D-97 Edinburgh
"Fortress of the Sea"
HMS Edinburgh is the penultimate Type 42 Destroyer in the Royal Navy. She is the largest of the 12 Type 42 Destroyers and was launched by Lady Heseltine in 1985.
The sixth and current HMS Edinburgh is a Batch III Type 42 destroyer built by Cammell Laird Shipbuilders at Birkenhead. Laid down in July 1980, she was launched by Mrs Anne Heseltine on 14 April 1983.
Displacing some 4,800 tons and 140 metres long, Edinburgh is complemented for 26 Officers and 260 Ratings.
She is powered by two Tyne gas turbines for cruising and two Olympus gas turbines which give a maximum speed in excess of 30 knots.
A comprehensive radar and sonar suite inputs into the ship's computer system to allow an effective use of her weapons; Sea Dart anti-air or anti-surface missile system, a single 4.5 inch automatic gun, and 20mm guns for close range defence and policing roles. Also available is a multi-role Lynx helicopter capable of deploying missiles and torpedoes. Modern electronic warfare and communications equipment along with data links to exchange computer information with other ships makes Edinburgh, along with her Batch III sisters York, Gloucester and Manchester one of the most capable surface ships in the Royal Navy today.
Edinburgh arrived in Augusta (Sicily) on the 16th September 2002 and HMS Chatham handed over Standing Naval Force Med duties. In mid September the Edinburgh was in her first Patrol area carrying out operational tasks.
During the week 21-28 September 2002 HMS Edinburgh has been involved in Operation Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean, as part of Standing NATO Force Mediterranean (SNFM). The aim of Active Endeavour is to patrol the Eastern Med checking the identity and cargo of Merchant Ships in the area. During her patrol Edinburgh had made 79 calls from the ship and 28 from her Mk3 Lynx. The total number of calls made by SNFM for the current period is 3980.
HMS Edinburgh concluded her involvement in Operation Direct Endeavour in the Mediterranean, as part of Standing NATO Force Mediterranean (SNFM) in early October. During the period HMS Edinburgh successfully hailed 195 Vessels, bringing the total number of vessels hailed by NATO since the operation began to 36,034. This period has been one of consolidation as routines that have been performed in the earlier stages of the deployment were concluded, as HMS Edinburgh prepared to leave its patrol area for the port of Aksaz in southern Turkey.
During the week the ship successfully completed the technically difficult evolutions of Replenishment at Sea (RAS) in the early morning, as well as towing astern in company with the Greek Warship the TGS Gediz. These evolutions were valuable in showing that the ships from different NATO members were able to work together. This not only displayed the ability to achieve the correct seamanship practises, but also to develop trust and understanding between the nations when working together.
After leaving Aksas, Edinburgh sailed west to the waters around Sicily and Malta to take part in the NATO exercise Destined Glory 02. This is an annual exercise bringing together various units from Britain, America, Spain, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Holland, Greece, Norway and Denmark.
A fictitious scenario has been created involving two countries, Riama and Drelid. Drelid occupies an area similar to Western Greece and Riama is a Balkan border state to the north. Drelid has been politically unstable recently and there have been problems between the Drelidians and the minority Riaman population that also lives there. Riama has invaded Drelid to support its people living there. This has inflamed the situation and UN observers in Drelid have been captured by Riaman forces. Three fictitious United Nation Security Council Resolutions have been passed dealing with the situation and requesting assistance from NATO. The NATO force is working in support of these UN Security Council Resolutions and this is the force to which Edinburgh is contributing. Edinburgh's task is to conduct Sea Control operations in the Malta channel and in areas east of Sicily.
The change in focus from Operation Active Endeavour has meant changes to life onboard. The ship had been split into defence watches until 14th October. This involved splitting the Ship's Company in two, so half of its members are always on watch, thus maintaining Operational Capability around the clock. Ship's Company therefore, rarely manage to get more than 5 hours sleep at a time and are worked hard through anti-submarine and air defence exercises. Edinburgh is so effective in the air defence role that the enemy aircraft even refused to take off during one exercise!
The First Edinburgh
There have been five previous warships to carry the name Edinburgh, the first in 1707 being a fifth rate warship carrying only 32 guns.
The Second Edinburgh
The second Edinburgh was the forty year old Warspite which in 1715 was rebuilt and renamed Edinburgh. She had a long and distinguished career culminating in the award of battle honours "Ushant 1747" and "Cape Francois 1757".
The Third Edinburgh
The third Edinburgh was a third rate of 70 guns, launched in 1811. She also had a busy career, distinguishing herself gaining the battle honours "Syria 1840" against the Egyptians and "Baltic 1854/55" in the war against the Russians.
The Fourth Edinburgh
In 1882, a steel plated turret ship of 9,150 tons was launched to become the fourth Edinburgh. She was the first battleship to carry breech loading guns and was heavily armoured.
The Fifth Edinburgh
The last, and most famous, warship to bear the name was the cruiser built in 1939. She played a major part in many actions gaining the honours "Norway 1940/41", "Atlantic 1941", "Malta Convoys 1941" and "Arctic 1941/42". On 30th April 1942 whilst on convoy duty to Murmansk she was torpedoed by the German U-Boat U456 and later sank. 57 men along with her cargo of £5 million in gold bullion, en route to us as war payment, were lost. In 1981 the ship was again in the news when the gold, then worth £45 million, was salvaged from her.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
