Liverpool bows out leaving “an enduring legacy”

HMS Liverpool's Decommissioning Ceromony

30/03/2012

The last act in the proud career of HMS Liverpool was played out today under brilliant sunshine as the ship was formally decommissioned after 30 years’ service. The 200 guests and 240-strong ship’s company of the heroine of the Libya campaign were told that their deeds and accomplishments would “endure and live on”.

HMS Liverpool remains the embodiment of all that a destroyer can be and has upheld the finest traditions, standards and fighting prowess of the Royal Navy.

Cdr Williams, HMS Liverpools Final Commanding Officer

To the strains of Sunset drifting across a serene Portsmouth Harbour, the White Ensign was lowered for the last time. And the Union Jack. So too the Fleet Efficiency Award as Britain’s best destroyer.

And thus did HMS Liverpool become simply Liverpool.

Thirty years of proud and honourable service by the veteran destroyer came to an end on a glorious spring morning as she was formally decommissioned in the shadow of Semaphore Tower.

Some 200 relatives of crew, plus friends, former members of the ship’s company, the Lord Mayor of Liverpool Cllr Frank Prendergast, Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Charles Montgomery and a sizeable number of the 19 officers who have commanded the ship since 1981 gathered at South Railway Jetty to show their support.

They were treated to music from the Band of HM Royal Marines School of Music, impromptu flypasts from Coastguard, RAF Search and Rescue and Fleet Air Arm helicopters, and even a blast from the fire hose of a tug which was working with the Gosport ferry in the harbour.

The ship’s chaplain, the Rev Charles Bruzon, led guests and 240-strong ship’s company through the last formal act of the destroyer’s career (she made her final entry to Portsmouth, flying a long decommissioning pennant, on Monday).

Despite being in service for three decades, it was in the final year of her life that Liverpool truly made her mark; her seven-month mission in support of the free peoples of Libya last year earned her international acclaim – and played no small part in the downfall of Colonel Gaddafi.

“What this last ship’s company achieved off Libya will endure and live on,” Rev Bruzon assured those gathered on the jetty.

He said Liverpool’s paying off was “almost the end of a human life. But all of us will treasure the memories of good times, camaraderie and accomplishments.

“Hold you heads high and be filled with pride.”

It fell to 39-year-old AB Anthony Clark to lower the Navy’s famous standard for the final time, fold it, then present it to his Commanding Officer Cdr Colin Williams, for the last time.

Liverpool is the junior rating’s last ship so “to haul down the Ensign was a great honour, but also hugely poignant."

Such feelings were echoed by Cdr Williams, who conceded that his “lower lip was trembling” as his flag was lowered.

“This is a sad day – not something you would want to happen, but every ship has a life span and HMS Liverpool has served her country and ship’s companies well to the end, and all should be rightly proud to have served in her.

“Liverpool is the last of the ‘classic’ 42s and is ready in all respects to hand the baton of air defence on to the new, more capable Type 45 destroyers.

“The camaraderie and esprit de corps that has been generated will live on and be the enduring legacy.

“HMS Liverpool remains the embodiment of all that a destroyer can be and has upheld the finest traditions, standards and fighting prowess of the Royal Navy.”

TAKE A LOOK

Image Gallery

HMS Liverpool's Decommissioning Ceromony

HMS Liverpool Decommissioning Ceremony. HMS Liverpool today marked her decommissioning with a ceremony in the beautiful spring sunshine. After 30 years of service the Type 42 destroyer had clocked up 921,700 nautical miles and her last act of service involved action off the coast of Libya. The service was led by the ships padre Reverend Charles Bruzon and the VIP Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Charles Montgomery CBE ADC inspected the guard. Pictured here the ships bell and the decommissioning cake. Images taken by LA(PHOT) Abbie Herron
HMS Liverpool's Decommissioning Ceromony

HMS Liverpool Decommissioning Ceremony. HMS Liverpool today marked her decommissioning with a ceremony in the beautiful spring sunshine. After 30 years of service the Type 42 destroyer had clocked up 921,700 nautical miles and her last act of service involved action off the coast of Libya. The service was led by the ships padre Reverend Charles Bruzon and the VIP Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Charles Montgomery CBE ADC inspected the guard. Images taken by LA(PHOT) Abbie Herron
HMS Liverpool's Decommissioning Ceromony

HMS Liverpool Decommissioning Ceremony. HMS Liverpool today marked her decommissioning with a ceremony in the beautiful spring sunshine. After 30 years of service the Type 42 destroyer had clocked up 921,700 nautical miles and her last act of service involved action off the coast of Libya. The service was led by the ships padre Reverend Charles Bruzon and the VIP Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Charles Montgomery CBE ADC inspected the guard. Images taken by LA(PHOT) Abbie Herron
HMS Liverpool's Decommissioning Ceromony

HMS Liverpool Decommissioning Ceremony. HMS Liverpool today marked her decommissioning with a ceremony in the beautiful spring sunshine. After 30 years of service the Type 42 destroyer had clocked up 921,700 nautical miles and her last act of service involved action off the coast of Libya. The service was led by the ships padre Reverend Charles Bruzon and the VIP the Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Charles Montgomery CBE ADC inspected the guard. Images taken by LA(PHOT) Abbie Herron
HMS Liverpool's Decommissioning Ceromony

HMS Liverpool Decommissioning Ceremony. HMS Liverpool today marked her decommissioning with a ceremony in the beautiful spring sunshine. After 30 years of service the Type 42 destroyer had clocked up 921,700 nautical miles and her last act of service involved action off the coast of Libya. The service was led by the ships padre Reverend Charles Bruzon seen here on the dias. Images taken by LA(PHOT) Abbie Herron
HMS Liverpool's Decommissioning Ceromony

HMS Liverpool Decommissioning Ceremony. HMS Liverpool today marked her decommissioning with a ceremony in the beautiful spring sunshine. After 30 years of service the Type 42 destroyer had clocked up 921,700 nautical miles and her last act of service involved action off the coast of Libya. The service was led by the ships padre Reverend Charles Bruzon and the VIP (2SL) inspected the guard. Pictured here AB Sea Specialist Clarke marches the ships ensign off the ship for the final time. Images taken by LA(PHOT) Abbie Herron
HMS Liverpool's Decommissioning Ceromony

HMS Liverpool Decommissioning Ceremony. HMS Liverpool today marked her decommissioning with a ceremony in the beautiful spring sunshine. After 30 years of service the Type 42 destroyer had clocked up 921,700 nautical miles and her last act of service involved action off the coast of Libya. The service was led by the ships padre Reverend Charles Bruzon and the VIP (2SL) inspected the guard. Pictured here is the ships Commanding Officer holding the ships Ensign after it was lowered for the final time. Images taken by LA(PHOT) Abbie Herron
HMS Liverpool home to Portsmouth for the last time

HMS Liverpool make her final return to her Portsmouth home today (March 26) as her 30-year eventful career draws to a close. The ageing Type 42 destroyer has steamed more than 921,700 nautical miles protecting the nationâs interests across the globe. She is being decommissioned as the Type 42s make way for the hi-tech replacement Type 45 destroyers.
Liverpool salutes her ship as veteran destroyer leaves the Mersey

HMS Liverpool Leaving Liverpool for the Final time. HMS Liverpool went past the place she was built Cammell Laird were she Gun Saluted the Ship Yard, Then Gun Saluted at the Liver Buildings on her departure from Liverpool. Crowds gathered on the Wirral and in the heart of Liverpool to bid a fond and emotional farewell to Type 42 destroyer HMS Liverpool. In a celebration of her 30 years of exceptionally close affiliation with Merseyside, HMS Liverpool first saluted Cammell Laird ship yard where she was âbornâ more than three decades ago, before turning to fire a five gun salute in front of the Royal Liver Building. She has sailed the worldâs oceans as part of the Royal Navyâs Fleet, delivering sterling service in peacetime and conflict. Most recently she became the first Royal Navy ship to be fired upon in 30 years during her deployment as part of the NATO task force off Libya. The ship opened her gangway to visitors at the weekend and well-wishers, young and older, came in their droves. Thousands of people took the opportunity to learn more about HMS Liverpool and the Royal Navy, as well as pay their own tributes to this great ship. HMS Liverpoolâs Commanding Officer, Commander Colin Williams, said: âThis has been an uplifting and, at times, emotional visit to the shipâs spiritual home. âWe have been thoroughly overwhelmed by the kindness and interest of Merseysiders and humbled by the support shown to crew and ship alike. âWe could not have wished for a better farewell celebration for HMS Liverpoolâs service within the Fleet.
HMS Liverpool Escorts the Russians
HMS Liverpool Escorts the Russians
HMS Liverpool in action

HMS Liverpool Fires 4.5 Gun 8th July HMS Liverpool fired her 4.5 inch gun in order to destroy a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boats)that was beached on the coast of Libya. Earlier in the day three RIBs in question were acting suspiciously and HMS Liverpool fired warning shots to disperse them. HMS Liverpool has been on Operation Unified Protector off the coast of Libya for many months. Image shows the 4.5 inch shell firing with the shell in flight.
A Lynx flying past HMS Liverpool as she makes her way into Portsmouth.

HMS LIVERPOOL SAILS HOME FROM LIBYAN MISSION Royal Navy warship HMS Liverpool returned home to cheering crowds in Portsmouth today following more than seven months working as part of NATO operations off the coast of Libya. The Portsmouth-based Type-42 destroyer sailed past the Round Tower at 9.45am and had Secretary of State for Defence Philip Hammond MP on board to welcome her home. HMS Liverpool sailed at the end of March 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. Since taking on her high-tempo mission to protect the Libyan citizens, HMS Liverpoolâs shipâs company has spent 81 hours at Action Stations on 28 separate occasions, been 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 shipâs company has 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, Liverpoolâs 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 minehunters HMS Brocklesby and HMS Bangor. On the occasions that the minehunters 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. Shot shows a Lynx flying past HMS Liverpool as she makes her way into Portsmouth.
Liverpool's Lynx returning to the destroyer after a patrol

HMS CUMBERLAND and HMS LIVERPOOL conduct a sail past as LIVERPOOL takes over responsibilities within Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR the operation conducted under UNSR 1979 for the embargo of arms on Libya. CUMBERLAND is now on her way back to the UK after her extension from the OP TELIC Frigate. Pictured: LIVERPOOL sails past CUMBERLAND. Image by LA(PHOT) Jay Allen FB110062
HMS Liverpool has escorted the Free Libyan flagship Al Hani into Tripoli
HMS Liverpool conducting an ammunition RAS with RFA Fort Rosalie
HMS Liverpool on patrol.

HMS LIVERPOOL on patrol. HMS Liverpool has been on patrol off the coast of Libya many months and through the professionalism of her crew she has been a vital asset in the conflict with Libya. Photex of HMS LIVERPOOl on patrol off the coast of Libya.
HMS Liverpool

Upcoming Events

Eric’s Secret History of Submarines

20/06/2013 07:00:00

Royal Navy Submarine Museum
Armed Forces Day 2013

29/06/2013 10:00:00

Nottingham
South Coast Proms 2013

05/07/2013 05:00:00

HMS Excellent, Whale Island, Portsmouth, PO2 8ER
South Coast Proms 2013

06/07/2013 05:00:00

HMS Excellent, Whale Island, Portsmouth, PO2 8ER
RNAS Yeovilton Airday 2013

13/07/2013 09:00:00

RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset, BA22 8HT

Facebook

Follow the Royal Navy on Facebook

read more

Flickr

Navy News Digital Edition

Features

Bird Control Unit

09/05/2013

When a bird hits an aircraft this is known as a bird strike. Bird strikes are the single greatest cause of accident...
`Howzat’ – Goughie Bowled Over By RNR Commitment

12/04/2013

UPDATED - Former England international cricketer and Strictly Come Dancing star Darren Gough found himself making a...
Royal Navy sailors share 500 years of seafaring knowled...

28/02/2013

Five Royal Navy sailors are drawing on five centuries of British seafaring expertise to share their knowledge with ...

Find the perfect role

Our job finder tool will help you find the perfect role to match your skills

Explore Opportunities Chef (Submariner)
More info
Explore Opportunities Air Engineering Technician
More info
Explore Opportunities Logistics Officer
More info

Liverpool bows out leaving “an enduring legacy”