Dates: 1976 -
HMS Exeter (D89) is a Type 42 destroyer, the fifth ship of the Royal Navy to be named Exeter, after the city of Exeter in Devon.
Exeter was the first of the slightly modified ’Batch 2’ Type 42 destroyers. This was a mid-build consideration with her later sister ship, HMS Southampton sporting a similar weapons and sensors upgrade with no discernible hull modifications. The weapons and sensors fit was the first grouping of the 1022, 992Q and 1006 radars in a British warship.
Early in her first commission, Exeter sported a turquoise hull; this was an experimental co-polymer paint which was only available in a few non-standard colours at the time. The experiment proved successful and the ship’s hull was repainted to standard brick red/black during its first docking period, post Operation Corporate.
Her first few years were to be spent patrolling the North Atlantic and European waters until the then Defence Secretary, John Nott, issued his review of the Armed forces. This severely limited Exeter’s future programme.
The ship saw service in the Falklands War shooting down four Argentine aircraft, deploying to the area from the Caribbean after the start of the British invasion operations to replace Sheffield. Exeter also served in Operation Granby, the 1991 Gulf War, under the command of Captain Nigel Essenhigh, Royal Navy, later First Sea Lord. Among her roles was the air defence of the US battleships bombarding enemy positions.
In 2006, Exeter took part in Exercise Cold Response, returning to Portsmouth and then departing again on 27th November 2006.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Exeter
" I’m not ex Navy but my experience was on HMS Exeter (Type 42 destroyer) when it was coming back from the Gulf zone about 1990, before Gulf 1. We went through a mega storm. The captain shut all the engines down, faced it into wind and rode the storm. The older naval guys were saying it was ..."
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" Aircraft Carriers. Ship Name, Launch Date, Displacement, Total Crew. HMS Invincible 1977--22,000--1051. HMS Illustrious 197--22,000--1051. HMS Ark Royal 1981--22,000--1051. Amphibious Assault Ships Ship. HMS Ocean 1995--20,700--265. HMS Albion 2001--18,500--363. HMS Bulwark ..."
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" Hello there, I am a new member and I am looking to get in contact with anyone that took part in the Battle of the River Plate in 1939, either aboard the: HMS Exeter HMS AJAX HMS Achilles If anyone knows of anyone then please let me know, I would really appreciate it. Thanks. Alex "
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" Hello everyone, Sorry if you are reading this again, I posted it in the New Members section, but I thought more people would see it on this part of the forum. I am currently researching the Battle of the River Plate and am looking to get in contact with anyone that served in the battle, either ..."
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" Quoting: Alex Ford Hello everyone, Sorry if you are reading this again, I posted it in the New Members section, but I thought more people would see it on this part of the forum. I am currently researching the Battle of the River Plate and am looking to get in contact with anyone that ..."
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