Strikes could be carried out by Tornado jets, armed with Storm Shadow cruise missiles, and helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious is already deployed in the Mediterranean as part of long-planned exercise Cougar 13

29 Aug 2013 telegraph.co.uk

With the possibility of intervention in Syria on the horizon, an arsenal of military might is available for use by defence chiefs.

The Royal Navy's Response Force

The Royal Navy's Response Force Task Group is already deployed in the Mediterranean as part of long-planned exercise Cougar 13. The force includes helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious, type-23 frigates HMS Westminster and HMS Montrose, amphibious warship HMS Bulwark and six Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships.

Frigates

Type-23, or Duke-class, frigates are said to be the core of the frontline fleet. Carrying 185 personnel, they are 133m long, have a range of 7,800 nautical miles and a top speed of 28 knots. They carry Sea Wolf surface-to-air missile systems, the main line of defence against attacking aircraft and missiles, as well as a Harpoon anti-ship missile system and guns.

Nuclear submarines

Trafalgar-class nuclear submarine HMS Tireless is also believed to be in the area, after being spotted at the weekend in Gibraltar. The Trafalgar-class is a class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines and form the backbone of the Royal Navy's nuclear-powered "hunter-killer" submarine force. HMS Torbay, Trenchant, Talent, and Triumph are fitted with the Sonar 2076 system, described by the Navy as the most advanced sonar in service with any navy in the world and carry Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Tomahawk cruise missile

The Tomahawk IV, known in the Navy as TLAM (Tomahawk land attack cruise missile), allows submarines to strike at ground targets hundreds of miles inland with "pinpoint accuracy".

The 5.5 metre-long cruise missile, which weighs 1,300kg and has a range of more than 1,000 miles, is fitted to all Trafalgar and Astute-class submarines. It has been in use with the Submarine Service since the late 1990s and has been used in the Kosovo conflict and, more recently, in campaigns against the Taliban and Saddam Hussein.

After it is fired from a boat's torpedo tubes and reaches the surface, a booster rocket propels the missile skywards and it heads for its target at around 550mph, delivering a 1,000lb explosive warhead.

Tornado jets armed with cruise missiles

Strikes could also be carried out by Tornado jets armed with Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

Previously used in areas such as Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan and, most recently, Libya, the Tornado GR4 is a two-seat, day or night, all-weather attack aircraft which can fire a variety of weapons.

Powered by two Rolls-Royce RB 199 Mk 103 turbofan engines, it can fly automatically at low level when poor weather prevents visual flight and is equipped with infrared and night vision so it can be used at night in all weather.

All Tornado GR4s can carry the air launched anti-radiation missile (Alarm), which homes on to the emitted radiation of enemy radar systems and it's own defences have been upgraded to include state-of-the-art Asraam short range air-to-air missile. It is also equipped with a 27mm Mauser cannon which can fire 1,700 rounds per minute.

The GR4 typically carries up to a maximum of five Paveway IV laser-guided bombs, or two Storm Shadow cruise missiles, but can be configured with various weapons, targeting pods and reconnaissance pods.

Storm Shadow missiles

The Storm Shadow is a long-range, air-launched and conventionally armed missile.

It allows the Tornado to make "precision strikes" in poor weather with a greatly increased stand-off range from the target area.

Equipped with a powerful warhead, it is designed to attack important hardened targets and infrastructure such as buried and protected command centres.

Mission data, including target details, is loaded into the missile's main computer before the aircraft leaves. Then, after it is fired, its wings deploy and the missile navigates its way to the target at low level.

On its final approach it climbs, discards its nose cone and uses an advanced infrared seeker to match the target area with stored imagery. This process is repeated as the missile dives onto the target, using higher-resolution imagery, to ensure the maximum accuracy.

Aircrafts

Britain has also deployed various aircraft to Cyprus to protect Sovereign Base Areas in the overseas territory.

Six RAF Typhoons have been sent to RAF Akrotiri in a "defensive counter air" role.

The RAF's four frontline Typhoon Squadrons are based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and RAF Leuchars in Fife, and each squadron operates up to 15 aircraft.

Typhoons have two Eurojet EJ200 turbojets. They can reach a maximum speed of 1.8 Mach and an altitude of 55,000ft.

The jets sent to Cyprus are armed with advanced, medium range air-to-air missiles (Amraam), Asraam and a Mauser cannon for close combat.

Air-to-air missiles

The Amraam, which can be used in all weather, is launched from a range of 20 to 30 nautical miles then guided by its own navigation system, while receiving command-guidance updates from the launch aircraft . It is equipped with a radar proximity fuse which detonates the high-explosive fragmentation warhead at a pre-set distance from the target.

In short-range mode, it can be launched "active-off-the-rail" when the missile's radar detects the target immediately after launch.

The Asraam is a high-speed, highly manoeuvrable, heat-seeking air-to-air missile designed as a "fire-and-forget" weapon which can counter things like infrared countermeasures.

Typically, it is slaved to a target either visually or by the launch aircraft's onboard sensors. After its release, the missile accelerates to speeds faster than Mach 3 whilst being guided to the target using its infrared seeker. Detonation of the high-explosive fragmentation warhead is achieved by either a laser proximity fuse or an impact fuse.

The Mauser BK-27 is a 27mm cannon fitted to Tornado jets for air-to-air or air-to-ground firing. The cannon is a single-barrel, high-performance breech-cylinder gun and can fire at a rate of 1000 or 1700 rounds per minute.

Airbones surveillance

The RAF operates seven E-3D Sentry aircraft in the airborne surveillance and command-and-control role.

Based at RAF Waddington, they are operated by Nos 8 and 23 Squadrons as the UK's contribution to the Nato Airborne Early Warning and Control Force.

The Sentry's roles are air and sea surveillance, airborne command and control, and weapons control, and it can also operate as an extensive communications platform.

It cruises at 30,000ft and 400 knots and its high-performance radar, housed in the black radome, can separate airborne and maritime targets from ground and sea clutter.

One Sentry flying at 30,000ft can scan at distances of over 300 nautical miles, can detect low-flying targets or maritime surface contacts within 215 nautical miles and can detect medium-level airborne targets at ranges beyond 280 nautical miles.

21 August 2013 Ministry of Defence

A Royal Navy warship and RAF Typhoons have put their skills and technology to the test during a joint exercise.

23 July 2013 Ministry of Defence

Three Japanese warships have arrived in Portsmouth for a 4-day visit to help forge closer links with the Royal Navy.

The cadets’ stay in Portsmouth includes visiting the Royal Navy’s marine and air engineering facilities at HMS Sultan in Gosport, and experiencing operations room and bridge simulators at HMS Collingwood in Fareham.

Naval history is also on their itinerary, with visits to the Naval Historical Branch at the naval base and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

Commander Jeff Short, who has helped to arrange the visit, said:

The Royal Navy has a lot in common with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force. We have engaged as maritime nations since 1613 and exchanged students for the last 150 years.

More recently, we have worked together on counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean and we share common equipment such as the Merlin helicopter.

While we may be separated by geography, we are joined by the sea and, just as importantly, by our similar ethos and doctrine. This visit is eagerly anticipated by the Royal Navy and the interaction of the Japanese cadets with our young officers at Sultan and Collingwood will be one of many highlights.

Rear Admiral Fumiyuki Kitagawa, who is embarked on JDS Kashima, said:

Japan and Great Britain have a history going back hundreds of years. The Royal Navy was the model for the foundation of the Japanese Navy so we are very pleased to be here. One of our first priorities is to absorb a bit of history by going around HMS Victory and the capital, London.

The public can also get involved with the visit by climbing on board JDS Isoyuki when she opens up her gangway free of charge to visitors on Wednesday 24 July between 10am and 4pm. And the squadron’s embarked 40-strong military band will be performing the same day next to HMS Victory between 12:30pm and 1:30pm.

The squadron – which last visited Portsmouth in 2008 – departs at 9am on Thursday 25 July.

18/07/2013 Sources : EMA

Les 15 et 17 juillet 2013, le groupe de guerre des mines (GGDM) et les bâtiments de la mission Jeanne d’Arc achevaient respectivement leur participation à l’opération Enduring Freedom(OEF). Composé de deux chasseurs de mines tripartites (CMT) de la Marine nationale, le Pégase et le Sagittaire, le GGDM avait pour mission première de sécuriser les voies maritimes ainsi que les approches des ports, et contribuer ainsi à la sûreté de nos approvisionnements.

Le GGDM avait également comme mission de mettre à jour notre connaissance des fonds marins et des routes maritimes. Cette mission permet d’être en mesure de comparer, à tout moment, les cartes préalablement établies et les levées de fonds plus récentes des CMT.

Régulièrement intégré à l’opération Enduring Freedom durant son déploiement, le GGDM a amplement contribué à la connaissance approfondie de la zone permettant à la force d’entretenir un suivi précis dans la zone d’opération.

Les deux bâtiments qui composent la mission Jeanne d’Arc, le bâtiment de projection et de commandement (BPC) Tonnerre et la frégate anti-sous-marine (FASM)Georges Leygues,ont été intégrés dans l’opération Enduring Freedom depuis le 5 juillet dernier, offrant ainsi des moyens significatifs au profit de la TF150.

Actuellement, un bâtiment français est engagé dans OEF : il s’agit du bâtiment de commandement et de ravitaillement (BCR) Somme, qui accueille l’état-major de la TF150, sous commandement français. C’est la huitième fois que la France occupe cette responsabilité depuis le début de l’opération.

La France participe à la composante aéromaritime de l’opération Enduring Freedom(Task force150) qui a pour missions de dissuader et de lutter contre le terrorisme et ses réseaux de soutien, principalement les trafics d’armes et de drogue dans l’océan indien, la mer rouge et le détroit d’Ormuz. Cette zone, qui représente un intérêt majeur, voit la majorité du trafic maritime mondial y transiter. La présence permanente de bâtiments de la coalition contribue ainsi à la libre navigation des personnes et des biens.

11 Jul 2013 By Simon Johnson, Scottish Political Editor, Faslane - telegraph.co.uk

The British Government denies reports it is examining plans to designate Faslane as sovereign UK territory in case Scots back independence next year.

David Cameron today strongly denied reports the Government is considering a plan to ensure that Britain’s nuclear deterrent would remain in Scotland after independence despite SNP promises to remove it.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) was said to be considering designating the Faslane base that houses Trident nuclear submarines as sovereign UK territory, giving it the same legal status as British bases in foreign countries like Cyprus.

Alex Salmond would be presented with a choice of accepting this status, it was claimed, or a separate Scotland having to pay a substantial part of the multi-billion pound bill for removing Trident.

A deal over Faslane would ensure the Trident fleet would have access to the open seas via the Firth of Clyde and the continuation of Britain’s round-the-clock deterrent. At least one nuclear-armed submarine is on patrol at sea at any one time.

The Scottish Nationalists seized on the reports as evidence of the UK attempting to strong-arm Scotland into keeping nuclear weapons and said they would not agree to such an arrangement.

But Downing Street and the MoD attempted to head off a public backlash in Scotland by insisting they did not recognise the proposal, which was outlined in the Guardian, describing it as not “credible”.

They said they were not drawing up contingency plans for Trident in case Scots back independence next year despite expert warnings that there may be nowhere else suitable in the UK for the deterrent.

Mr Salmond has repeatedly insisted that nuclear weapons would be removed from the Clyde if Scots back independence, promising that a ban would be included in a written constitution.

He has claimed Faslane could be turned into a conventional naval base. But experts have warned it would cost many billions of pounds and take decades for Trident to be removed from the Clyde despite the SNP claiming it could be done very quickly.

Nicola Sturgeon, Mr Salmond’s deputy, told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "This seems to me to be an outrageous attempt at bullying by the UK Government.

"I can't see how they could do that without the agreement of the Scottish Government and speaking for my party that is not an agreement that would be forthcoming."

She said it was a "preposterous threat from the UK Government" and said that Coalition ministers should instead start talks now on how to remove Trident as quickly as possible in the event of a ‘yes’ vote next year.

But a Number 10 spokesman said: “This Government has not commissioned contingency plans over Faslane. No such ideas have come to the Secretary of State or the Prime Minister.

“They would not support them if they did. It’s not a credible or sensible idea.”

An MoD spokesman said: "No contingency plans are being made to move Trident out of Scotland. The scale and cost of any potential relocation away from Faslane would be enormous."

According to the Guardian report, MoD civil servants are starting to examine a two-stage process whereby the British Government would initially emphasise the huge expense and logistical difficulties of moving Trident.

These costs would be factored into the ‘divorce settlement’ between Scotland and the UK, reducing the sum to which the former is entitled.

However, it is claimed they are examining an alternative whereby Scotland would get a much better deal in return for allowing Faslane to become sovereign UK territory, along the lines of the Akrotiri and Dhekelia naval bases in Cyprus.

A defence source was quoted as stating: “The sovereign base area is an option. It is an interesting idea because the costs of moving out of Faslane are eye-wateringly high.”

Sir Menzies Campbell, the former Liberal Democrat leader, warned of a backlash. He said: “To seek to impose a financial penalty on an independent Scotland in relation to the decommissioning of Faslane might be seen as undue pressure and could easily play into the hands of the SNP.”

However, he pointed out that a separate Scotland might have to agree to keep Trident anyway under Mr Salmond’s plans to apply for Nato membership.

10 July 2013 naval-technology.com

Designers have completed plan for the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary's (RFA) new fleet of Tide-class military afloat reach and sustainability (MARS) tankers, which will serve at least 25 years.

The four Tide-class MARS tankers, comprising Tidespring, Tiderace, Tidesurge and Tideforce, will enter service with the Royal Navy to boost its capabilities by delivering fuel, water, spare parts and other supplies.

In cooperation with the Royal Navy and RFA, BMT Defence Services has completed design for the four next-generation tankers with hundreds of design drawings and plans.

The company has also developed and tested scale models in the gigantic water tank at Haslar in Gosport, where Tidespring vessel also successfully refuelled HMS Queen Elizabeth in various sea conditions.

"A Range Rover's fuel tank connected to all four 7in hoses on the starboard size of a Tide tanker would be full in 0.12 seconds."

The future tanker project naval architect Mark Lewis said: "A Range Rover's fuel tank connected to all four 7in hoses on the starboard size of a Tide tanker would be full in 0.12 seconds."

Following completion of a £450m quartet design of the 37,000t ships, Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) will draw up detailed plans to begin construction on the ships next year at Okpo-dong in south-east South Korea.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded a contract to DSME in 2012 for the construction of four MARS tankers to replace the existing RFA's single hulled tankers, with the first ship of the class due to be delivered in October 2015, with the final vessel due in April 2017.

The new double-hulled tankers will be designed to meet International Maritime Organization pollution (MARPOL) regulations, an International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 and the protocol of 1978, as well as European Commission environmental regulations.

21 June 2013 Ministry of Defence

A Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer has used 2 helicopters on front line operations for the first time.

Monmouth’s helicopter was flown across and safely stowed in Dragon’s hangar where it underwent maintenance following its 6 months in the region.

Air Engineering Technician Petty Officer Matt Ferris said:

Dual aircraft operations has been a busy time for all. The maintenance hours were triple that of a normal flight due to Monmouth’s helicopter staying in theatre, and keeping up with the high flying tempo whilst having 2 aircraft.

Having 2 Lynx allowed one aircraft to carry out the ‘day job’ of surface searches and support to board and search operations, while the second helicopter involved itself with Royal Marines sniper team and rapid roping training, passenger transfers and, most importantly, picking up mail to bolster the morale of the 235-strong ship’s company.

And when a call came through from minehunter HMS Quorn that she needed equipment flown in from Bahrain, at the same time as a transfer of American sailors was planned, it meant that both helicopters were scrambled.

Within 2 hours the helicopters were both back in the hangar being prepared for the next day’s tasking having completed their double mission. As the 2 months aboard Dragon came to an end, pilot Lieutenant Rob Gleave said:

It was a great opportunity to actually apply the training we receive in the UK and put it into practice.

As far as Dragon’s principal warfare officer, Lieutenant Commander Jason White, was concerned the double helicopter experiment was well worthwhile. He said:

Having 2 Lynx aircraft embarked on Dragon for this short period has allowed valuable experience to be gained and lessons learned throughout the ship which have been captured for the future.

20 June 2013 Ministry of Defence

UK warships are to benefit from a new surveillance capability as part of a £30 million contract signed by MOD.

The unarmed aircraft, which has a wingspan of just over 3 metres and weighs 22 kilograms, is launched from ships into the sky by a pneumatic catapult.

Flying at about 60 knots, it is commanded by a specialist team on board the ship who will plan the ScanEagle’s missions, control its flights and monitor and analyse the information it gathers using its state-of-the-art sensors.

At the end of its flight, the ScanEagle is recovered back to the ship.

Royal Navy Captain Ian Annett, who’s been involved with the project, said:

ScanEagle represents an important addition to the Royal Navy’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability. Its ability to deploy during the day and night, coupled with the technology it uses, will give commanders a clearer picture of the operational situation whenever it’s required.

Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Philip Dunne said:

ScanEagle provides the Royal Navy with proven surveillance capability that has already been used on operations by other nations, so we know we are getting top quality equipment. The technology is off-the-shelf and will be available to the Royal Navy as soon as possible.

Our continued investment in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems is essential to keeping our Armed Forces up-to-date with the latest capabilities and this will be a central part of MOD’s investment in new equipment over the next 10 years.

24.06.2013 Helen Chachaty - journal-aviation.com

Certains bâtiments de la Royal Navy seront bientôt équipés de drones ScanEagle, spécialement conçus pour les opérations en milieu maritime. Cette acquisition résulte d’un contrat signé récemment entre le MOD et Boeing Defence UK.

Les UAV fabriqués par l’industriel Insitu sont destinés aux missions de surveillance, de reconnaissance et de renseignement. Capables de rester dans les airs entre 15 et 18 heures, ces drones de trois mètres d’envergure et de 22 kilogrammes sont lancés à partir d’une catapulte pneumatique. Dotés d’une caméra infrarouge, les drones transmettent les images recueillies par le biais d’une liaison satellite.

18/06/2013 (Boursier.com)

Saft, leader mondial de la conception et de la fabrication de batteries de haute technologie pour l'industrie et l'aéronautique, fournit des systèmes de batterie de pointe à AgustaWestland pour équiper les nouveaux hélicoptères polyvalents AW159 Lynx Wildcat du ministère de la Défense britannique. Les systèmes de batterie, conçus autour des batteries au nickel à très faible maintenance (ULM) de Saft, soutiennent les fonctions critiques de l'AW159 telles que l'alimentation de secours et le démarrage des deux turbines.

L'AW159 est le tout dernier appareil bimoteur polyvalent, pour missions en mer et sur terre, développé pour succéder à la famille des hélicoptères Lynx d'AgustaWestland qui répondent brillamment aux besoins de nombreux opérateurs depuis plus de trente ans. Baptisé Lynx Wildcat par le ministère de la Défense britannique, l'AW159 remplacera le Lynx actuel pour les missions à terre, de combat en mer et de reconnaissance. 34 Lynx Wildcats sont en cours de livraison à l'armée britannique et seront mis en service opérationnel en 2014, tandis que 28 appareils sont en cours de livraison à la Royal Navy et seront mis en service en 2015.

Saft a développé le système de batterie de l'AW159 pour fournir une solution robuste et renforcée afin de garantir une totale fiabilité dans les conditions particulièrement exigeantes des missions terrestres et de l'aéronaval. Les batteries sont soumises à de fortes vibrations et à des températures extrêmes auxquelles s'ajoute la difficulté des démarrages successifs. AgustaWestland a choisi les batteries Saft ULM pour leurs avantages en termes de hautes performances, de légèreté, de très faible maintenance et de durée de vie, essentielles pour les hélicoptères.

"La fourniture des systèmes batteries, pour ce programme essentiel d'amélioration de l'hélicoptère militaire, est un développement qui conforte Saft dans son statut de fournisseur incontournable de batteries de haute technologie pour le marché de l'aviation militaire. Nous nous réjouissons de travailler avec AgustaWestland pour soutenir les hélicoptères AW159 non seulement dans la phase d'introduction mais aussi tout au long de leur vie, dont la durée anticipée est de 40 ans", explique Bernard Weber, Directeur Ventes et Marketing de l'activité Aviation de Saft.

Le système de batterie développé par Saft pour l'AW159 comprend 20 éléments Saft CVH500KA ULM, fournissant une tension nominale de 24 V et une capacité de 50 Ah.

11/06/2013 Royal Navy

With a keen eye on the future HMS Queen Elizabeth Carrier Programme, a Fleet Air Arm Airborne Surveillance and Control Squadron, working with the French Navy’s Carrier Air Group, (CAG) on a major French Navy Air Defence exercise has proved an outstanding success.

The 849 Naval Air Squadron deployment of two Sea King Mk7 Airborne Surveillance and Control (SKASaC) helicopters facilitated participation in a multi-national Air Defence exercise with the French Navy Carrier Air Group (CAG) and a Squadron of Swiss Air Force F /A-18 D Hornet fighters.

Four Squadrons make up the French CAG: two of Rafale fighters, (11F & 12F), one of Super Étendard fighters (17F) and a E2-C Hawkeye squadron (4F) which provide carrier strike and airborne early warning for the Flagship of the French Navy, the French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, FS Charles de Gaulle.

Operating from the French Naval Air Station at Landivisiau in Brittany the pair of Sea Kings from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose cemented further, long-established links in Anglo-French relations.

The deployment was fully integrated within the Air Defence Exercise and supported by not only the superb logistical support with host nation infrastructure, but also from the French CAG Operational Planning Staff, who planned and executed the joint exercise.

Integration was fundamental between the two nations and the employment of the SKASaC in the core role was a key enabler. This included fighter control training missions for the CAG strike assets on their way to attack naval surface vessels from France and the UK, providing some of the highlights during the training.

The Air Defence Week exercise is part of the operational work-up that the French CAG has to complete before joining up with the FS Charles De Gaulle and being declared ready to deploy.

“This exercise proved an excellent opportunity for SKASaC and its air surveillance and fighter control capabilities,” said Lieutenant Commander Jim Hall, Senior Observer of 849 NAS.

“We achieved a significant amount on so many levels.

"A comprehensive Airborne Surveillance and Control training programme provided the basis for the mission profiles, as well as continuation training for 854 NAS and the achievement of the Operational Conversion Phase for three ab-initio aircrew students who will be deploying in the near future on Operations.

"It also proved an excellent chance to re-establish links with the E2-C Hawkeye Squadron who are affiliated to 849 NAS.”

Overall the Sea Kings achieved over 40 hours flying and completed 16 mission sorties conducting control of the Carrier strike (CS) assets, with mission profiles including Maritime Strike missions and Composite Air Operations (COMAO) against ground targets.

Captain Mark Garratt, Commanding Officer of RNAS Culdrose, took the opportunity to visit the detachment and secure closer links with his French counterpart at the French Naval Air Station Landivisiau

"We can learn a great deal from each other. This exercise has proved the mutual benefit to be gained from working closely together in challenging operational scenarios.”

Jun 6, 2013 ASDNews Source : Ministry of Defence

    HMS Edinburgh, the last of the Royal Navy's Type 42 destroyers, officially bows out of service today, Thursday 6 June.

HMS Edinburgh’s White Ensign will be lowered for the last time during her decommissioning ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base, ending an era which began with the launch of HMS Sheffield in 1971.

The ageing Type 42s, which have served the Navy across the globe for 40 years, have gradually been phased out to make way for the Type 45s, which are among the most sophisticated and powerful warships in the world.

Among hundreds of guests at the decommissioning ceremony today will be Lady Heseltine, HMS Edinburgh    ’s sponsor, and wife of former Defence Secretary Michael Heseltine, who launched the ship on 14 April 1983.

Seventeen of the ship’s former commanding officers and dozens of Type 42 veterans will also attend.

Edinburgh’s 270-strong ship’s company will be on parade during the 50-minute ceremony and will be inspected by Lady Heseltine and senior naval officers.

RAF Typhoon and Hawk aircraft, together with a Sea Fury from the Royal Navy Historic Flight, will perform a flypast before the final lowering of the White Ensign.

HMS Edinburgh’s Commanding Officer, Commander Nick Borbone, said: “It will be a poignant day for all of us associated with HMS Edinburgh. It is also a day of celebration when we remember the 40 years of faithful service that ‘The Fighting 42s’ have given, manned by dedicated men and women, proud to serve in this world-renowned class of ship.”

Career highlights

Built by Cammell Laird at Birkenhead, Edinburgh was commissioned in December 1985; the 14th and final Type 42 to enter service.

Her first deployment was to the Gulf in 1987, escorting numerous merchant ships safely through the region.

The following year His Royal Highness The Duke of York joined as one of the ship’s officers, serving on board during a 6-month round-the-world deployment.

In 1996, Edinburgh rescued the crew of a crippled sailing boat while on patrol in the Gulf. She despatched her Lynx helicopter to rescue all 9 Pakistani crewmen from the vessel after it took on water in stormy conditions and eventually sank.

She took part in the second Gulf War in 2003, supporting Royal Marines ashore and acting as escort to the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean.

The following year Edinburgh deployed to the Mediterranean and was involved in Operation Active Endeavour, monitoring sea lanes as part of the war on terror.

And in 2008, during operations in the Gulf, she seized a drugs cargo – stashed on board a sailing boat – worth several million pounds.

Edinburgh entered refit in 2010 and spent most of the following year in the South Atlantic. She returned from her final deployment – conducting security patrols across the South and North Atlantic – in March.

The end of an era

Type 42 air defence destroyers have been the backbone of the Royal Navy’s fleet since the first – HMS Sheffield – was commissioned in 1975.

They have served on operations across the globe, including the Falklands conflict of 1982 and the Gulf War in 1991. As recently as 2011, HMS Liverpool was ordered to Libya as part of the Navy’s contribution to NATO’s naval blockade of the country during its civil war.

Liverpool supported the no-fly zone by controlling NATO aircraft from the sea, enforced the embargo on arms sales to the Gaddafi regime, and fired 111 high-explosive rounds against targets ashore.

Type 45 takes the baton

The Type 42s have been replaced by the Type 45 destroyers; the most advanced warships the nation has ever built. Several of the new class of ship have already deployed operationally to the Middle East and across the Atlantic.

Their mission is to shield the fleet from air attack using the Sea Viper missile which can knock targets out of the sky up to 70 miles away if necessary.

The Type 45s can also be used as general-purpose warships; they have huge flight decks to accommodate helicopters up to the size of a Chinook. There’s also enough space on board to host a Royal Marines detachment up to 60-men strong.

As for the ship’s company, they enjoy ‘creature comforts’ only dreamed of by their forebears; no sailor lives in a mess square for more than 6 people and there are no communal heads (toilets) or showers.

All Type 45s are based in Portsmouth and will serve until around 2040.