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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2008) |
 HMS Gloucester |
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| Career (UK) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Gloucester |
| Operator: | Royal Navy |
| Builder: | Vosper Thornycroft[1] |
| Laid down: | 29 October 1979 |
| Launched: | 2 November 1982[1] |
| Sponsored by: | Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester |
| Commissioned: | 11 September 1985 |
| Decommissioned: | 30 June 2011[2] |
| Identification: | Pennant number: D96 Deck code: GC International callsign: GBBF[3] |
| Motto: | Prorsum ("Onwards") |
| Nickname: | "The Fighting G" |
| Fate: | Awaiting disposal |
| Status: | Decommissioned |
| Badge: | On a Field Blue a Trident White enfiled by a horseshoe gold |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Type 42 destroyer |
| Displacement: | 5,200 tonnes |
| Length: | 141 m (462.5 ft) |
| Beam: | 15.2 m (50 ft) |
| Propulsion: | COGOG (Combination of Gas or Gas) turbines, 2 shafts 2 turbines producing 36 MW |
| Speed: | 30 knots (56 km/h) |
| Complement: | 287 |
| Armament: |
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| Aircraft carried: |
1 x Lynx HMA8 Armed with
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HMS Gloucester was a Batch 3 Type 42 destroyer of the Royal Navy. The ship was built by Vosper Thorneycroft at Woolston, Southampton and launched on 2 November 1982 by The Duchess of Gloucester. HMS Gloucester was one of the modified last four of the class to be built, having a lengthened hull design giving better seakeeping qualities and greater endurance. The flight deck recognition letters worn by HMS Gloucester were GC, and her international callsign was GBBF.
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[edit] Operational history
Gloucester served in the Gulf War in 1991 under the command of Commander (later Rear Admiral) Philip Wilcocks where her most notable action was the firing of a salvo shot of Sea Dart missiles to shoot an Iraqi Silkworm missile that was threatening the USS Missouri and allied minehunters; the first successful missile vs missile engagement at sea in combat by any Navy.[1] The ship also survived attacks from two sea mines and conducted numerous boardings using her boarding party consisting of Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel. The ship's Lynx helicopter destroyed numerous Iraqi warships.[1] She spent the longest period upthreat of any coalition warship. As a result of her endeavours, her Captain (Commander Philip Wilcocks) and Flight Commander (Lt Cdr David Livingstone) were decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross; the Operations Officer and Flight Observer were both mentioned in Despatches. After this service HMS Gloucester was rebranded with her nickname of The Fighting G.
During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, HMS Gloucester was the first Royal Navy vessel to evacuate British nationals from Beirut, docking on 18 July 2006. She made three trips taking evacuees to Cyprus, and was the last Royal Navy ship to leave Beirut.[4] She underwent a £6 million refit at Rosyth Dockyard in Fife, Scotland, in 2007. On the morning of 26 August 2010 she intercepted the yacht Tortuga, smuggling £4 million of cocaine, during the Gloucester 's voyage out to the Falkland Islands, where she was deployed from August 2010 to early 2011.[5] On 20 September 2010 the government of Uruguay denied HMS Gloucester access to Montevideo as a result of the Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute.[6][7]
In May 2011, she took part in Exercise Saxon Warrior.[1]
[edit] Decommissioning
HMS Gloucester returned to HMNB Portsmouth for the final time on 23 May 2011 and decommissioned on 30th June 2011.[2]
[edit] Affiliations
The ship retains links with the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment and the City of Gloucester. The ship's crest features a horseshoe, part of the City's Tudor Arms.
- The Rifles
- City of Gloucester
- Worshipful Company of Grocers
- Gloucester R.F.C.
- 2nd Durrington Sea Scout Group
- Gloucester Royal Naval Association
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "Final trip for HMS Gloucester after Falklands’ duties and Saxon Warrior exercise". MercoPress. 23 May 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. http://www.webcitation.org/64bLfD6e1. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
- ^ a b http://www.navynews.co.uk/news/1278-a-sad-day-for-cornwall-and-gloucester.aspx
- ^ "Royal Navy Bridge Card, February 2009". http://www.rncom.mod.uk/uploadedFiles/RN/Reference_Library/20090227_bridge_card.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- ^ "Praise for UK Lebanon evacuation". BBC News. 3 August 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5241214.stm.
- ^ Bowcott, Owen (30 August 2010). "Royal Navy warship intercepts yacht carrying cocaine worth £4m". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/30/royal-navy-cocaine-yacht-atlantic.
- ^ Infobae. 20 September 2010. http://www.infobae.com/mundo/537520-101275-0-Uruguay-le-nego-la-entrada-un-buque-la-Armada-britanica-que-se-dirigia-las-Malvinas.
- ^ "Uruguayan gov’t bans British heading-to-Malvinas vessel from entering Montevideo’s port". Buenos Aires herald. 20 September 2010. http://www.buenosairesherald.com/BreakingNews/View/45724.
[edit] Gallery
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HMS Gloucester leaving Portsmouth
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HMS Gloucester leaving Portsmouth
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: HMS Gloucester (D96) |
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