navy Bridge Card, February 2009". Retrieved 2009-06-20.[not in citation given]
- ^ a b "Royal Navy investigating death of female officer on ship". BBC News. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 2012-05-20.
- ^ "Royal Navy's HMS York makes final Portsmouth return". BBC News. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
- ^ "End of an era as HMS Edinburgh returns from Atlantic deployment". Royal Navy. March 28, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ "Clipper returns". BBC Liverpool. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
- ^ "HMS Edinburgh enters final refit". Retrieved 2010-01-25.[not in citation given]
- ^ "Fortress of the Sea returns to the waves". Retrieved 2010-09-21.[dead link]
- ^ "Title unknown".[dead link]
- ^ "HMS Edinburgh Fires Final Sea Dart Missiles". Retrieved 2012-05-20.
External links [edit]
- HMS Edinburgh on Royal Navy website
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