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Further Reading

D-87 Newcastle

The current HMS Newcastle was laid down by Swan Hunter (Shipbuilders) Ltd. of Wallsend on Tyne in February 1973. She is the eighth ship to bear this name. She was launched in 1975 and commissioned in 1978 and since then has seen service in all areas of the globe. Our most recent deployment was an Atlantic Patrol, covering the east Atlantic (West Africa - Sierra Leone ) and on to the South Atlantic (Falklands), followed by Counter Drug Operations in the Caribbean. However, prior to today's HMS Newcastle there is a long and distinguished history of Ships of that name.

HMS Newcastle's last long trip began in March 2002 when the ship sailed from Portsmouth for a 6-month Atlantic Patrol Deployment, which took us to the Falklands via West Africa and home via South America and the West Indies. The Royal Navy keeps a warship in the Atlantic so that it is able to respond to a crisis anywhere in the area and so that it can also support British interests in the countries that it visits.

The first visit of the deployment was Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, where the ship took over the duties of Atlantic Patrol Ship from the Plymouth based T23 frigate HMS Montrose. After that the ship headed for Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. The UK still maintains a military presence in this war torn West African country to act as a stabilising influence in the region and also to help with the transition to democratic government. As well as showing the flag volunteers from Newcastle got stuck into some much appreciated charity work - a regular feature of our visits throughout the deployment. In April the ship visited Ghana and Nigeria providing a further fascinating insight into the African way of life.

At the beginning of May the ship arrived in the Falkland Islands for a seven-week period on station as the Falklands Islands Guardship. Our arrival coincided with the onset of the South Atlantic winter, which brought extremely cold weather and several snowfalls. Nevertheless many of the ship's company were able to see a great deal of the islands and meet many of the locals as well as undertaking a number of visits and some adventurous training. The highlight of our time in the South Atlantic was the visit to South Georgia to re-supply the British Antarctic Survey Team and conduct some exercises with the Army. South Georgia is an impressive and beautiful snow capped island that rises steeply out of the sea to a height of about ten thousand feet. The scenery is breathtaking and there were plenty of seals and penguins to see as well. The ship's company enjoyed some tobogganing and we also took the opportunity to take the ship very close to a glacier and an iceberg that was aground in six hundred feet of water.

The period in the Falkland Islands was spent undertaking exercises with the Army and Air Force and conducting some mid-deployment maintenance. Our time on station also coincided with the 20th Anniversary of the Falklands Conflict and a number of ceremonies were held to mark key events of the conflict. In late June Newcastle left the Falkland Islands and made her way up the eastern coast of South America with stops in Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza.

By early July the ship was in the Caribbean visiting Barbados prior to conducting a short period of Counter Drug Operations in conjunction with American forces. Only 17 days were spent at sea doing this task but the ship achieved two drug busts in that time, including intercepting a cargo of cocaine with an estimated street value of £50 million. This was an exciting period with high-speed chases across the Caribbean and it was also satisfying to think that we were doing something to help stop the international narcotics trade. After well-earned and extremely enjoyable visits to St Lucia and San Juan the Ship returned to Portsmouth on 23 August for Summer Leave and a base maintenance period.

HMS Newcastle returned from a 6-month Atlantic Patrol Deployment on 23 August for summer leave and a base maintenance period. The maintenance period began at the end of September and lasted five weeks. Engineering work included changing two of the ship's gas turbine engines and rebuilding some of the ship's generators. A great deal of work was also done on the Ship's main weapons and sensors to keep them operating at peak performance and of course much was done to make the Ship look presentable from inside to outside - involving a great deal of grey paint!

HMS NEWCASTLE supplied 60% of her Ship's Company to be trained in the use of the Green Goddess fire engines and civilian fire fighting techniques - which are very different from the techniques used on board a modern warship, during Operation Fresco, which took place when the Fire Brigade Union went on strike.

During their time at the temporary fire stations, members of the Ship's Company had been working a 12-hour on/off shift rotor, which is the preferred method to maintain a 24-hour fire fighting capability.

Meanwhile the Ship itself was buzzing with activity from those involved with the maintenance period whilst it was alongside in Portsmouth, to ensure it was fully operational to return to sea after its 6-month deployment.

The First Newcastle

The first HMS Newcastle was built in 1653 and took part in Admiral Blake's attack on Santa Cruz in 1657. She remained in service until 1703 when she was sunk in a great storm off Spithead.

The Second Newcastle

The second Newcastle was built in 1704 and served till 1746, seeing service in the defence of Gibraltar in 1705.

The Third Newcastle

The next HMS Newcastle served just eleven years from 1750 to 1761, engaging the French in a number of actions until she was lost in a cyclone off Pondicherry.

The Fourth Newcastle

The 4th HMS Newcastle was commissioned in 1813, eight years after the battle of Trafalgar. She saw action early on in 1816 enforcing the blockade of St Helena in order to keep Napoleon under close guard. She lasted until 1850 when she was sold in Liverpool for scrap.

The Fifth Newcastle

The fifth Newcastle was launched in October 1860 and served in India and Japan before being loaned to the war department as a powder hulk in Devonport where she remained until 1929 when she was broken up. Meanwhile a new HMS Newcastle was commissioned in 1910 for service in the China Station. She saw action in 1914 in the bombardment of Yap prior to cruising to Valparaiso to assist in the search for the German armed merchant cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich. In 1916 she joined the Mediterranean Fleet and then in 1917 she was assigned to the Colombo Patrol. She also served in the Adriatic and South America where she remained until the end of the War.