Dates: 1967 - 1982
The fifth HMS Norfolk (D21) was laid down on 15 March 1966 by Swan Hunter and launched by Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk in November 1967. She was commissioned in March 1970. Like her predecessor she was a County-class warship, though this time she was a destroyer, rather than a cruiser, and her most potent armament was not her guns, but her missiles.
In 1972 Norfolk began a refit to replace ’B’ turret with four Exocet launchers. She was thus the first Royal Navy warship to be armed with the Exocet missile system. She also became the first warship to carry three independent missile systems (Exocet, Sea Cat and Sea Slug). Norfolk recommissioned in 1974. She had a displacement of 5,450 tons and was quite a large ship, considering she was classified as a destroyer. She undertook numerous deployments to the Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and South Pacific Ocean.
In September 1979, one of the highlights of her relatively peaceful career came, when she flew the Queen’s Colour in Sweden, when King Carl XVI Gustaf unveiled a plaque to commemorate the British Admiral James de Saumarez. She had an unwelcome milestone in 1979, when she became the first warship afloat to hold a Court Martial in over 10 years, during the ships visit to Fremantle, Australia. The visit itself was made to commemorate 150 years of the founding of Western Australia.
In September 1980, Norfolk took over the UK’s commitment to Standing Naval Force Atlantic, but decommissioned in 1981 to become the Dartmouth Training Ship.
Norfolk was sold to Chile on 6 April 1982 and renamed Capitan Prat. In 1996 she was fitted with the SAM "Barak", removing the Sea Cat launchers. In 2001 she was refitted to Helicopter Destroyer with a Cougar attack helicopter, and removal of the Sea Slug system.
On 24 February 2006 Capitan Prat was laid up and she decommissioned on 11 August 2006
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Norfolk
" Hi Im Harrys grandson. My grandfather sadly passed away 16 years ago. At the time he also lost all of his medals and photo’s from his time with the russian convoys and HMS Norfolk. My grandfather earnt the DSM for his actions on the Norfolk but was never able to discuss the circumstances ..."
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" Alright Peter, You asked for some gen on the Berwick (1940) I hope this helps Noteable events involving Berwick include: 2 Mar, 1940 HMS Berwick (Capt I.M. Palmer, DSC, RN)intercepts the German merchant Wolfsburg (6201 GRT) north of Iceland in position 67º50’N, 22º45’W. However ..."
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" On 27 May 1941 the battleship Bismarck was sunk, 2 days after the Battle of Denmark Strait in which HMS Hood was lost with only 3 survivors from her complement of 1,415. En route back to France she was attacked by Fairey Swordfish from HMS Ark Royal. In a final attack, almost in ..."
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"HMS St.Vincent (1960), HMS Collingwood,HMS Pelew, HMS Anzio,HMS Maidstone, HMS Jufair, HMS Norfolk.
HMS Sultan (1978), CTCRM Lympstone, HMS Dido, HMS Birmingham (3rd Destroyer Sqaudron),RNB Portsmouth (St.Ann's)"
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"I am the grandaughter of Eddie Coyne, who is no longer with us, i would like stories and pictures from any one who may have known him, he was from manchester an served on HMS Norfolk, i do have one photo in his uniform i will upload shortly...many thank"
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