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HMS Gloucester (D96)
Encyclopedia
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.
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 missile
s to shoot down two Iraqi Silkworm missile
s that were threatening the and allied minehunters; the first (and only) successful missile vs missile engagement at sea in combat by any Navy. 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. 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. 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. On 20 September 2010 the government of Uruguay
denied HMS Gloucester access to Montevideo
as a result of the Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute.
In May 2011, she took part in exercise Saxon Warrior.
for the final time on 23 May 2011 and decommissioned on 30th June 2011.
and the City of Gloucester
. The ship's crest features a horseshoe, part of the City's Tudor Arms.
Type 42 destroyer
The Type 42 or Sheffield class, are guided missile destroyers used by the British Royal Navy and the Argentine Navy. The first ship of the class was ordered in 1968 and launched in 1971, and today three ships remain active in the Royal Navy and one in the Argentinian Navy...
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...
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 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.
Operational history
Gloucester served in the Gulf WarGulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
in 1991 under the command of Commander
Commander (Royal Navy)
Commander is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. It is immediately junior to captain and immediately senior to the rank of lieutenant commander...
(later Rear Admiral) Philip Wilcocks
Philip Wilcocks
Rear Admiral Philip Lawrence Wilcocks, CB DSC is a former senior British Royal Navy officer who became Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland.-Naval:...
where her most notable action was the firing of a salvo shot of Sea Dart missile
Sea Dart missile
Sea Dart or Guided Weapon System 30 is a British surface-to-air missile system designed by Hawker Siddeley Dynamics and built by British Aerospace from 1977...
s to shoot down two Iraqi Silkworm missile
Silkworm missile
The Shang Yo or SY-series , and the Hai Ying or HY-series were early Chinese anti-ship missiles. They were derived from the Soviet P-15 Termit missile.The HY-1 and HY-2 received the NATO reporting name Silkworm...
s that were threatening the and allied minehunters; the first (and only) successful missile vs missile engagement at sea in combat by any Navy. 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. She spent the longest period upthreat of any coalition warship. As a result of her endeavours, her Captain (Commander Philip Wilcocks
Philip Wilcocks
Rear Admiral Philip Lawrence Wilcocks, CB DSC is a former senior British Royal Navy officer who became Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland.-Naval:...
) and Flight Commander (Lt Cdr David Livingstone) were decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
; 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
2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
The 2006 Lebanon War, also called the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War and known in Lebanon as the July War #Other uses|Tammūz]]) and in Israel as the Second Lebanon War , was a 34-day military conflict in Lebanon, northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories. The principal parties were Hezbollah...
, HMS Gloucester was the first Royal Navy vessel to evacuate British nationals from Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, docking on 18 July 2006. She made three trips taking evacuees to Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, and was the last Royal Navy ship to leave Beirut. She underwent a £6 million refit at Rosyth Dockyard
Rosyth Dockyard
Rosyth Dockyard is a large naval dockyard on the Firth of Forth at Rosyth, Fife, Scotland, owned by Babcock Marine, which primarily undertakes refitting of Royal Navy surface vessels.-History:...
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
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
, where she was deployed from August 2010 to early 2011. On 20 September 2010 the government of Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
denied HMS Gloucester access to Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
as a result of the Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute.
In May 2011, she took part in exercise Saxon Warrior.
Decommissioning
HMS Gloucester returned to HMNB PortsmouthHMNB Portsmouth
Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the British Royal Navy...
for the final time on 23 May 2011 and decommissioned on 30th June 2011.
Affiliations
The ship retains links with the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire RegimentRoyal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment
The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire was an infantry regiment of the British Army.It was formed in 1994 by the amalgamation of two English regiments.*The Gloucestershire Regiment...
and the City of Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
. The ship's crest features a horseshoe, part of the City's Tudor Arms.
- The RiflesThe RiflesThe Rifles is the largest regiment of the British Army. Formed in 2007, it consists of five regular and two territorial battalions, plus a number of companies in other TA battalions, Each battalion of the Rifles was formerly an individual battalion of one of the two large regiments of the Light...
- City of Gloucester
- Worshipful Company of GrocersWorshipful Company of GrocersThe Worshipful Company of Grocers is one of the 108 Livery Companies of the City of London. It is ranked second in the order of precedence of the Companies and, having been established in 1345, is one of the original Great Twelve City Livery Companies....
- Gloucester R.F.C.
- 2nd Durrington Sea Scout Group
- Gloucester Royal Naval Association