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{{Infobox Ship Characteristics |
{{Infobox Ship Characteristics |
Revision as of 19:49, 9 March 2008
HMS Cardiff in Portsmouth, circa 2005
| |
History | |
---|---|
UK | |
Builder | Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering |
Laid down | 6 November 1972 |
Launched | 22 February 1974 |
Commissioned | 24 September 1979 |
Decommissioned | 14 July 2005 |
Motto | Acris in cardine rerum - Keen in emergency |
Status | Awaiting disposal |
Badge | |
General characteristics | |
Type | Type 42 destroyer |
Displacement | 4,000 tonnes |
Length | 125 m (412 ft) |
Beam | 14.3 m (46 ft) |
Draught | 5.8 m (19 ft) |
Propulsion | list error: <br /> list (help) COGOG (Combined Gas or Gas) turbines, 2 shafts 2 turbines producing 36 MW |
Speed | 30 knots (56 km/h) |
Range | 4,000 miles at 18 knots |
Complement | 287-301 |
Armament | list error: <br /> list (help) 2 × Sea Dart Surface-to-air missile launchers 1 × 4.5 inch (114 mm) Mk.8 gun 2 × 20 mm Oerlikon guns 2 × Phalanx Close-in weapon system 2 × triple anti-submarine torpedo tubes NATO Seagnat and DLF3 decoy launchers |
Aircraft carried | Lynx HAS.3 |
HMS Cardiff (D108) is a Type 42 destroyer, the third ship of the Royal Navy to be named in honour of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff. She was built by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria and launched on February 22 1974.
During her career, Cardiff served in the Falklands War, where she formed part of the air defence barrier for the naval task force and shot down the the last Argentine aircraft of the conflict. During the Gulf War, Cardiff's Lynx helicopter sank two Iraqi minesweepers, after which she resumed regular duties and participated in the build up to the Iraq War by thwarting smuggling operations (as part of the "Armilla Patrol").
Cardiff was decommissioned in July 2005, having earned two battle honours for service in the Falklands and Gulf wars and is currently awaiting a decision as to her fate in Portsmouth Harbour.
Construction
Cardiff was built in the first of three batches of Sheffield class destroyers,[1] her keel was laid down on 6 November 1972, at Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd in Cumbria, costing over 30 million pounds (double her original price).[2] She was completed at Swan Hunter in Tyne and Wear after being towed there midway through development due to a labour shortage at Vickers.[3] She was launched on 22 February 1974, by Lady Caroline Gilmore[1][4] and commissioned on 24 September 1979, with Captain Barry Wilson in command.[5]
Cardiff's primary weapon was the Sea Dart surface-to-air missile system, which could hit aircraft 40 nmi away.[6] Her secondary weapon system was the 4.5 inch Mark 8 gun, capable of firing 21 kg shells to a range of 22,000 m.[7] After the Falklands War, in which two ships of her class were sunk by enemy aircraft, all Type 42s were equipped with the Phalanx close-in weapon system,[8][9] a Gatling cannon that fired 3000 rounds per minute, designed to shoot down anti-ship missiles.[10]
Falklands War (1982)
On April 2 1982 Argentina invaded the British overseas territory of the Falkland Islands. Britain sent a naval task force to recapture the islands on April 5 1982. Cardiff, having recently finished a patrol of the Persian Gulf,[11] set sail for the South Atlantic from Gibraltar on the 11 May 1982[12] under the command of Captain Michael Harris[13] and rendezvoused with the Bristol Group on May 14.[14] Four days before the group reached the TEZ (Total Exclusion Zone) around the islands on May 26,[15] they detected an Argentine military Boeing 707, Cardiff fell back from the group and fired two Sea Dart missiles at it, one fell short and the other exploded close to the target, however the plane was unharmed.[16][17]
Cardiff's arrival to the islands allowed a damaged HMS Glasgow to return back to the UK for repairs.[18] Her duties in the war zone were to form part of the AAW (Anti-Aircraft Warfare) picket, protecting British ships from air attack and attempting to "ambush" Argentine supply aircraft.[19] She also shelled enemy positions on the islands using her 4.5 inch gun, firing some 277 HE (High Explosive) rounds in one particular engagement[20] (although she would have "problems" with the gun two days later).[21]
In the early hours of June 6, Cardiff shot down a friendly Army Air Corps Gazelle helicopter of 656 squadron over Pleasant Peak.[22][23] All four occupants were killed, factors contributing to the accident were, a lack of IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) on the helicopter and poor communication between the army and navy.[24][25] Approximately an hour later[12] Cardiff spotted four landing craft carrying troops from the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards. She had been told there wasn't any friendlies in the area, so assuming they were the enemy as well, fired illuminating "star shells" at them in preparation to attack. Once the guards realised they were being targeted (having seen the star shells), they exchanged signals with Cardiff (via Aldis lamp)[26] and another "blue on blue" incident was avoided.
Cardiff shot down the last Argentine aircraft of the war,[12][27] Canberra bomber B-108 of Grupo de Bombardeo 2 (Bombing Group 2).[28] The pilot survived but the navigator,[19] Capt Casado was killed.[29] She accepted the surrender of an Argentine garrison in Port Howard on June 15 (one day after the main surrender).[20]
Post Falklands War (1982-1990)
Shortly after the Argentine surrender, members of her crew manned a captured patrol boat in Port Stanley and renamed it HMS Tiger Bay,[12] in honour of a dock area in Cardiff city called Tiger Bay.[30] The boat (originally called the Islas Malvinas GC82) had been damaged by gunfire from the Lynx helicopter of HMS Alacrity earlier in the war on May 1, near Kidney Island.[31]
Cardiff returned to the UK on July 28 1982, having left the Falklands three weeks earlier along with HMS Exeter and HMS Yarmouth.[12] Her Commanding Officer, Captain Michael Harris was relieved of his command on August 24 1982.[20]
All Type 42 destroyers were fitted with the "Phalanx" close-in weapon system after the war, to protect the ships from airborne threats.[8][9]
Gulf War (1990-91)
On 2 August 1990 Saddam Hussein's Iraq invaded Kuwait. In the latter part of the month, Secretary of State for Defence Tom King announced that the U.K. military contribution to the region was to be increased.[32] In September, Cardiff sailed to the Persian Gulf along side HMS Brazen and HMS London forming Group X-ray to relieve Armilla Group Whiskey[32][33] (HMS Battleaxe, Jupiter and York).[34] The coalition naval force planned to progressively move north up the Gulf, neutralising the Iraqi navy, then conducting NGS (Naval Gunfire Support) and MCM (Mine CounterMeasure) missions in preparation for the main amphibious force.[35] Cardiff and HMS Gloucester formed part of the air defence barrier protecting the three U.S. Aircraft Carrier battle groups (USS Midway, Ranger and Roosevelt).[35] Her wartime responsibilities involved searching vessels,[36] surface surveillance operations[35] and her Lynx helicopter working with U.S. Seahawks using its Sea Skua missile to destroy targets.[37]
On the 24th January, Cardiff's Lynx (no. 335 of 815 NAS)[38] spotted three Iraqi minesweepers by Qaruh Island and sunk two of them.[34][39] Later that day the island was captured by coalition forces and was the first Kuwaiti territory to be liberated. Five days later, Lynx 335 with Lynxs from Gloucester and Brazen attacked invading Iraqi vessels en route to the Battle of Khafji.[34][35]
In late January, Group Yankee (HMS Brave, Brilliant, Exeter and Manchester) arrived in the Gulf to relieve Cardiff and the rest of Group X-ray.[35] Lynx helicopters in the Northern Gulf flew nearly 600 sorties[35] and their crews maintained flying rates three times their norm.[40]
Post Gulf War (1991-2005)
Since the Gulf War, Cardiff's deployments have included counter-narcotics patrols in the West Indies, during which she also assisted the relief task on the island of Eleuthera in the wake of Hurricane Andrew and a deployment with the Standing Naval Force Mediterranean. A short period in home waters for maintenance and intensive sea training followed before Cardiff returned to the Gulf for seven months.[41]
On October 14 1994 Operation Vigilant Warrior began.[42] Iraq had once again started deploying troops near to the Kuwaiti border, the U.S. response to deter this "sabre-rattling"[42] was to send military forces to Kuwait, HMS Cornwall and Cardiff were the U.K's contribution.[43] Saddam pulled his forces back and the operation ended on December 21 1994.[42]
In 1995, upon her return to the UK from Operation Vigilant Warrior, Cardiff underwent a further period of maintenance before participating in the quadrennial NATO exercise, Strong Resolve. OST (Operational Sea Training) at Portland followed in preparation for assuming the duty of Fleet Ready Escort, this role requires a ship to be available to deploy anywhere in the world at short notice. After completing OST she attended the 50th VE Day anniversary in Copenhagen and Oslo and provided navigational sea training for frigate and destroyer navigating officer candidates. A visit to her namesake city of Cardiff for VJ Day celebrations followed another maintenance period and then she sailed to Plymouth for a trails and weapon training programme. After taking part in the multi-national biennial exercise Bright Star, Cardiff, in November, became the first Royal Navy ship to enter the Lebanese capital of Beirut in 27 years, visits to Tunisia and Gibraltar followed.[41]
United States National Research Council test (2000) [44]
Index [45] Cardiff, black rover, Keith (6 oct 2000)[46] back from sunnier climbs (29th Nov 2000)
[47]
(4th Apr 2003) return from Gulf patrol [48]
Navy News Ref[49]
providing aid to the island of Caye Caulker after it was hit by Hurricane Keith
Decommissioned (2005-present)
It was announced in July 2004, as part of the Delivering Security in a Changing World review, that Cardiff would be decommissioned in August 2005. Decommissioned July 2005 in Portsmouth.
Decorations/Awards
She was named the January 1996 "Ship of the Month" by the Navy News.[41]
2 battle honours
See also
Type 45 destroyer, Cardiff's intended replacement
Notes
- ^ a b "Sheffield Class Type 42 Destroyers". www.btinternet.com. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
- ^ "Intelligence, Defence, and Diplomacy ... - Google Book Search". books.google.com. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
- ^ "The End of an Era - Google Book Search". books.google.com. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
- ^ "Visiting British Naval Ships British High Commission, Accra". www.britishhighcommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
- ^ "Navy News - The Falklands Conflict - Fact Card - HMS Cardiff". www.navynews.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
- ^ "The British Aerospace "Sea Dart" Surface to Air missile". www.wingweb.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
- ^ "114 mm (4.5 inch) Gun : Weapon Systems : Surface Fleet : Operations and Support : Royal Navy". www.royal-navy.mod.uk. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
- ^ a b "Type 42 Destroyer (UK)". www.historyofwar.org. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
- ^ a b "Type 42 destroyer". www.hazegray.org. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
- ^ "MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS)". www.fas.org. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
- ^ "SAMA(82) - The Association for all holders of the South Atlantic Medal for Service during the Falklands War in 1982". www.sama82.org. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
- ^ a b c d e "Deployment Diary". hmscardiff.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
- ^ "The Falklands Conflict - Data Library - Ships". www.falklandswar.org.uk. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
- ^ "Bristol, Olna, Active, Avenger, Andromeda, Minerva, Penelope, Cardiff, Engadine in British Task Force Movements - Falklands War 1982". www.naval-history.net. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
- ^ "Navy News - The Falklands Conflict - 26th May 1982". www.navynews.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
- ^ "Navy News - The Falklands Conflict - 22nd May 1982". www.navynews.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ "Official History of the Falklands - Google Book Search". books.google.com. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ "Harpoon HQ - Harpoon Classic, Harpoon II, Harpoon 3, Harpoon 4". www.harpoonhq.com. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
- ^ a b "RNA 10 Area Website". www.rna-10-area.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-02-13.
- ^ a b c "Report of Proceedings". hmscardiff.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ "The Captain's Steward: Falklands, 1982 - Google Book Search". books.google.com. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
- ^ "Stanley, Mount Kent, Mount Longdon, Top Malo House in Falkland Area Operations - Falklands War 1982". www.naval-history.net. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
- ^ "After the Battle". www.britains-smallwars.com. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
- ^ "The Falklands war: the Bluff Cove disaster". findarticles.com. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
{{cite web}}
: Text "Find Articles at BNET.com" ignored (help); Text "Military Review" ignored (help) - ^ "Decision Making in Complex Environments - Google Book Search". books.google.com. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
- ^ "Battle for the Falklands - Google Book Search". books.google.com. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
- ^ Morgan, David (2007). "11". Hosile Skies. WC2H 9EA: Phoenix. p. 285. ISBN 978-0-7538-2199-2.
{{cite book}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help)CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ "Airplanes". www.choiquehobbies.com.ar. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
- ^ "One of their aircraft is missing". www.britains-smallwars.com. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
- ^ "Battle for the Falklands - Google Book Search". books.google.com. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
- ^ "Alacrity in action". www.hmsalacrity.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
- ^ a b "Gazette Website: PDF Navigator". www.gazettes-online.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ "Gazette Website: PDF Navigator". www.gazettes-online.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ a b c "The Royal Navy and the Gulf". www.btinternet.com. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ a b c d e f "Gazette Website: PDF Navigator". www.gazettes-online.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ "Operation Friction, 1990-1991: The ... - Google Book Search". books.google.com. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ "Desert Storm at Sea: What the Navy ... - Google Book Search". books.google.com. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ "Air War in the Gulf 1991 - Google Book Search". books.google.com. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
- ^ "The War At Sea". www.britains-smallwars.com. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
- ^ "The Royal Navy in the Falklands ... - Google Book Search". books.google.com. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
- ^ a b c "Operation Vigilant Warrior". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
- ^ "Interoperability of U.S. and NATO ... - Google Book Search". books.google.com. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
- ^ "The Role of Experimentation in ... - Google Book Search". books.google.com. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
- ^ "Search Results : Royal Navy". www.royal-navy.mod.uk. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
- ^ "News and Events : Royal Navy". www.royal-navy.mod.uk. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
- ^ "News and Events : Royal Navy". www.royal-navy.mod.uk. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
- ^ "News and Events : Royal Navy". www.royal-navy.mod.uk. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
- ^ "Navy News - Ships of the Royal Navy - HMS Cardiff". www.navynews.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-03-04.