| Revision as of 12:52, 2 October 2020 edit90.216.22.23 (talk) →History: links added to pertinent port visits and deployments← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 23:31, 3 November 2024 edit undoImthethenextjamesbond (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users1,017 edits →top: No citations or dates, so removed.Tags: Mobile edit Mobile app edit Android app edit App section source | ||
| (37 intermediate revisions by 23 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{ |
{{Short description|British guided missile destroyer (1985–2011)}} | ||
| {{Other ships|HMS Gloucester}} | {{Other ships|HMS Gloucester}} | ||
| {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}} | ||
| {{Use British English|date=July 2015}} | {{Use British English|date=July 2015}} | ||
| {{more citations needed|date=June 2008}} | |||
| {| {{Infobox ship begin}} | {| {{Infobox ship begin}} | ||
| {{Infobox ship image | {{Infobox ship image | ||
| | Ship image=HMS Gloucester D96.jpg | | Ship image = HMS Gloucester D96.jpg | ||
| | Ship caption=HMS ''Gloucester'' | | Ship caption = HMS ''Gloucester'' | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| {{Infobox ship career | {{Infobox ship career | ||
| | Hide header= | | Hide header = | ||
| | Ship country=United Kingdom | | Ship country = United Kingdom | ||
| | Ship flag={{shipboxflag| |
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}} | ||
| | Ship name=HMS ''Gloucester'' | | Ship name = HMS ''Gloucester'' | ||
| | Ship ordered= | | Ship ordered = | ||
| | Ship awarded= | | Ship awarded = | ||
| | Ship builder= ]<ref name="mp"/> | | Ship builder = ]<ref name="mp"/> | ||
| | Ship yard number= | | Ship yard number = | ||
| | Ship laid down=29 October 1979 | | Ship laid down = 29 October 1979 | ||
| | Ship launched=2 November 1982<ref name="mp"/> | | Ship launched = 2 November 1982<ref name="mp"/> | ||
| | Ship sponsor=] | | Ship sponsor = ] | ||
| | Ship christened= | | Ship christened = | ||
| | Ship completed= | | Ship completed = | ||
| | Ship commissioned=11 September 1985 | | Ship commissioned = 11 September 1985 | ||
| | Ship recommissioned= | | Ship recommissioned = | ||
| | Ship decommissioned=30 June 2011<ref name="NND">{{cite journal |url=http://www.navynews.co.uk/news/1278-a-sad-day-for-cornwall-and-gloucester.aspx |title=A sad day for Cornwall and Gloucester |journal=]}} {{dead link|date=September 2014}}</ref> | | Ship decommissioned = 30 June 2011<ref name="NND">{{cite journal |url=http://www.navynews.co.uk/news/1278-a-sad-day-for-cornwall-and-gloucester.aspx |title=A sad day for Cornwall and Gloucester |journal=]}} {{dead link|date=September 2014}}</ref> | ||
| | Ship in service= | | Ship in service = | ||
| | Ship out of service= | | Ship out of service = | ||
| | Ship renamed= | | Ship renamed = | ||
| | Ship reclassified= | | Ship reclassified = | ||
| | Ship refit= | | Ship refit = | ||
| | Ship struck= | | Ship struck = | ||
| | Ship reinstated= | | Ship reinstated = | ||
| | Ship homeport=] | | Ship homeport = ] | ||
| | Ship identification=*]: D96 | | Ship identification = *]: D96 | ||
| *]: GC | *]: GC | ||
| *{{IMO Number|4907086}} | *{{IMO Number|4907086}} | ||
| *{{MMSI Number|226772033}} | *{{MMSI Number|226772033}} | ||
| *International callsign: GBBF<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rncom.mod.uk/uploadedFiles/RN/Reference_Library/20090227_bridge_card.pdf |title=Royal Navy Bridge Card, February 2009 |access-date=2009-06-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704012241/http://www.rncom.mod.uk/uploadedFiles/RN/Reference_Library/20090227_bridge_card.pdf |archive-date=4 July 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref> | *International callsign: GBBF<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rncom.mod.uk/uploadedFiles/RN/Reference_Library/20090227_bridge_card.pdf |title=Royal Navy Bridge Card, February 2009 |access-date=2009-06-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704012241/http://www.rncom.mod.uk/uploadedFiles/RN/Reference_Library/20090227_bridge_card.pdf |archive-date=4 July 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref> | ||
| | Ship motto=''Prorsum'' ("Onwards") | | Ship motto = ''Prorsum'' ("Onwards") | ||
| | Ship nickname="The Fighting G" | | Ship nickname = "The Fighting G" | ||
| | Ship honours= | | Ship honours = | ||
| | Ship fate=Sold for scrap | | Ship fate = Sold for scrap | ||
| | Ship |
| Ship notes = | ||
| ⚫ | | Ship badge = *On a Field Blue a Trident White enfiled by a horseshoe gold | ||
| ⚫ | | Ship |
||
| ⚫ | | Ship badge=*On a Field Blue a Trident White enfiled by a horseshoe gold | ||
| *] | *] | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| {{Infobox ship characteristics | {{Infobox ship characteristics | ||
| | Hide header= | | Hide header = | ||
| | Header caption= | | Header caption = | ||
| | Ship class=] | | Ship class = ] | ||
| | Ship displacement=5,200 tonnes | | Ship displacement = 5,200 tonnes | ||
| ⚫ | | Ship length = {{convert|141|m|ft|abbr=on}} | ||
| | Ship tons burthen= | |||
| | Ship |
| Ship beam = {{convert|15.2|m|ft|abbr=on}} | ||
| ⚫ | | Ship draught = | ||
| ⚫ | | Ship |
||
| ⚫ | | Ship propulsion = *COGOG (Combination of Gas or Gas) turbines, 2 shafts | ||
| | Ship draught= | |||
| ⚫ | | Ship propulsion=*COGOG (Combination of Gas or Gas) turbines, 2 shafts | ||
| *2 turbines producing {{convert|36|MW|abbr=on}} | *2 turbines producing {{convert|36|MW|abbr=on}} | ||
| | Ship speed={{convert|30|kn|km/h}} | | Ship speed = {{convert|30|kn|km/h}} | ||
| | Ship range= | | Ship range = | ||
| | Ship endurance= | | Ship endurance = | ||
| | Ship complement=287 | | Ship complement = 287 | ||
| | Ship time to activate= | | Ship time to activate = | ||
| | Ship sensors= | | Ship sensors = | ||
| | Ship EW= | | Ship EW = | ||
| ⚫ | | Ship armament = * Twin ] launcher, with 22 missiles, space reserved for an additional 15 | ||
| |Ship armament= | |||
| ⚫ | * Twin ] launcher |
||
| * 1 × ] | * 1 × ] | ||
| * 2 × ] | * 2 × ] | ||
| * 2 × ] ] (CIWS) | * 2 × ] ] (CIWS) | ||
| * NATO ] and DLF3 Decoy Launchers | * NATO ] and DLF3 Decoy Launchers | ||
| |Ship armour= | | Ship armour = | ||
| |Ship aircraft=* 1 x ] HMA8 armed with | | Ship aircraft = * 1 x ] HMA8 armed with | ||
| ** 4 × anti ship missiles | ** 4 × anti ship missiles | ||
| ** 2 × anti submarine torpedoes | ** 2 × anti submarine torpedoes | ||
| | Ship aircraft facilities= | | Ship aircraft facilities = | ||
| | Ship notes= | | Ship notes = | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| |} | |} | ||
| '''HMS ''Gloucester''''' was a Batch 3 ] of the ] |
'''HMS ''Gloucester''''' was a Batch 3 ] of the ], built by ] at ] and launched on 2 November 1982 by The ]. ''Gloucester'' was one of the modified last four of the class to be built, having a lengthened hull design giving better seakeeping qualities, greater endurance and an external ']' to counter longitudinal cracking, seen on earlier ships of the type. | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| In January 1987 Gloucester sailed for her first deployment; ], protecting civilian ships transiting the ]. Port visits included ] |
In January 1987 ''Gloucester'' sailed for her first deployment; ], protecting civilian ships transiting the ]. Port visits included ]; ]; ]; ]; ] and ], returning to her homeport in June 1987.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} | ||
| In January 1988 the ship |
In January 1988 the ship again deployed to the Gulf for an Armilla patrol. Port visits this time included Bahrain; ]; Mombasa and ]. Further visits were planned but these were curtailed due to increasing tensions in the region.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} | ||
| In April 1989 Gloucester deployed westbound to perform duties as ]. Port visits included ] |
In April 1989 ''Gloucester'' deployed westbound to perform duties as ]. Port visits included ]; ]; ]; ]; ]; ]; ]; ] and ].{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} | ||
| ===First Gulf War=== | |||
| ''Gloucester'' served in the ] in 1991 under the command of ] (later Rear Admiral) ] where her most notable action was |
''Gloucester'' served in the ] in 1991 under the command of ] (later Rear Admiral) ] where her most notable action was to shoot down an Iraqi ] with ]s. The Iraqi missile had targeted the US ] {{USS|Missouri|BB-63|6}} and the intercept was the first validated, successful missile-versus-missile strike of its kind.<ref name="mp">{{cite web | ||
| |title = Final trip for HMS Gloucester after Falklands’ duties and Saxon Warrior exercise | |||
| | |
|title = Final trip for HMS Gloucester after Falklands' duties and Saxon Warrior exercise | ||
| |url = http://en.mercopress.com/2011/05/23/final-trip-for-hms-gloucester-after-falklands-duties-and- | |||
| |publisher = MercoPress | |publisher = MercoPress | ||
| |quote = | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| |archive-url = https:// |
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110907052627/http://en.mercopress.com/2011/05/23/final-trip-for-hms-gloucester-after-falklands-duties-and-saxon-warrior-exercise | ||
| |archive-date = |
|archive-date = 7 September 2011 | ||
| |date = 23 May 2011 | |date = 23 May 2011 | ||
| |access-date = 17 June 2015 | |access-date = 17 June 2015 | ||
| |url-status = dead | |url-status = dead | ||
| |df = dmy | |df = dmy | ||
| }}</ref> | |||
| }}</ref> Notably, after warning allied ships in the area, both the USS ''Missouri'' and {{USS|Jarrett}} immediately fired ]s and ] to decoy the missile. However, drawing from the Royal Navy's experience during the ], when ]s re-acquired and fatally attacked the merchant ship ] after decoys were deployed, HMS ''Gloucester'' did not activate decoys. The Royal Navy considered missiles like the Silkworm as something to be shot down and not simply decoy, with firing chaff making that more difficult.<ref name="Pokrant">Pokrant, M. (1999) ''Desert Storm at Sea: What the Navy Really Did''. London. pp.176-178.</ref> | |||
| After a missile warning, both the USS ''Missouri'' and {{USS|Jarrett}} fired ]s and ] to decoy the missile. ''Gloucester'', drawing from the Royal Navy's experience during the ], when ]s sank the merchant ship ] after decoys were deployed,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/the-atlantic-conveyor/|title=The Atlantic Conveyor - Think Defence|date=20 March 2016|website=www.thinkdefence.co.uk}}</ref> did not activate her own decoys. The Royal Navy considered missiles like the Silkworm as targets to be shot down and firing chaff made that action difficult.<ref name="Pokrant">Pokrant, M. (1999) ''Desert Storm at Sea: What the Navy Really Did''. London. pp.176-178</ref> ''Gloucester'' initiated a hard turn, firing two Sea Darts "over her starboard shoulder". The entire engagement, from detection to destruction, took just 89 seconds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2019/07/21/missile-attack-on-battleship-uss-missouri/|title=missile attack on battleship USS Missouri|date=21 July 2019}}</ref> The interception range was between 2¾ and 4 ] away from ''Gloucester'', and 4 to 7 nautical miles away from ''Missouri''. USS ''Jarrett''‘s history listed the missile's altitude at 375 feet while witnesses aboard HMS'' ]'' estimated between 680 and 1,000 feet. | |||
| The ship also survived attacks from two naval mines and conducted numerous boardings using her boarding party consisting of Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel. The ship's ] also engaged seven Iraqi warships.<ref name="mp"/> She spent the longest period upthreat of any coalition warship. As a result of her endeavours, her captain (Commander ]) and flight commander (Lt Cdr David Livingstone) were decorated with the ]; the operations officer and flight observer were both ]. After this service ''Gloucester'' was rebranded with her nickname of "The Fighting G". | |||
| Later, ''Missouri''‘s ] destroyed the Iraqi missile battery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jeffreyproctor.wordpress.com/2018/04/29/sea-dart-versus-silkworm/|title=Sea Dart Versus Silkworm|date=29 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/art/exhibits/conflicts-and-operations/the-gulf-war-1990-1991--operation-desert-shield--desert-storm-/uss-missouri-under-attack-by-iraqi-silkworm.html|title=USS Missouri under Attack by Iraqi Silkworm|website=NHHC}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | During the ], ''Gloucester'' was the first Royal Navy vessel to evacuate British nationals from ], berthing on 18 July 2006. She made three trips taking evacuees to ], and was the last Royal Navy ship to leave Beirut.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5241214.stm|title=Praise for UK Lebanon evacuation|work=BBC News|date=3 August 2006 | |
||
| ''Gloucester'' avoided two ]s, conducted boardings and the ship's ] ] including three ], a ], and a ], with ].<ref name="mp"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR0UWc_uN0I|title=Desert Storm - The Annihilation of the Iraqi Navy at the Battle of Bubiyan - Animated|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> She spent the longest period in the combat area of any coalition warship and her captain (Commander ]) and flight commander (Lt Cdr David Livingstone) were awarded the ] with the operations officer and flight observer both ]. After this service ''Gloucester'' was rebranded "The Fighting G", after the earlier HMS '']'', a ], sunk by German aircraft, in May 1941.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/crew-of-hms-gloucester-remember-her-wwii-loss |title=Crew of HMS Gloucester remember her WWII loss |date=17 May 2010 |website=] |publisher=] |location=London |access-date=27 August 2018}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | In May 2011, she took part in ].<ref name="mp"/> As part of Saxon Warrior '11, on 21 May 2011, ]'s {{USS|Truxtun|DDG-103|2}} and {{USS|Mitscher|DDG-57|2}} joined the U.S. replenishment tanker {{USNS|Leroy Grumman|T-AO-195|2}} and the {{ship|Spanish frigate|Almirante Juan de Borbón|F102|2|up=yes}} in conducting a transit exercise, with ''Gloucester'' and frigate {{HMS|Westminster|F237|2}} acting as hostile forces.<ref>{{cite web| first=Deven B. |last=King | title= USS ''Mitscher'', ''Truxtun'' Participate in Coalition Strait Transit Exercise | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=60552 | work=America's Navy | publisher= US Navy| date=23 May 2011 | |
||
| ===Later Deployments=== | |||
| ⚫ | In 1997, ''Gloucester'' took part in Ocean Wave 97. Ocean Wave lasted 8 months, which saw her visit countries including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UAE as well as taking part in the ] Exercise Flying Fish. She sailed as part of Task Group 327.01, under the flag of ], Rear Admiral ], along with the flagship {{HMS|Illustrious|R06|6}} and other ships such as {{HMS|Richmond|F239|6}} and support ships. Part of the role of the Task Force was to oversee the peaceful handover of Hong Kong to the Chinese.<ref name="mp" /> | ||
| ⚫ | During the ], ''Gloucester'' was the first Royal Navy vessel to evacuate ] from ], berthing on 18 July 2006. She made three trips taking evacuees to ], and was the last Royal Navy ship to leave Beirut.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5241214.stm|title=Praise for UK Lebanon evacuation|work=BBC News|date=3 August 2006 |access-date=17 June 2015}}</ref> She underwent a £6 million refit at ] in Fife, Scotland, in 2007. On the morning of 26 August 2010 she intercepted the yacht ''Tortuga'', smuggling £4 million of cocaine, during ''Gloucester''{{'}}s voyage out to the ], where she was deployed from August 2010 to early 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/aug/30/royal-navy-cocaine-yacht-atlantic|title=Royal Navy warship intercepts yacht carrying cocaine worth £4m|work=The Guardian|date=30 August 2010 | location=London | first=Owen | last=Bowcott |access-date=17 June 2015}}</ref> On 20 September 2010 the government of ] denied ''Gloucester'' access to ] as a result of the ].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.infobae.com/2010/09/20/537520-uruguay-le-nego-la-entrada-un-buque-la-armada-britanica-que-se-dirigia-las-malvinas |title=Uruguay le negó la entrada a un buque de la Armada británica que se dirigía a las Malvinas |trans-title=Uruguay denies entry to a British Navy ship bound for the Falklands |work=Infobae |date=20 September 2010 |access-date=16 September 2014|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.buenosairesherald.com/BreakingNews/View/45724 |title=Uruguayan gov't bans British heading-to-Malvinas vessel from entering Montevideo's port |work=] |date=20 September 2010 |access-date=16 September 2014}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | In May 2011, she took part in ].<ref name="mp"/> As part of Saxon Warrior '11, on 21 May 2011, ]'s {{USS|Truxtun|DDG-103|2}} and {{USS|Mitscher|DDG-57|2}} joined the U.S. replenishment tanker {{USNS|Leroy Grumman|T-AO-195|2}} and the {{ship|Spanish frigate|Almirante Juan de Borbón|F102|2|up=yes}} in conducting a transit exercise, with ''Gloucester'' and frigate {{HMS|Westminster|F237|2}} acting as hostile forces.<ref>{{cite web| first=Deven B. |last=King | title= USS ''Mitscher'', ''Truxtun'' Participate in Coalition Strait Transit Exercise | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=60552 | work=America's Navy | publisher= US Navy| date=23 May 2011 | access-date=17 June 2015}}</ref> This was the final deployment for ''Gloucester'' prior to her decommissioning.<ref>{{cite web | title= Final trip for HMS ''Gloucester'' after Falklands' duties and Saxon Warrior exercise | url= http://en.mercopress.com/2011/05/23/final-trip-for-hms-gloucester-after-falklands-duties-and-saxon-warrior-exercise | work= Current Edition | publisher= MercoPress | date=23 May 2011 | access-date=17 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| first=Betsy Lynn |last=Knapper| title= ''Gettysburg'' Participates in Saxon Warrior | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/print.asp?story_id=60577&VIRIN=101290&imagetype=1&page=1 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121015135054/http://www.navy.mil/search/print.asp?story_id=60577&VIRIN=101290&imagetype=1&page=1 | url-status= dead | archive-date= 15 October 2012 | work= NNS110524-12 | publisher= USS Gettysburg Public Affairs | date=24 May 2011 | access-date=2011-05-24}}</ref> | ||
| ==Decommissioning== | ==Decommissioning== | ||
| ⚫ | ''Gloucester'' returned to ] for the final time on 24 May 2011 and was decommissioned on 30 June 2011, under the command of her last captain, Commander David George.<ref name="NND"/> On 22 September 2015 she left Portsmouth harbour under tow, bound for a breaker's yard in Turkey.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/13295|title=End of an era as Fighting G leaves Portsmouth|publisher=]|date=22 September 2015|access-date=22 September 2015}}</ref> During her service she sailed 787,928 miles (1,268,047 km) | ||
| On decommissioning, Commander David George, said: | |||
| ''"I cannot express how proud I am of the ship. It was a very emotional final entry for the very best of ships, but she is 29 years old, and with more than 750,000 miles under her belt. There are more capable Type 45 destroyers now taking the stage, and Gloucester’s time has come to bow out with dignity."''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hms-gloucester-returns-home-for-last-time|title=HMS Gloucester returns home for last time|website=GOV.UK}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | ''Gloucester'' returned to ] for the final time on 24 May 2011 and decommissioned on 30 June 2011, under the command of her last captain, Commander David George.<ref name="NND"/> On 22 September 2015 she left Portsmouth harbour under tow, bound for a breaker's yard in Turkey.<ref>{{cite news|url=//navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/13295|title=End of an era as Fighting G leaves Portsmouth|publisher=]|date=22 September 2015| |
||
| ==Affiliations== | ==Affiliations== | ||
| Line 121: | Line 128: | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * 2nd Durrington Sea Scout Group | * 2nd ] ] Group | ||
| * Gloucester Royal Naval Association | * Gloucester Royal Naval Association | ||
| * Milton Abbey CCF | * ] ] (CCF) | ||
| ==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
| <gallery> | <gallery widths=180> | ||
| File:HMS Gloucester D96 BB.jpg|HMS ''Gloucester'' leaving ] | File:HMS Gloucester D96 BB.jpg|HMS ''Gloucester'' leaving ] | ||
| File:HMS Gloucester D96 BB 2.jpg|HMS ''Gloucester'' leaving Portsmouth | File:HMS Gloucester D96 BB 2.jpg|HMS ''Gloucester'' leaving Portsmouth | ||
| Line 133: | Line 140: | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{Reflist |
{{Reflist}} | ||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Latest revision as of 23:31, 3 November 2024
British guided missile destroyer (1985–2011) For other ships with the same name, see HMS Gloucester.
 HMS Gloucester
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Gloucester |
| Builder | Vosper Thornycroft |
| Laid down | 29 October 1979 |
| Launched | 2 November 1982 |
| Sponsored by | The Duchess of Gloucester |
| Commissioned | 11 September 1985 |
| Decommissioned | 30 June 2011 |
| Homeport | HMNB Portsmouth |
| Identification |
|
| Motto | Prorsum ("Onwards") |
| Nickname(s) | "The Fighting G" |
| Fate | Sold for scrap |
| Badge |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type 42 destroyer |
| Displacement | 5,200 tonnes |
| Length | 141 m (463 ft) |
| Beam | 15.2 m (50 ft) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 30 knots (56 km/h) |
| Complement | 287 |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried |
|
HMS Gloucester was a Batch 3 Type 42 destroyer of the Royal Navy, built by Vosper Thorneycroft at Woolston, Southampton and launched on 2 November 1982 by The Duchess of Gloucester. Gloucester was one of the modified last four of the class to be built, having a lengthened hull design giving better seakeeping qualities, greater endurance and an external 'strake' to counter longitudinal cracking, seen on earlier ships of the type.
History
In January 1987 Gloucester sailed for her first deployment; Armilla patrol, protecting civilian ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Port visits included Djibouti City; Sharjah; Manama; Karachi; Mombasa and Naples, returning to her homeport in June 1987.
In January 1988 the ship again deployed to the Gulf for an Armilla patrol. Port visits this time included Bahrain; Dubai; Mombasa and Rhodes. Further visits were planned but these were curtailed due to increasing tensions in the region.
In April 1989 Gloucester deployed westbound to perform duties as West Indies Guard Ship. Port visits included Nassau, Bahamas; Anguilla; Antigua; British Virgin Islands; Kingston, Jamaica; Acapulco; Long Beach, California; San Francisco and West Palm Beach.
First Gulf War
Gloucester served in the Persian Gulf War in 1991 under the command of Commander (later Rear Admiral) Philip Wilcocks where her most notable action was to shoot down an Iraqi Silkworm missile with Sea Dart missiles. The Iraqi missile had targeted the US battleship USS Missouri and the intercept was the first validated, successful missile-versus-missile strike of its kind.
After a missile warning, both the USS Missouri and USS Jarrett fired flares and chaff to decoy the missile. Gloucester, drawing from the Royal Navy's experience during the Falklands War, when Exocet missiles sank the merchant ship Atlantic Conveyor after decoys were deployed, did not activate her own decoys. The Royal Navy considered missiles like the Silkworm as targets to be shot down and firing chaff made that action difficult. Gloucester initiated a hard turn, firing two Sea Darts "over her starboard shoulder". The entire engagement, from detection to destruction, took just 89 seconds. The interception range was between 2¾ and 4 nautical miles away from Gloucester, and 4 to 7 nautical miles away from Missouri. USS Jarrett‘s history listed the missile's altitude at 375 feet while witnesses aboard HMS London estimated between 680 and 1,000 feet.
Later, Missouri‘s 16-inch guns destroyed the Iraqi missile battery.
Gloucester avoided two naval mines, conducted boardings and the ship's Lynx helicopter destroyed several Iraqi warships including three fast attack craft, a T43 minelayer, and a Polnocny-class landing ship, with Sea Skua missiles. She spent the longest period in the combat area of any coalition warship and her captain (Commander Philip Wilcocks) and flight commander (Lt Cdr David Livingstone) were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross with the operations officer and flight observer both mentioned in Despatches. After this service Gloucester was rebranded "The Fighting G", after the earlier HMS Gloucester, a Town-class cruiser, sunk by German aircraft, in May 1941.
Later Deployments
In 1997, Gloucester took part in Ocean Wave 97. Ocean Wave lasted 8 months, which saw her visit countries including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UAE as well as taking part in the Five Power Defence Arrangements Exercise Flying Fish. She sailed as part of Task Group 327.01, under the flag of Commander United Kingdom Task Group, Rear Admiral Alan West, along with the flagship HMS Illustrious and other ships such as HMS Richmond and support ships. Part of the role of the Task Force was to oversee the peaceful handover of Hong Kong to the Chinese.
During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, Gloucester was the first Royal Navy vessel to evacuate British nationals from Beirut, berthing 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 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 Gloucester access to Montevideo as a result of the Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute.
In May 2011, she took part in Exercise Saxon Warrior. As part of Saxon Warrior '11, on 21 May 2011, Carrier Strike Group 2's Truxtun and Mitscher joined the U.S. replenishment tanker Leroy Grumman and the Almirante Juan de Borbón in conducting a transit exercise, with Gloucester and frigate Westminster acting as hostile forces. This was the final deployment for Gloucester prior to her decommissioning.
Decommissioning
Gloucester returned to HMNB Portsmouth for the final time on 24 May 2011 and was decommissioned on 30 June 2011, under the command of her last captain, Commander David George. On 22 September 2015 she left Portsmouth harbour under tow, bound for a breaker's yard in Turkey. During her service she sailed 787,928 miles (1,268,047 km)
On decommissioning, Commander David George, said:
"I cannot express how proud I am of the ship. It was a very emotional final entry for the very best of ships, but she is 29 years old, and with more than 750,000 miles under her belt. There are more capable Type 45 destroyers now taking the stage, and Gloucester’s time has come to bow out with dignity."
Affiliations
The ship retains links with the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment and the City of Gloucester. The ship's crest features a horseshoe, part of the city's Tudor arms.
- The Rifles
- City of Gloucester
- Worshipful Company of Grocers
- Gloucester R.F.C.
- 2nd Durrington Sea Scout Group
- Gloucester Royal Naval Association
- Milton Abbey Combined Cadet Force (CCF)
Gallery
-
HMS Gloucester leaving Portsmouth
-
HMS Gloucester leaving Portsmouth
References
- ^ "Final trip for HMS Gloucester after Falklands' duties and Saxon Warrior exercise". MercoPress. 23 May 2011. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "A sad day for Cornwall and Gloucester". Navy News.
- "Royal Navy Bridge Card, February 2009" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
- "The Atlantic Conveyor - Think Defence". www.thinkdefence.co.uk. 20 March 2016.
- Pokrant, M. (1999) Desert Storm at Sea: What the Navy Really Did. London. pp.176-178
- "missile attack on battleship USS Missouri". 21 July 2019.
- "Sea Dart Versus Silkworm". 29 April 2018.
- "USS Missouri under Attack by Iraqi Silkworm". NHHC.
- "Desert Storm - The Annihilation of the Iraqi Navy at the Battle of Bubiyan - Animated" – via www.youtube.com.
- "Crew of HMS Gloucester remember her WWII loss". Gov.uk. London: Ministry of Defence. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- "Praise for UK Lebanon evacuation". BBC News. 3 August 2006. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- Bowcott, Owen (30 August 2010). "Royal Navy warship intercepts yacht carrying cocaine worth £4m". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- "Uruguay le negó la entrada a un buque de la Armada británica que se dirigía a las Malvinas" [Uruguay denies entry to a British Navy ship bound for the Falklands]. Infobae (in Spanish). 20 September 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- "Uruguayan gov't bans British heading-to-Malvinas vessel from entering Montevideo's port". Buenos Aires Herald. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- King, Deven B. (23 May 2011). "USS Mitscher, Truxtun Participate in Coalition Strait Transit Exercise". America's Navy. US Navy. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- "Final trip for HMS Gloucester after Falklands' duties and Saxon Warrior exercise". Current Edition. MercoPress. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- Knapper, Betsy Lynn (24 May 2011). "Gettysburg Participates in Saxon Warrior". NNS110524-12. USS Gettysburg Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
- "End of an era as Fighting G leaves Portsmouth". Navy News. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
- "HMS Gloucester returns home for last time". GOV.UK.
External links
| Type 42 destroyers | |
|---|---|
 Royal Navy | |
 Argentine NavyHércules class | |
| |