.gif)
HMS Bristol (D23)
Encyclopedia
HMS Bristol (D23) is a Type 82
destroyer
, the only vessel of her class to be built for the Royal Navy
. Originally intended as the first of a class of new large destroyers to escort the CVA-01
aircraft carrier
s projected to come into service in the early 1970s, Bristol turned out to be a unique ship. The rest of the class were cancelled when the CVA-01 carriers fell victim to the 1966 Strategic Defence Review.
The CVA-01
fleet aircraft carrier
was designed to replace the World War II
vintage aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy
. The first plans were for two carriers and to protect these carriers four new Type 82 area air defence destroyers were to be built. In 1963, the then Minister of Defence
Peter Thorneycroft
, announced in Parliament that one new aircraft carrier would be built, at an estimated cost of £56 million. However, a change of government and competition from the RAF (the RAF and Navy were both expected to use the Hawker P.1154 supersonic V/STOL aircraft, a larger version of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier) saw the project being cancelled in the 1966 Defence White Paper
. This eliminated the requirement for the Type 82 class destroyer. However, one vessel of the original four was ordered on 4 October 1966 for use as a testbed for new technologies. HMS Bristol was launched in 1969, featuring four new weapons and electronics systems.
& Tyne Shipbuilders Ltd on 15 November 1967. She was launched on 30 June 1969, accepted into service on 15 December 1972 and then commissioned on 31 March 1973. Her estimated building cost was £24,217,000.
missile systems and was the first ship to carry the new 4.5 inch (113 mm) Mk 8 gun. Another new addition to the fleet was the advanced ADAWS-2 (Action Data Automated Weapons System Mk.2), a computer system designed to coordinate the ship's weapons and sensors. The latter feature, although not externally apparent, was perhaps one of the most pioneering of the new design. It was a leap forward from the rudimentary action information system of its predecessor the County-class destroyers
with its heavy reliance on manual data input.
Sea Dart (GWS 30) system comprised a twin-arm launcher on the quarterdeck with a pair of radar Type 909 target illumination sets, an improvement over the single radar Type 901 set of the County design. The second weapon system was the Australian Ikara anti-submarine weapon. Ikara was a rocket-powered carrier that could deliver a small homing torpedo out to 10 miles (16.1 km) from the ship. The Ikara was backed up by a Mark 10 Limbo
anti-submarine mortar.
The single Mark 8 114 mm gun was not intended as an anti-aircraft weapon, and as such had an elevation of only 55°. The weapon was designed specifically for reliability over rate of fire, allowing only a single mounting to be shipped, and the comparatively low rate of fire of 25 rounds per minute was more than suitable for the intended anti-ship and shore-bombardment roles. Bristol, although capable of landing a Westland Wasp
helicopter on the quarterdeck, lacked a hangar and aviation facilities and thus had to rely on external air support.
, Corvus
countermeasures launchers and a pair of World War II
-era Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
s. During this refit the Limbo weapon was removed; the well subsequently saw service as a make-shift swimming pool.
Being a large ship Bristol was suitable for use as a flagship as she could embark the extra staff members necessary for this role. As such, she served as the Royal Navy flagship during ‘’Exercise Ocean Safari ‘81’’. After a short refit, during which the mortar well was plated over to allow the landing of large helicopters on the quarterdeck, she joined the Royal Navy task force in the South Atlantic in the 1982 Falklands War
. Bristol led the Bristol group
of reinforcement ships south and then joined the carrier battle group, Task Group 317.8. After the conflict she remained in situ as flagship of the remaining Royal Navy forces. On return to the UK she entered a refit and, in light of the lessons of the conflict, she had her light anti aircraft weapons augmented with a pair of twin Oerlikon / BMARC 30 mm GCM-A03 and a pair of single Oerlikon / BMARC 20 mm GAM-B01 guns. Loral-Hycor SRBOC countermeasures launchers were also added to augment the elderly Corvus launchers.
es, although these were never fitted.
As the 1990s dawned, the ship was increasingly becoming an anachronism. As the fleet downsized, maintaining a unique vessel over 20 years old when plenty of other air defence destroyers were in commission no longer seemed worthwhile. In 1987 she replaced the County class destroyer
HMS Kent
as the Britannia Royal Naval College
training ship, for which duties she had extra accommodation and classrooms added in the former Ikara and Limbo spaces.
, this time as the training ship located at HMS Excellent. Bristol is permanently berthed at Whale Island, Portsmouth
and is primarily used as a training ship for the Regular & Reserve Royal Navy, enabling room-to-room searches to be practiced without removing a ship from the fleet. Many young people from the Sea Cadets,(who hold two annual camps onboard) and Combined Cadet Force
have their first experience of life on board a warship whilst on Bristol. The Air Training Corps
& Army Cadets
Units are also known to make use of the facilities. In addition, the ship is also used by a number of colleges who are running the Edexcel BTEC Public Services course. Students are able to visit the Naval installation, sleeping overnight on Bristol while receiving careers advice and tours of the dockyards and vessels.
The Ship's Company is made up of Royal Navy
personnel and full time civilian staff employed by VT Flagship, part of Babcock International Group
.
The Commanding Officer of Bristol is Lieutenant Commander
Naomi Storey RN. The Executive Officer
/ First Lieutenant
is Lieutenant Commander
John W 'Money Bags' Haynes RN Rtd..
Type 82 destroyer
The Type 82 or Bristol-class destroyer was to be a class of four Royal Navy warships intended as area air-defence destroyers to replace the County-class destroyers, and to serve as escorts to the planned CVA-01 aircraft carriers...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
, the only vessel of her class to be built for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. Originally intended as the first of a class of new large destroyers to escort the CVA-01
CVA-01
The CVA-01 aircraft carrier was to be a class of at least two fleet carriers that would have replaced the Royal Navy's existing aircraft carriers, most of which had been designed prior to or during World War II....
aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
s projected to come into service in the early 1970s, Bristol turned out to be a unique ship. The rest of the class were cancelled when the CVA-01 carriers fell victim to the 1966 Strategic Defence Review.
Origin
CVA-01
The CVA-01 aircraft carrier was to be a class of at least two fleet carriers that would have replaced the Royal Navy's existing aircraft carriers, most of which had been designed prior to or during World War II....
fleet aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
was designed to replace the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
vintage aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. The first plans were for two carriers and to protect these carriers four new Type 82 area air defence destroyers were to be built. In 1963, the then Minister of Defence
Minister of Defence (UK)
The post of Minister of Defence was responsible for co-ordination of defence and security from its creation in 1940 until its abolition in 1964. The post was a Cabinet level post and generally ranked above the three service ministers, some of whom, however, continued to also serve in...
Peter Thorneycroft
Peter Thorneycroft
George Edward Peter Thorneycroft, Baron Thorneycroft CH, PC , was a British Conservative Party politician. He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1957 and 1958.-Biography:...
, announced in Parliament that one new aircraft carrier would be built, at an estimated cost of £56 million. However, a change of government and competition from the RAF (the RAF and Navy were both expected to use the Hawker P.1154 supersonic V/STOL aircraft, a larger version of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier) saw the project being cancelled in the 1966 Defence White Paper
1966 Defence White Paper
The 1966 Defence White Paper was a major review of the United Kingdom's defence policy brought about by the Labour Party government under the Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The main author was the then Secretary of State for Defence, Denis Healey...
. This eliminated the requirement for the Type 82 class destroyer. However, one vessel of the original four was ordered on 4 October 1966 for use as a testbed for new technologies. HMS Bristol was launched in 1969, featuring four new weapons and electronics systems.
Construction
Bristol hull was laid down by Swan HunterSwan Hunter
Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which...
& Tyne Shipbuilders Ltd on 15 November 1967. She was launched on 30 June 1969, accepted into service on 15 December 1972 and then commissioned on 31 March 1973. Her estimated building cost was £24,217,000.
Weapon systems
Bristol saw a number of new systems introduced into the Navy, including the Sea Dart and IkaraIkara (missile)
The Ikara missile was an Australian ship-launched anti-submarine missile, named after an Australian Aboriginal word for "throwing stick". It launched an acoustic torpedo to a range of , allowing fast-reaction attacks against submarines at ranges that would otherwise require the launching ship to...
missile systems and was the first ship to carry the new 4.5 inch (113 mm) Mk 8 gun. Another new addition to the fleet was the advanced ADAWS-2 (Action Data Automated Weapons System Mk.2), a computer system designed to coordinate the ship's weapons and sensors. The latter feature, although not externally apparent, was perhaps one of the most pioneering of the new design. It was a leap forward from the rudimentary action information system of its predecessor the County-class destroyers
County class destroyer
The County class was a class of guided missile destroyers, the first such vessels built by the Royal Navy. Designed specifically around the Sea Slug anti-aircraft missile system, the primary role of these ships was area air-defence around the aircraft carrier task force in the nuclear-war...
with its heavy reliance on manual data input.
Sea Dart (GWS 30) system comprised a twin-arm launcher on the quarterdeck with a pair of radar Type 909 target illumination sets, an improvement over the single radar Type 901 set of the County design. The second weapon system was the Australian Ikara anti-submarine weapon. Ikara was a rocket-powered carrier that could deliver a small homing torpedo out to 10 miles (16.1 km) from the ship. The Ikara was backed up by a Mark 10 Limbo
Limbo (weapon)
Limbo, or Anti Submarine Mortar Mark 10 , was the final British development of a forward-throwing anti-submarine weapon originally designed during the Second World War. Limbo, a three-barreled mortar similar to the earlier Squid that it superseded, was developed by the Admiralty Underwater Weapons...
anti-submarine mortar.
The single Mark 8 114 mm gun was not intended as an anti-aircraft weapon, and as such had an elevation of only 55°. The weapon was designed specifically for reliability over rate of fire, allowing only a single mounting to be shipped, and the comparatively low rate of fire of 25 rounds per minute was more than suitable for the intended anti-ship and shore-bombardment roles. Bristol, although capable of landing a Westland Wasp
Westland Wasp
The Westland Wasp was a British small first-generation, gas-turbine powered, shipboard anti-submarine helicopter. Produced by Westland Helicopters, it came from the same P.531 programme as the British Army Westland Scout, and was based on the earlier piston-engined Saunders-Roe Skeeter...
helicopter on the quarterdeck, lacked a hangar and aviation facilities and thus had to rely on external air support.
Active service
The role which Bristol was built for never materialised and as such she spent most of her service in the 1970s trialling and building up experience using the new weapons and computer systems. A major boiler fire in 1974 destroyed the steam plant. Older ships may have been crippled by this, but Bristol was able to operate for three years using only her gas plant, demonstrating the flexibility and utility of the latter. The steam plant was repaired in 1976 and it was not until 1979 that she was fitted out for frontline service with ECMElectronic countermeasures
An electronic countermeasure is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar or other detection systems, like infrared or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting information to an enemy...
, Corvus
Corvus (weapon)
The corvus or harpago was a Roman military boarding device used in naval warfare during the First Punic War against Carthage....
countermeasures launchers and a pair of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
-era Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
The Oerlikon 20 mm cannon is a series of autocannons, based on an original design by Reinhold Becker of Germany, very early in World War I, and widely produced by Oerlikon Contraves and others...
s. During this refit the Limbo weapon was removed; the well subsequently saw service as a make-shift swimming pool.
Falklands War (1982)
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
. Bristol led the Bristol group
Bristol group
The Bristol group was a group of British warships that were sent to the "Total Exclusion Zone" as reinforcements late in the Falklands War. It consisted of:DestroyersFrigatesRoyal Fleet Auxiliaries*RFA Bayleaf*RFA Olna...
of reinforcement ships south and then joined the carrier battle group, Task Group 317.8. After the conflict she remained in situ as flagship of the remaining Royal Navy forces. On return to the UK she entered a refit and, in light of the lessons of the conflict, she had her light anti aircraft weapons augmented with a pair of twin Oerlikon / BMARC 30 mm GCM-A03 and a pair of single Oerlikon / BMARC 20 mm GAM-B01 guns. Loral-Hycor SRBOC countermeasures launchers were also added to augment the elderly Corvus launchers.
Return from Falklands (1983–1987)
With the Royal Navy short on hulls after damages and losses incurred in the Falklands, Bristol remained in commission and made several overseas deployments until paid off for refit in 1984. Another boiler explosion when entering refit caused extensive damage and had to be repaired. The major work undertaken in the refit was to replace the obsolete radar Type 965 with the new radar Type 1022 for long range air search duties. In addition, the Ikara system was removed and it was intended that it be replaced with two triple STWS-1 launchers for 324 mm anti-submarine torpedoTorpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
es, although these were never fitted.
As the 1990s dawned, the ship was increasingly becoming an anachronism. As the fleet downsized, maintaining a unique vessel over 20 years old when plenty of other air defence destroyers were in commission no longer seemed worthwhile. In 1987 she replaced the County class destroyer
County class destroyer
The County class was a class of guided missile destroyers, the first such vessels built by the Royal Navy. Designed specifically around the Sea Slug anti-aircraft missile system, the primary role of these ships was area air-defence around the aircraft carrier task force in the nuclear-war...
HMS Kent
HMS Kent (D12)
HMS Kent was a batch-1 County-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She and her sisters were equipped with the SeaSlug Mk-1 medium range surface to air missile SAM system, along with the short-range SeaCat SAM, two double mount 4.5" gun turrets, two single 20mm cannon, ASW torpedo tubes, and a...
as the Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
training ship, for which duties she had extra accommodation and classrooms added in the former Ikara and Limbo spaces.
Training ship
HMS Bristol was paid off in 1991 and refitted to again replace KentHMS Kent (D12)
HMS Kent was a batch-1 County-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She and her sisters were equipped with the SeaSlug Mk-1 medium range surface to air missile SAM system, along with the short-range SeaCat SAM, two double mount 4.5" gun turrets, two single 20mm cannon, ASW torpedo tubes, and a...
, this time as the training ship located at HMS Excellent. Bristol is permanently berthed at Whale Island, Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
and is primarily used as a training ship for the Regular & Reserve Royal Navy, enabling room-to-room searches to be practiced without removing a ship from the fleet. Many young people from the Sea Cadets,(who hold two annual camps onboard) and Combined Cadet Force
Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
have their first experience of life on board a warship whilst on Bristol. The Air Training Corps
Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
& Army Cadets
Army Cadets
Army Cadets may refer to:* Members of the Army Cadet Force * Members of the Cadet Corps, New Zealand Cadet Forces* Members of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets* Members of the American Cadet Alliance Army Brigade* Members of the Australian Army Cadets...
Units are also known to make use of the facilities. In addition, the ship is also used by a number of colleges who are running the Edexcel BTEC Public Services course. Students are able to visit the Naval installation, sleeping overnight on Bristol while receiving careers advice and tours of the dockyards and vessels.
The Ship's Company is made up of Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
personnel and full time civilian staff employed by VT Flagship, part of Babcock International Group
Babcock International Group
Babcock International Group plc is a British-based support services company specialising in managing complex assets and infrastructure in safety-critical and mission-critical environments. Although the company has civil contracts, its main business is with public bodies, particularly the UK...
.
The Commanding Officer of Bristol is Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Naomi Storey RN. The Executive Officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
/ First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
is Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
John W 'Money Bags' Haynes RN Rtd..
Refit 2010-11
HMS Bristol was refitted at A&P Tyne, Hebburn. The effects of the refit has been said to "...extend the service life of HMS Bristol for 10 years" Work will bring facilities on Bristol in line with health and safety standards. She departed from Portsmouth on 20 October 2010, and arrived at Hebburn under tow on the morning of 3 November 2010. HMS Bristol left Hebburn in April 2011 to return to Portsmouth and is expected to re-open to Naval Personnel and Youth Organisations by the end of May 2011. She is expected to host an annual Sea Scout summer camp in May 2011.External links
- http://www.hmsbristol.plus.com