Frigate HMS Londonderry (F108)

Frigate HMS Londonderry (F108) 0Frigate HMS Londonderry (F108) 1Frigate HMS Londonderry (F108) 2Frigate HMS Londonderry (F108) 3Frigate HMS Londonderry (F108) 4Frigate HMS Londonderry (F108) 5Frigate HMS Londonderry (F108) 6

Classification

Type:

Basic information

Operator:
Country of build:
Builder:
Laid down:
Launched:
Commissioned (service):
Decommissioned (out):
Status:

Ship measurements

Displacement:
2,800 t
Length:
110 m
Beam (waterline):
12 m
Draft:
5.3 m

Machine

Propulsion:
  • 2 * Babcock & Wilcox boilers
  • 2 * English Electric steam turbines
  • 2 * shafts
  • 30,000 shp (22,000 kW)
Speed:
30 knots
Range:
400 tons oil fuel; 5,200 nautical miles (9,630 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)

Personnel

Complement:
235

Combat assets

Electronics:

As build:

  • Radar Type 293Q target indication
  • Radar Type 275 fire control on director Mark 6M
  • Radar Type 277Q height finder
  • Radar Type 974 navigation
  • Type 1010 Cossor Mark 10 IFF
  • Sonar Type 174 search
  • Sonar Type 162 target classification
  • Sonar Type 170 attack

As modified:

  • Radar Type 993 target indication
  • Radar Type 903 fire control on director MRS3
  • Radar Type 978 navigation
  • Type 1010 Cossor Mark 10 IFF
  • Sonar Type 177 search
  • Sonar Type 162 target classification
  • Sonar Type 170 attack
Armament:

As build:

  • 1 * twin 4.5in gun Mark 6
  • 1 * 40 mm Bofors gun Mark 7
  • 2 * Limbo anti-submarine mortar Mark 10
  • 12 * 21-in anti-submarine torpedo tubes (removed or never installed)

As modified:

  • 1 * twin 4.5in gun Mark 6
  • 1 * Sea Cat GWS-20 SAM
  • 2 * 20 mm Oerlikon guns
  • 1 * Limbo anti-submarine mortar Mark 10
  • 2 * 8-barrel 3in Knebworth/Corvus countermeasures launchers
Aircraft:

As modified: 1 * Westland Wasp HAS.1 MATCH helicopter

HMS Londonderry was a Rothesay or Type 12 class anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy in service from 1960 to 1984.

After commissioning on 20 July 1960, Londonderry completed manufacturer's trials and then was formally taken over by the Royal Navy. She then carried out time in the Home Fleet before departing Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK on 1 May 1961 for her first cruise in the Caribbean area. Between 1961 and 1964 the frigate was deployed four times to the West Indies, also visiting Argentina. In October 1961 she was diverted to assist the Italian liner MV Bianca C when the latter caught fire in the port of St. George's, Grenada. In August 1965 she was present at Portsmouth Navy Days. On 31 August 1965 Londonderry left Portsmouth for service in the Far East. She returned in 1967 and was modernised until 1969 at Rosyth. The most distinctive features of her modernization were the helicopter deck and hangar aft for a Westland Wasp helicopter.

Following her modernization she was sent to Malaysia in 1970. She also took part in the Beira Patrol and was then sent to the Bahamas where she rescued 148 Cuban refugees. In 1973 she replaced Yarmouth in the NATO Standing Naval Force Atlantic.

In November 1975 she entered the Rosyth Dockyard to be refitted as a trials ship for Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment. Up to October 1979 Londonderry had her armament removed, and an extra mast added for her new role as a trials ship. The original propellers were replaced and new, low-cavitation propellers were installed. Additional navigational equipment and accommodation were installed to provide berths for both midshipmen from Dartmouth and apprentices from HMS Caledonia who were undergoing sea training.

In early 1982, Londonderry accompanied Fearless on a sea training trip to the West Indies and the United States of America, visiting Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands and New Orleans during the Mardi Gras celebrations. Returning home she was paid off into reserve on 31 March 1982. Originally she should have been put on the disposal list, but due to the Falklands War she became the Dartmouth Training Ship of the 6th Frigate Squadron. From 20 January to 29 March Londonderry made her last cruise from Portsmouth for the Dartmouth Training Squadron's deployment to the West Indies and USA. She then became a Harbour Training Ship attached to the shore base HMS Sultan at Gosport. She remained in this role until 1988. On 25 June 1989 Londonderry was finally sunk as a target off Scotland.

During her service Londonderry steamed approximately 125,500 km, four times crossing the Atlantic and transiting the Panama Canal three times. She visited 50 ports in 35 different countries. Although never deployed in a war the ship's guns fired 1,232 rounds of 4.5-inch ammunition and 442 rounds of 40 mm ammunition.

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