Dates: 1979 -
HMS Gloucester (D96) is a batch three Type 42 destroyer of the Royal Navy. The ship was built by Vosper Thorneycroft at Woolston, Southampton and launched on 2 November 1982 by The Duchess of Gloucester. The present HMS Gloucester was one of the last four of the class to be built. They have a lengthened hull design giving better seakeeping qualities and greater endurance.
Gloucester served in the Gulf War in 1991 where her most notable action was employing her Sea Dart missiles to shoot down an Iraqi Silkworm missile that was threatening the USS Missouri (BB-63). The ship was also under threat from sea mines and relied upon its detachment of Royal Marines to detect and avoid this danger. The ship’s Lynx helicopter was also deployed on numerous occasions to deploy the ship’s Royal Marines to search suspicious shipping. More notably it was involved in the destruction of numerous Iraqi small craft.
The ship retains links with the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment and the City of Gloucester. The ship’s crest features a horseshoe, part of the City’s Tudor Arms.
During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, HMS Gloucester was the first Royal Navy vessel to evacuate British nationals from Beirut, docking on 18 July 2006. She made three trips taking evacuees to Cyprus, and was the last Royal Navy ship to leave Beirut.
She underwent a ?6 million re-fit at Rosyth Dockyard in Fife, Scotland, in 2007.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Gloucester
" 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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" On standby to conduct various tasks such as counter-narcotics operations, search and rescue missions or humanitarian relief, HMS Gloucester has taken a break from her South Atlantic patrols and moved through some breathtaking scenery to the Pacific Ocean. HMS Gloucester The Type 42 destroyer, ..."
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" Sailors on board HMS Gloucester were given the royal seal of approval by curious wildlife as they approached South Georgia as part of their ongoing mission. The Portsmouth-based Type 42 destroyer sailed past wary groups of King penguins and sleepy elephant seals while providing a military ..."
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" Sailors past and present of Royal Navy warships bearing the name HMS Gloucester attended a memorial service last week to remember the loss of the ninth Gloucester with 722 men in May 1941.
Between August 1940 and May 1941 the ninth Gloucester was involved in many actions and her battle honours ..."
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" Quoting: L Connolly Can anyone give reason as to why I cant find info on Arthur John Wade in these records. He was on the HMS Glouchester when it went down in the battle of Crete. (1941). He was one of the 80 survivors and was taken to a POW in Germany (via Italy. Belated reply. ..."
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