HMS Londonderry (F108)

HMS Londonderry off Miami, Florida, in 1964
History
United Kingdom
Class and type:	Rothesay class frigate
Name:	HMS Londonderry
Builder:	J. Samuel White, Cowes
Laid down:	15 November 1956
Launched:	20 May 1958
Commissioned:	18 October 1961
Decommissioned:	29 March 1984
Identification:	Pennant number: F108
Motto:	Non recedam
Fate:	sunk as target, 25 June 1989
General characteristics
Displacement:	As built: 2,150 tons standard 2,560 tons full load As modified: 2,380 tons standard 2,800 tons full load
Length:	370 ft (110 m)
Beam:	41 ft (12 m)
Draught:	17.3 ft (5.3 m)
Propulsion:	Y-100 plant Two Babcock & Wilcox boilers Two English Electric steam turbines 2 shafts 30,000 shp
Speed:	30 knots (56 km/h)
Range:	400 tons oil fuel, 5,200 nautical miles (9,600 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement:	152, later 225, modified to 235
Sensors and processing systems:	(as built): Radar Type 293Q target indication Radar Type 277Q height finding Radar Type 275 fire control on director Mark 6M Radar Type 974 navigation Type 1010 Cossor Mark 10 IFF Sonar Type 174 search Sonar Type 162 target classification Sonar Type 170 attack
Armament:	(as built): 1 × twin 4.5 in (11.4 cm) gun Mark 6 1 × 40 mm Bofors gun Mark 7 2 × Limbo A/S mortar Mark 10 12 × 21-in A/S torpedo tubes (removed or never shipped) (as modified): 1 × twin 4.5 in (11.4 cm) gun Mark 6 1 × Sea Cat GWS-20 SAM 2 × 20 mm Oerlikon guns 1 × Limbo A/S mortar Mark 10 1 × Westland Wasp HAS.1 helicopter 2 × 8-barrel 3 in Knebworth/Corvus countermeasures launchers

HMS Londonderry was a Rothesay or Type 12 class anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy in service from 1961 to 1984.

In 1960 and 1961 Londonderry made cruises in the North Atlantic being assigned to the 8th Frigate Squadron, Home Fleet. Between 1961 and 1964 the frigate was deployed four times to the West Indies, also visiting Argentina. In October 1961 she was diverted to assist the Italian liner MV Bianca C when she caught fire in the port of St. George's, Grenada. In August 1965 she was present at Portsmouth Navy Days. On 31 August 1965 Londonderry left Portsmouth for service in the Far East. She returned in 1967 and was modernised until 1969 at Rosyth. The most distinctive features of her modernization were the helicopter deck and hangar aft for a Westland Wasp helicopter.

Following her modernization she was sent to Malaysia in 1970. She also took part in the Beira Patrol and was then sent to the Bahamas where she rescued 148 Cuban refugees. In 1973 she replaced Yarmouth in the NATO Standing Naval Force Atlantic.

In November 1975 she entered the Rosyth Dockyard to be refitted as a trials ship for Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment. Up to October 1979 Londonderry had her armament removed, and an extra mast added for her new role as a trials ship. The original propellers were replaced and new, low-cavitation propellers were installed. Additional navigational equipment and accommodation were installed to provide berths for both midshipmen from Dartmouth and apprentices from HMS Caledonia who were undergoing sea training.