HMS Edinburgh pays off

[DamienB]

HMS Edinburgh, last of the Type 42 destroyers, sailed into Pompey for the final time this morning. At 30 years old she's given great service but with the fifth Type 45 now in service and one more soon to join the rest, the Type 42's day has been and gone. Still a bit of a sad - and proud - day at the Round Tower though - my brother served on HMS Edinburgh and dad served on HMS Coventry so my family's link with the Type 42 fleet is a strong one.

Editing on a laptop so excuse any colour balance issues...


HMS Defender showing the size difference between the old and new!


E leads the way!


Returning the gun salute from Fort Blockhouse


Entering the harbour for the last time


Paying off pennant flying...


Flypast by the RNHF Sea Fury


Lovely noise!


And away she goes.

The ship's open to visitors from 10am to 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend.

[T66ORA]

End of an era, never served on a 42,but know a few who have, and they have found memories.Lost a mate on Sheffield in 82.
This is my all time favourite photo of a 42, HMS Manchester

[Vipers]

A sad day as one of Her Majesty's ships depart. Spent time in the RN initially as a communicator, best skill I learnt was touch typing, changing to diving on later years.

Pic of HMS Minerva in the first 6 Ship RAS ever carried out. This was in the Indian Ocean.



Just to say those who know me, I may be able to touch type, my spilling is crap, and I know it

Edited by Vipers on Friday 31st May 19:35

[mebe]

Brilliant pictures OP, the Fury is worth a bit of man dribble.

Worked on several bits of kit on those over the years. Sad to see them go.

[Mojocvh]

Lovely picture.

[junglie]

Life was heaven in D97.

[mrsimmers]

Takes me back to 82 when we took D21 HMS Norfolk to chile to sell her. Was the last time i set foot on a warship. Did me last 8 months in the mob at commcen whitehall.

[castex]

/doffs cap.

[nagsheadwarrior]

Lovely looking ships,bro in law was on it for years.
Didnt realise the size difference was that much.

[Silent1]

They must have been taken from next to my grandmothers house! Cracking views off her balcony of all the ships :-)

[bakerstreet]

I'm tempted to drive down to Portsmouth for a tour round a Type 42.

[LotusOmega375D]

nagsheadwarrior said:

Lovely looking ships,bro in law was on it for years.
Didnt realise the size difference was that much.

A German Navy Captain I met has been round a T45 and actually considers it to be a Light Cruiser.

[wal 45]

Spent nearly my entire career of 28 years on T42 and travelled the world in them, really sad to see the last one go.

Edited by wal 45 on Monday 3rd June 19:22

[IanMorewood]

Its not until you see a photo like that that you realise how big the new D Class boats are.

[TEKNOPUG]

LotusOmega375D said:

nagsheadwarrior said:

Lovely looking ships,bro in law was on it for years.
Didnt realise the size difference was that much.

A German Navy Captain I met has been round a T45 and actually considers it to be a Light Cruiser.

I did look at the first photo and wondered whether it's still classed as a destroyer?!

[nagsheadwarrior]

Possibly a silly question but does anybody build cruisers anymore?

[wal 45]

Yes, the US have a few (Ticonderoga Class)and they make a T45 look a bit small, getting on a bit now though. Always thought the term Destroyer sounded a bit more purposeful than Cruiser but obviously back in the day the size differential was much larger.

[AlexiusG55]

nagsheadwarrior said:

Possibly a silly question but does anybody build cruisers anymore?

wal 45 said:

Yes, the US have a few (Ticonderoga Class)and they make a T45 look a bit small, getting on a bit now though. Always thought the term Destroyer sounded a bit more purposeful than Cruiser but obviously back in the day the size differential was much larger.

The US still has the Ticonderogas but they're not building any more. The replacement is the Arleigh Burke destroyers, which they may well keep building until the 2040s.

The Russians also still have their ridiculously big nuclear-powered Kirov-class cruisers.

And I think there's a WW2-era all-gun cruiser still knocking around somewhere in South America.

But no, no-one's currently building cruisers.

[IanMorewood]

AlexiusG55 said:

And I think there's a WW2-era all-gun cruiser still knocking around somewhere in South America.

Peru an ex Dutch light cruiser laid down before the war and finished after.