HMS Gloucester (D96)

HMS "Gloucester" (D96) is a Batch 3 Type 42 destroyer of the Royal Navy. The ship was built by Vosper Thorneycroft at Woolston, Southampton and launched on 2 November 1982 by The Duchess of Gloucester. The present HMS "Gloucester" was one of the last four of the class to be built. They have a lengthened hull design giving better seakeeping qualities and greater endurance.

"Gloucester" served in the Gulf War in 1991 under the command of Commander Philip Wilcocks where her most notable action was the firing of a salvo shot of Sea Dart missiles to shoot down an Iraqi Silkworm missile that was threatening the USS|Missouri|BB-63 and allied minehunters; the first (and only) successful missile vs missile engagement at sea in combat by any Navy. The ship also survived attacks from 2 sea mines and conducted numerous boardings using her boarding party consisting of Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel. The ship's Lynx helicopter destroyed numerous Iraqi warships. She spent the longest period upthreat of any coaltion warships. As a result of her endeavours, her Captain (Commander Philip Wilcocks) and Flight Commander (Lt Cdr David Livingstone) were decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross; the Operations Officer and Flight Observer were both mentioned in Despatches.

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.

During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, HMS "Gloucester" was the first Royal Navy vessel to evacuate British nationals from Beirut, docking on 18 July 2006. She made three trips taking evacuees to Cyprus, and was the last Royal Navy ship to leave Beirut. [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5241214.stm|title=Praise for UK Lebanon evacuation|work=BBC News|date=3 August 2006]

She underwent a £6 million re-fit at Rosyth Dockyard in Fife, Scotland, in 2007.

Affiliations

*The Rifles
*City of Gloucester
*Worshipful Company of Grocers
*Gloucester R.F.C.

References

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.1659 Royal Navy Website: HMS Gloucester (D96)]