HMS Plymouth

Named after British coastal resorts, HMS Plymouth is a Rothesay class, type 12, anti-submarine Frigate. Her keel was laid down in Devonport on 1st July 1958 and she was launched just over a year later on 20th July 1959, the ceremony being carried out by the Right Honourable Nancy, Viscountess Astor, CH. Her fitting out was completed two years later in Plymouth.

Powered by twin steam turbines, providing propulsion to two screws, HMS Plymouth was capable of a top speed of 28knots. HMS Plymouth's dimensions are 373ft (113m) in length by 43ft (13m) beam, with a draft of 17ft (5m) and a displacement of 2,800 tonnes. Originally her main armament consisted of two 4.5 inch guns, twin 40mm guns, and two triple-barrelled anti-submarine mortars. Following a modernisation programme in 1969, HMS Plymouth later carried four 20mm guns, a Sea Cat missile system, a Mk 10 Mortar and a Wasp helicopter.

HMS Plymouth's first commissions, as part of the 4th Frigate Squadron and the 22nd and 29th Escort Squadrons, were to take her to the Far East, participating in various exercises and operations, before returning in 1966 to the Naval Dockyard at Chatham for a substantial re-fit. Re-emerging in the January of 1969 the conversion work had entailed, the provision of a flight deck for the Wasp helicopter along with the subsequent removal of one of the Mortars, the installation of a Sea Cat missile system to replace her 40mm guns, and a program of general modernisation work throughout the vessel.

For the next few years HMS Plymouth would spend time in the Indian Ocean, Far East, Australia and a number of European ports, before returning home to Devonport, for a re-fit. The next commission took HMS Plymouth to the West Indies for the first time, returning home eighteen months later in the February 1973. After a short period in Icelandic waters and the Mediterranean HMS Plymouth docked in Gibraltar for further maintenance, returning to Britain on 11th December 1974.

Leaving the UK in 1975 as a member of the 8th Frigate Squadron HMS Plymouth participated in exercises in the Mediterranean, South China Sea and Australia, returning via the USA and Caribbean, before further exercises en-route back to Britain whilst crossing the Atlantic. The remainder of the decade HMS PLymouth would be found in more local waters being engaged in coastal patrols as well as work in the Mediterranean and Atlantic. In July 1978 HMS Plymouth returned to the UK for a major re-fit, being re-commissioned on 23rd January 1981.

1982 was to become the most significant chapter in HMS Plymouth's history when she was to take part in every campaign in the Falklands conflict, from the recapturing of South Georgia Island, to the British re-entry into Port Stanley harbour. Her darkest hour of the conflict came when on 8th June she was attacked, whilst alone, by Argentinean Mirage fighters. Although destroying two of the jets and damaging two others, several bombs and multiple cannon shells hit HMS Plymouth causing considerable damage, but fortunately no fatalities amongst the crew.

Emergency repairs were carried out to restore most of HMS Plymouth's fighting capability, returning to the action on 14th June. After the Argentinean surrender HMS Plymouth left the task force, returning home to a tumultuous welcome in Rosyth on 11th July 1982. After proper repair HMS Plymouth was to spend the bulk of her remaining service in and around the Caribbean along with some time in home waters before returning to port for de-commissioning on 28th April 1988.

Before being saved by the Warship Preservation Trust in 1990 HMS Plymouth seemed, like many of her sister ships, to be heading for a watery grave as a missile target. After discussions with various local authorities and spell in the Cammel Laird Shipyard undergoing some essential maintenance she was finally moved to East Float Dock, Birkenhead. In a joint partnership with Wirral Borough Council HMS Plymouth opened to the public for the first time in May 1992, accompanied by a growing collection of other historical vessels

In February 2006 the Warship Preservation Trust was forced to close due to redevelopment at its Birkenhead site, and HMS Plymouth's future now hangs in the balance. Attempts are being made to relocate the ship to its home town of Plymouth in time for the 25 anniversary of the Falklands conflict, but this is far from assured. Once further information is available we will of course post it here.