Dates: 1984 -
HMS Cumberland (F85) is a Type 22 frigate of the Royal Navy. She was on station during the First Gulf War. On 26 September 2000 Cumberland worked with local fishermen to aid the rescue of survivors of the Greek ferry Express Samina which ran aground two miles off the island of Paros. Cumberland is currently part of the Devonport Flotilla and is based at Devonport Dockyard.
In 2003 HMS Cumberland (in partnership with RFA Wave Knight) seized 3.6 tonnes of cocaine in the mid-Atlantic as part of an anti-drug operation. In October 2005 HMS Cumberland intercepted and boarded a speed boat in the Caribbean Sea off Nicaragua from which they seized two tonnes of cocaine, and detained four suspects. The cocaine is estimated to have a street value of ?200 million.
This is one of the only British ships to have test fired a Harpoon missile. The dummy target was over the horizon approx 25 miles away and the missile reached it.
On commissioning she became part of the Sixth Frigate Squadron (F6). HMS Cornwall was the lead ship in this Frigate Squadron. Ships of this Type would usually have an officer of the rank of Commander as their Commanding Officer, unless they were the lead ship in the Squadron where a full Captain would not only command that ship, but also be the Commanding Officer of the Squadron. Her first Commanding Officer was therefore unusual in that he was a full Captain called Mike Gregory who was actually a submariner. Captain Gregory was previously awarded the OBE for the longest continuously submerged patrol in Royal Navy history.
Chris Cranmer, the first registered Satanist serving in the Royal Navy, was a technician on board this vessel as of 2004.
On May 18, 2006, the Cumberland escorted Dee Caffari, sailing Aviva, across the finish-line (at Lizard Point) as she became the first woman to sail single-handedly non-stop around the world "the wrong way" (against the prevailing wind and tide) - a feat first achieved by Chay Blyth.
Added on 04/11/2010WW2 Ship HMS Cumberland was a county class crusier she was once attached to the RNSS as the trial ship for amongst other things, the stabilisers now fitted to all ships.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Cumberland
"I am trying to locate Douglas Barnett, he was serving on the HMS Cumberland in 1953, and i know that in 1954 he was on the HMS Alaunia in mess 33, if anyone has any info or knows of any associations for these ships would they please let me know, thank you very much, Gill."
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" G’day Alex. Sir Matt. most probably had a good laugh at this episode mate, he came from the same place as me, in "Gods Country", and the family still stay there, that’s of-course his siblings not his own kids. It’s a wee world a’int it ?? I remember when we were in ..."
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" Quoting: Doug Welch G’day Alex. Sir Matt. most probably had a good laugh at this episode mate, he came from the same place as me, in "Gods Country", and the family still stay there, that’s of-course his siblings not his own kids. It’s a wee world a’int it ?? I remember when we were in the ..."
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" Hi Robert. HMS Terror always brings back some fond memories to me mate, I like it there. Holistone-ing the deck I was on HMS Cumberland, she was a county class cruiser as well mate and allthough big ships were very pusser she was a happy ship, great skipper and commander on her which ..."
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" G’day Robert. Yes mate, the ship you saw all those years ago was the same HMS Cumberland, that I was on. I was on her in 58, until she paid off in 1959 to go for "Razor Blades She certainly was a great ship to serve on. When I was on her she was the trials cruiser for the RN. ..."
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"anyone remember Donkey Bray marine butcher he relived me as tanky butcher and he was quite a character specially after up spirits he was not a happy bloke when disturbed from his afternoon crash had a good run ashore in lisbon at the texas bar with him"
