HMS Londonderry (F108)
Encyclopedia
HMS Londonderry (F108) was a Rothesay
or Type 12 class anti-submarine
frigate
of the British
Royal Navy
in service from 1961 to 1984.
. On 31 August 1965 Londonderry left Portsmouth
for service in the Far East
. She returned in 1967 and was modernised until 1969 at Rosyth
. The most distinct feature of her modernization were the helicopter deck and hangar aft for a Westland Wasp
helicopter.
Following her modernization she was sent to Malaysia in 1970. She also took part in the Beira Patrol
and was then sent to the and in the Bahamas where she rescued 148 Cuban refugees. In 1973 she replaced HMS Yarmouth
in the NATO Standing Naval Force Atlantic
.
to be refitted as a rails ship for Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment. Up to October 1979 HMS Londonderry had her armament removed, and extra mast added for he new role as a trials ship. The original propellers were replaced and new, low cavitation propellers were installed. Additional navigational equipment and accommodation was installed to provide berths for both midshipmen from Dartmouth and apprentices from HMS Caledonia who were undergoing sea training.
In early 1982, HMS Londonderry accompanied HMS Fearless
on a sea training trip to the West Indies and the United States of America, visiting Virgin Gorda
in the British Virgin Islands
and New Orleans during the Mardi Gras
celebrations. Returning home she was paid off into reserve on 31 March 1982. Originally she should have been put on dispolas but due to the Falklands War
she became the Dartmouth Training Ship of the 6th Frigate Squadron. From 20 January to 29 March Londonderry made her last curise from Portsmouth for 6th F.S. Dartmouth Training Squadron's deployment to West Indies and USA. She then became a Harbour Training Ship attached to the shore base HMS Sultan at Gosport
. She remained in this role until 1988. On 25 June 1989 Londonderry was finally sunk as a target off Scotland
.
During her service HMS Londonderry steamed approximately 125,500 km, four times crossing the Atlantic and transiting the Panama Canal
three times. She visited 50 ports in 35 different countries. Although never deployed in a war the ship's guns fired 1,232 rounds of 11.4 cm (4.5 in) ammunition and 442 rounds of 40 mm ammunition.
Rothesay class frigate
The Rothesay class, or Type 12M frigates were a class of frigates serving with the Royal Navy, South African Navy and the New Zealand Navy....
or Type 12 class anti-submarine
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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...
in service from 1961 to 1984.
Fleet service
In 1960 and 1961 Londonderry made cruises in the North Atlantic being assigned to the 8th Frigate Squadron, Home Fleet. Between 1961 and 1964 the frigate was deployed four times to the West Indies, also visiting ArgentinaArgentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. On 31 August 1965 Londonderry left 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...
for service in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
. She returned in 1967 and was modernised until 1969 at Rosyth
Rosyth
Rosyth is a town located on the Firth of Forth, three miles south of the centre of Dunfermline. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 12,790....
. The most distinct feature of her modernization were the helicopter deck and hangar aft for 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.
Following her modernization she was sent to Malaysia in 1970. She also took part in the Beira Patrol
Beira Patrol
The Beira Patrol was a blockade of oil shipments to Rhodesia through Beira, Mozambique, resulting from United Nations trade sanctions after Rhodesia declared its independence...
and was then sent to the and in the Bahamas where she rescued 148 Cuban refugees. In 1973 she replaced HMS Yarmouth
HMS Yarmouth (F101)
HMS Yarmouth was the first Modified Type 12 frigate of the Rothesay class to enter service with the Royal Navy. From her commissioning in 1960, she performed in numerous roles, including the Third Cod War and the Falklands War....
in the NATO Standing Naval Force Atlantic
Standing NRF Maritime Group 1
Standing NATO Maritime Group One is one of NATO's standing maritime Immediate Reaction Forces. Prior to 1 January 2005 it was known as Standing Naval Force Atlantic...
.
Trials ship
In November 1975 she entered the Rosyth DockyardRosyth 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:...
to be refitted as a rails ship for Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment. Up to October 1979 HMS Londonderry had her armament removed, and extra mast added for he new role as a trials ship. The original propellers were replaced and new, low cavitation propellers were installed. Additional navigational equipment and accommodation was installed to provide berths for both midshipmen from Dartmouth and apprentices from HMS Caledonia who were undergoing sea training.
In early 1982, HMS Londonderry accompanied HMS Fearless
HMS Fearless (L10)
HMS Fearless was a Royal Navy ship which served from 1965 until 2002. One of two from the Landing Platform Dock class she was based in HMNB Portsmouth and saw service around the world over her 37 year life...
on a sea training trip to the West Indies and the United States of America, visiting Virgin Gorda
Virgin Gorda
Virgin Gorda is the third-largest and second most populous of the British Virgin Islands . Located at approximately 18 degrees, 48 minutes North, and 64 degrees, 30 minutes West, it covers an area of about...
in the British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands, often called the British Virgin Islands , is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, the remaining islands constituting the U.S...
and New Orleans during the Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
celebrations. Returning home she was paid off into reserve on 31 March 1982. Originally she should have been put on dispolas but due to the Falklands War
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...
she became the Dartmouth Training Ship of the 6th Frigate Squadron. From 20 January to 29 March Londonderry made her last curise from Portsmouth for 6th F.S. Dartmouth Training Squadron's deployment to West Indies and USA. She then became a Harbour Training Ship attached to the shore base HMS Sultan at Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
. She remained in this role until 1988. On 25 June 1989 Londonderry was finally sunk as a target off Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
During her service HMS Londonderry steamed approximately 125,500 km, four times crossing the Atlantic and transiting the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
three times. She visited 50 ports in 35 different countries. Although never deployed in a war the ship's guns fired 1,232 rounds of 11.4 cm (4.5 in) ammunition and 442 rounds of 40 mm ammunition.