HMS Liverpool home for final farewell 29.02.12
28HMS Liverpool has returned to her home city to take a farewell bow in her spiritual home after three decades of service.
The Type 42 destroyer sailed into the Mersey today (Wednesday) at the start of a six-day visit.
She was laid down at Cammell Laird's in 1978 and launched from the famous Birkenhead yard in 1980 before entering service in 1982 - two weeks after the Falklands Conflict ended.
The ship has sailed the world for the Royal Navy in peace time and conflict ever since. Most recently, off Libya, she became the first Royal Navy ship to be fired upon for 30 years during her seven month deployment to the area.
Described as a "thoroughly proud Merseyside lass" by the Navy, she will open her gangway for the final time to the UK public as she comes to the natural end of her working life in the navy later this year.
HMS Liverpool is due to berth alongside at the Cruise Liner Terminal this morning, marking the beginning of a busy, celebratory programme.
As well as holding a reception for invited guests during her stay, the ship's company is also looking forward to hosting some 20 groups, schools, colleges and organisations on board.
Tomorrow will see the crew take to the streets of Liverpool to exercise their Freedom of the City for the last time. HMS Liverpool was awarded this honour in 1982 and has exercised this ancient tradition on numerous occasions during her close affiliation with this great maritime city.
HMS Liverpool will make her last journey down the Mersey on the morning of 5th March, leaving the Cruise Liner Terminal at 11am and delivering a gun salute at Cammell Laird's shortly afterwards; she will then sail past the Royal Liver Building to deliver a second gun salute to the city with which she has been so proudly intertwined over the past 30 years.
Commanding Officer of HMS Liverpool, Commander Colin Williams, said: "This visit is one of celebration and appreciation of the sterling service which this exceptional ship has offered her country during her three decades at sea.
"To be bringing her back home to Liverpool is, without question, not only the absolute pinnacle of this celebration, but also a very poignant and dignified moment in her long and illustrious life.
"We have always enjoyed absolutely exceptional links with Liverpool. I know that my crew is honoured and excited to show off their ship once more to Merseysiders, who have always shown unparalleled hospitality and enthusiasm for this great ship.
"I am extremely proud to have commanded HMS Liverpool and her crew -- there is obviously some sadness in bidding farewell to any ship, but, more than anything, this is a time to honour HMS Liverpool and her achievements, the most recent of which was outstanding and key support to the NATO operations off the coast of Libya.
"I sincerely hope that as many Merseysiders as possible will make the journey to the Cruise Liner Terminal to visit the ship on Saturday and Sunday when we open to the public. It allows us in our own small way to return the hospitality and affection shown over more than three decades before bidding our final fond farewell."
HMS Liverpool sailed at the end of March 2011 to support Operation Unified Protector where her tasks included enforcing the No-Fly Zone and conducting embargo operations to prevent arms from reaching pro-Gaddafi forces by sea.
During this high-tempo mission to protect the Libyan citizens, HMS Liverpool's ship's company spent 81 hours at Action Stations on 28 separate occasions, were fired at and returned fire ten times, and launched 211 rounds of illumination and high explosive shells from her 4.5 inch gun. These illumination or star shells were fired to light up pro-Gaddafi positions for NATO aircraft to identify and destroy.
The ship's company witnessed the siege of Misratah and the fall of Tripoli, Zlitan, Al Khums and Sirte to the rebels and, while enforcing the No-Fly Zone, Liverpool's Fighter Controllers spent 360 hours controlling 14 different types of aircraft from a number of NATO countries.