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Report - HMS Plymouth (F126), Birkenhead - September 2011

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tweek

SNC/SWC
Regular User
HMS Plymouth (F126), Birkenhead - September 2011

Visited with ex0, Kromax, Leaf1471, Ojay and Xan Asmodi.

Better late than never.

We did this one way back in September, the same night we did this.
Unfortunately, unlike the Bronington, you cannot get to the lower decks as the doors are locked up tight - but you can still arse about on top.

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Select History and Vital Statistics

  • HMS Plymouth is a ‘Rothesay’ class, type 12, anti-submarine Frigate.

  • Her fitting out was completed in 1961 in Plymouth, and she was
    commissioned on 11th May.

  • Powered by twin steam turbines, providing propulsion to two screws, she was capable of a top speed of 28 knots.

  • Her dimensions are 370ft (113m) in length by 41ft (13m) breadth, with a draught of 17ft (5m) and a displacement of 2,800 tonnes.

  • Armament consisted of two 4.5" guns, four 20mm guns.

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  • She carried a normal compliment of 250 officers and crew.

  • She spent her time in the Indian Ocean, the Far East, Australia, the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, South China Sea, the USA, the Caribbean and a number of European ports.

HMS Plymouth participated in the 1982 Falklands Conflict. She sailed with Tide Class Tanker RFA Tidepool and County Class Destroyer HMS Antrim to South Georgia with Royal Marines and SAS aboard. HMS Plymouth was then assigned to provide cover for the aircraft carriers and amphibious vessels and was the first vessel to enter San Carlos Water. On May 21st she came to the assistance of the bomb damaged Leander Class Frigate HMS Argonaut. HMS Plymouth was attacked herself on June 8th by five Mirage aircraft. Although she managed to damage two, HMS Plymouth was hit by four bombs and numerous shells.

One shell hit her flight deck, detonating a depth charge and starting a fire. Another bomb entered her funnel and failed to explode, whilst the other two destroyed her anti-submarine mortar but also failed to explode. Five men were injured in the attack and HMS Plymouth was assisted in putting the fires out by HMS Avenger. She then underwent emergency repairs from the Stena Seaspread before rejoining the fleet. She then provided naval gunfire bombardment during the retaking of the island. After the surrender of Stanley, HMS Plymouth was the first warship to enter Stanley Harbour and it was in her wardroom that Lieutenant Commander Astiz signed the surrender document on April 25th.

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HMS Plymouth left the Falklands with the County Class Destroyer HMS Glamorgan on June 21st, and returned to Rosyth on July 14th where she underwent full repairs. She had steamed 34,000 miles, fired over nine hundred 4.5 inch shells and destroyed five enemy aircraft.


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  • 1978 HMS Plymouth returned to the UK for a major re-fit, being re-commissioned on 23rd January 1981.

  • On 11th March 1984 HMS Plymouth collided with the German Frigate FGS Braunschweig. In 1986 she suffered a fire in her boiler room killing two people and requiring repairs at Rosyth. 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.

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Leaf
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  • HMS Plymouth decommissioned on April 28th 1988, and was the last Type 12 in service.

  • At present HMS Plymouth is berthed in Vittoria Dock, Birkenhead - this is where we caught up with her.

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Thanks for viewing,
tweek

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