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HMS Liverpool,
is due to sails into the Mersey for Her final time
SHE'S the Royal Navy’s
queen of the recent Libyan conflict and she’s now taking a farewell
bow in her spiritual home after three decades’ sterling service.
Type 42 destroyer HMS Liverpool will sail into the Mersey on
Wednesday, 29 February 2012, for a 6 day visit. HMS Liverpool was
laid down at Cammell Laird’s in 1978 and launched from the famous
Birkenhead yard in 1980. She entered service in 1982, a mere 2 weeks
after the Falklands Conflict came to an end, and she has sailed the
world for the Royal Navy in peace time and conflict ever since. Most
recently, off Libya, she became the first Royal Navy ship to be
fired upon for 30 years during her seven month deployment to the
area. She is a thoroughly proud Merseyside lass; born and bred; and,
fittingly, it is in the Liverpool that she will open her gangway for
the final time to the UK public as she comes to the natural end of
her working life in the navy later this year.
HMS Liverpool will berth alongside at the Cruise Liner Terminal on
the morning of 29 February 2012, marking the beginning of a busy,
celebratory programme. As well as holding a reception for invited
guests during her stay, the ship’s company is also looking forward
to hosting some 20 groups, schools/colleges and organisations on
board.
A particular honour is bestowed upon them all on Friday, 2 March
2012, when the crew will take to the streets of Liverpool to
exercise their Freedom of the City for the last time.
HMS Liverpool was awarded this honour in 1982 and has exercised this
ancient tradition on numerous occasions during her close affiliation
with this great maritime city.
The parade will step off from Our Lady and St Nicholas’ Church at 12
noon, after a celebratory, invitation-only service which will also
be attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Dame Lorna
Muirhead.
The route takes them East on Chapel Street and then East on
Tithebarn Street, before turning South on Moorfields and West on
Dale Street.
After turning north onto Exchange Street West, the
parade will halt for inspections, and a salute will be taken by the
Lord Lieutenant and Liverpool’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Frank
Prendergast, before the parade falls out for a civic reception at
the Town Hall.
Councillor Prendergast said:- "This is a historic visit for
the city and I’m privileged to be Lord Mayor when this famous vessel
makes its final journey to its home city. HMS Liverpool is a proud
symbol of our city and this is the perfect opportunity for us to
thank the ship and all its crew, past and present, for the essential
work they do. As this is the last time she will sail into the city,
I hope people will come out in their thousands to celebrate the
ship’s return and line the streets to give the crew an unforgettable
welcome home."
But it is on Saturday and Sunday, 3 March and 4 March, from 12 noon
until 4pm on both days, that the ship and her crew will have a real
opportunity to engage with the public of Merseyside, when she opens
her gangway to the public.
Visitors will have the chance to explore this mighty ship, get up
close and personal with some of her equipment and speak to brave men
and women who have sailed her and fought from her decks her most
recently.
This opportunity will never be
repeated again so do not miss out. HMS Liverpool will make her
last journey down the Mersey on the morning of 5 March 2012, leaving
the Cruise Liner Terminal at 11am and delivering a gun salute at
Cammell Laird’s at approximately 12 noon; she will then sail past
the Royal Liver Building to deliver the ship’s final ever gun salute
to the city, with which she has been so proudly intertwined with
over the past 30 years. ...Continued
in opposite column... |
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...Continued... HMS Liverpool sailed
at the end of March 2011 to support Operation Unified Protector
where her tasks included enforcing the No-Fly Zone and conducting
embargo operations to prevent arms from reaching pro-Gaddafi forces
by sea.
During this high-tempo mission to protect the Libyan citizens, HMS
Liverpool’s ship’s company spent 81 hours at Action Stations on 28
separate occasions, were fired at and returned fire ten times, and
launched 211 rounds of illumination and high explosive shells from
her 4.5 inch gun. These illumination or star shells were fired to
light up pro-Gaddafi positions for NATO aircraft to identify and
destroy.
The ship’s company witnessed the siege of Misratah and the fall of
Tripoli, Zlitan, Al Khums and Sirte to the rebels and, while
enforcing the No-Fly Zone, Liverpool’s Fighter Controllers spent 360
hours controlling 14 different types of aircraft from a number of
NATO countries.
During her deployment, HMS
Liverpool worked alongside many other Royal Navy assets including
mine hunters HMS Brocklesby and HMS Bangor. On the occasions that
the mine hunters had to close the coast to search and destroy any
mines that had been laid, HMS Liverpool stood by as protection to
allow the ships to successfully complete their missions.
Assault ship HMS Ocean and her embarked Apache helicopters were also
on national tasking in the area, with HMS Liverpool able to provide
assistance as an air defence platform and to give an intelligence
picture from their position.
All the UK assets were supported by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship
Fort Rosalie which provided vital stores when needed; HMS Liverpool
herself conducted 40 Replenishment at Seas with the RFA ship,
embarking vital supplies and fuel.
Commander Williams continued:- "I am immensely proud of my
ship’s company and the way in which they rose to their challenge and
reacted to the very real threat posed by pro-Gaddafi forces. For 7
months HMS Liverpool was at the sharp end of Royal Navy operations,
spending 360 hours controlling aircraft, firing hundreds of rounds
and spending long periods at action stations. We became the 1st
Royal Navy ship to be fired upon in 30 years and my ship’s company
responded by putting their training into action, returning fire in
self defence and destroying enemy positions ashore. In their efforts
to protect the Libyan people and enforce the will of the United
Nations, the ship’s company proved their grit and determination."
Commanding Officer of HMS Liverpool, Commander Colin
Williams, said:- "This visit is one of celebration and
appreciation of the sterling service which this exceptional ship has
offered her country during her three decades at sea. To be bringing
her back home to Liverpool is, without question, not only the
absolute pinnacle of this celebration, but also a very poignant and
dignified moment in her long and illustrious life. We have always
enjoyed absolutely exceptional links with Liverpool. I know that my
crew is honoured and excited to show off their ship once more to
Merseysiders, who have always shown unparalleled hospitality and
enthusiasm for this great ship. I am extremely proud to have
commanded HMS Liverpool and her crew; there is obviously some
sadness in bidding farewell to any ship, but, more than anything,
this is a time to honour HMS Liverpool and her achievements, the
most recent of which was outstanding and key support to the NATO
operations off the coast of Libya. I sincerely hope that as many
Merseysiders as possible will make the journey to the Cruise Liner
Terminal to visit the ship on Saturday and Sunday when we open to
the public. It allows us in our own small way to return the
hospitality and affection shown over more than 3 decades before
bidding our final fond farewell." |
