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HMS Plymouth (F126) - September 2012 - Multiple Visits - PIC HEAVY!
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Default HMS Plymouth (F126) - September 2012 - Multiple Visits - PIC HEAVY! - 01-10-2012, 21:42

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Recently we’ve made a few trips out to see the HMS Plymouth, which currently resides in a private dock awaiting a decision to be made on its fate. The threat of scrapping is being fought by a group who are trying to raise enough money to buy the ship from the current owners, Peel Ports, and save it for use of training purposes. The ship is an ex-Navy frigate which played a part in various missions, perhaps most notably the Falklands war where it was in the wardroom of the Plymouth that the Argentinians formally surrendered. It’s quite a fascinating thing to explore, to see all of the dated equipment, cramped living spaces, and of course the massive guns (which are small compared to larger battle ships). Almost every hatch in the floor leads down to something new, and you find rooms you wouldn’t expect in unusual places - although I’m sure they were likely put in these places for a reason. There are plenty of the hatches aswell, taking you right down into the depths of the ship. The utilisation of space really is incredible, virtually no space or corner is left unused.





History:

HMS Plymouth is a Rothesay-class Frigate which served in the Royal Navy from 1959 to 1988. The Plymouth served in various locations throughout the world, including Australia and the far east, and provided crucial support in the Falklands war in which Argentinians invaded the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.

During the Falwlands war HMS Plymouth landed Royal Marines using Westland Wasp helicopters and attacked Argentine troops. The Wasp helicopters also took part in an attack on the Argentinian submarine Santa Fe, which was damaged heavily resulting in its capture by Royal Marines. furthermore the ship supported ground troops by bombarding enemy positions with fire from the 4.5” guns. Reportedly, around 900 shells were fired by the Plymouth during the Falklands war.

The Plymouth sustained heavy damage throughout its active service life. On 8th June 1982 it was attacked by five Dagger fighter bombers, which hit the ship with four bombs and several cannon shells. The bombs failed to explode, however upon impact one bomb caused a depth charge to explode on the flight deck causing a fire. Two more bombs destroyed the ship’s Limbo anti-submarine mortar. Five men were injured during the attack, but the fire was extinguished and the ship survived.

The Plymouth was decommissioned on 28 April 1988, and was used between 1990-2006 as a display ship and museum.





Source: Wikipedia


HMS Plymouth on fire after the Dagger fighter bomber attack. (Source: Wikipedia)


Argentinian naval officer Alfredo Astiz surrenders in the ship's wardroom


It’s a brilliant experience to get on board a ship like this and have free roam, as obviously you get to see all the bits that were closed off to the tour while it was open as a museum. You can really imagine how it would have been to live and work on the ship.


Starting on deck.









The Bridge.





Endless radar systems, control panels, weapons firing stations, communications rooms, monitoring stations…





























The workings of the twin 4.5 inch guns. Cartridges and shells were lifted up from separate rooms two stories below the upper deck (pictured immediately below). They were sent round to either side of the room on the red rails - shells on top, cartridges below - then lifted up to the gun.










Last edited by Millhouse; 01-10-2012 at 22:37.
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