HMS Plymouth (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.

History

Construction

"Plymouth" was built at Devonport Dockyard, in her namesake city of Plymouth, and was launched by Viscountess Astor on July 20, 1959.

Active service

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 "Brilliant" and HMS "Endurance" took part in the recapturing of South Georgia on April 28. 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.After South Georgia was liberated, "Plymouth" rejoined the main task force, taking part in many operations before the landings at San Carlos Water. "Plymouth" supported troops on the ground by bombarding Argentine troop positions with her two convert|4.5|in|mm|0|sing=on guns. On June 8, a lone "Plymouth" was attacked by "Dagger" fighters of the Argentine Air Force, and Able seaman missileman Phil Orr managed to fire her Sea Cat missile system at them, claiming the shooting down of two aircraft. Later it was determined that no "Dagger" was lost in action that day. [ [http://www.naval-history.net/F64argaircraftlost.htm#prof www.naval-history.net] ] "Plymouth" was hit by bombs and cannon shells, causing considerable damage to the ship which was fixed by LMEM Robin Cunningham. She returned to Rosyth Dockyard after the war for repair and refit.

The following year, "Plymouth" served as the West Indies Guardship which included several days anchored off Belize.

In preservation

After decommissioning in 1988, 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. [citeweb|url=http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page11802.aspHMS |title=E-petition: government response|publisher="10 Downing Street"|date=1 June 2007|accessdate=12 August|accessyear=2007 ] "Plymouth's" future as a museum ship is now uncertain.

Plymouth City Council had expressed an interest in HMS "Plymouth",citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4625102.stm|title=Future of warships in the balance|publisher="BBC News"|date=18 January 2006|accessdate=19 January|accessyear=2006] and the HMS "Plymouth" Preservation Trust undertook to raise the £250,000 needed to bring the warship back to her home city. [citeweb|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/content/articles/2006/09/15/hms_plymouth_preservation_feature.shtml|title=Campaign to save veteran warship|work=BBC|date=15 September 2006|accessdate=9 March|accessyear=2008] 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. [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6288817.stm|title=Warship's berth offer withdrawn|publisher="BBC News"|date=22 January 2007|accessdate=9 June|accessyear=2008]

A petition, on 10 Downing Street's E-petitions web site sought to encourage the UK government to provide a berth for the ship.cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6467111.stm | title = Hundreds sign up to save warship | publisher = "BBC News" | accessdate = 19 March | accessyear = 2007] It received 2,204 online signatures by the deadline date of 5 May 2007. [citeweb|url=http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/plymouth |title=E-petition|publisher="10 Downing Street"|accessdate=12 August|accessyear=2007]

References

General

*Colledge
* [http://www.hmsplymouth.co.uk/history.html The history of HMS Plymouth]
*Souvenir guide to HMS "Plymouth", entitled "HMS Plymouth, Falklands Veteran, Her Story", no publisher or publication date declared, but dating from the period the ship was on display in Glasgow.

Notes