Hail and farewell HMS Exeter
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Further to previous posts, I'd reckon Sea Darts could be transferred from an RFA, but fitting Tridents at sea ??!
If no other navy uses Sea Dart, what do the Argentinians ( I know I've read recently one of their two Type 42's is in poor condition & refit ) and other recipient navies use then ?
BTW HMS Southampton sailed past me twice in the Solent this last Thursday, possibly using the measured mile for calibration of some kind; I guessed at the time she's not got long to serve, as she hasn't been given a 'Chrighton' gun.
If no other navy uses Sea Dart, what do the Argentinians ( I know I've read recently one of their two Type 42's is in poor condition & refit ) and other recipient navies use then ?
BTW HMS Southampton sailed past me twice in the Solent this last Thursday, possibly using the measured mile for calibration of some kind; I guessed at the time she's not got long to serve, as she hasn't been given a 'Chrighton' gun.
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It's good to see you chaps have totally grasped the concepts of Joint Operations. 
Everyone knows its the infantry who did the really hard work
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Quote; " there's nothing big or clever about sleeping in puddles " -
No, just bloody brave & tough - how were the officer's ( Army & RAF, Navy too if within range ) mess's going on at the time, not too low on Gin I hope...
No, just bloody brave & tough - how were the officer's ( Army & RAF, Navy too if within range ) mess's going on at the time, not too low on Gin I hope...
Exeter was decommisioned today. Southampton was decommisioned in February.
This Navy News story from April demonstrates links to the previous Exeter.
A WHITE Ensign which ‘flew’ on the wreck of HMS Exeter will find peace in the surroundings of the namesake city’s cathedral.
Veterans of the wartime cruiser were invited aboard the present-day destroyer for a final time – the current ship is decommissioning – to receive the treasured flag.
The heavy cruiser took her place along the lions of Royal Navy history thanks to her crucial role in the Battle of the River Plate in 1939.
She survived the heavy damage she suffered that day at the hands of the ‘pocket battleship’ Graf Spee, but was not so fortunate two and a half years later in the Java Sea.
Mortally wounded by Japanese attack, the cruiser was scuttled by her crew. Most of her ship’s company survived the ordeal, but then faced more than three years in Japanese Prisoner of War camps, where they suffered starvation, disease, and brutality.
More than six decades later, their numbers are few, but eight survivors of the Java Sea battle – Bill Francis, Admiral J P K Harkness, Steve Cairns, Joe Asher, Johnny King, Jimmy Hegney, Admiral Sir Peter Anson and Bill Guy – made the pilgrimage to Portsmouth, where they were hosted both by Exeter and her slightly younger sister HMS Nottingham.
The latter treated the eight veterans to lunch in the wardroom as well as the obligatory photographs for the albums.
The wreck of the heavy cruiser was located by divers after a protracted search of the Java Sea.
She lies around 200ft below far from the site her CO, Capt Oliver Gordon, reported more than six decades ago, and close to the last resting place of her escort, HMS Encounter.
The divers initially attached an ensign to the port torpedo tube as mark of respect.
It has since been recovered and was presented to Exeter veteran Stoker 1st Class Bill Francis, on behalf of his shipmates on the eve of their annual reunion. The ensign will go on display in a wing of Exeter Cathedral which is dedicated to the ship and her men.
As for the current Exeter, she formally leaves the ranks of the RN on May 27 with a decommissioning ceremony in Portsmouth Naval Base.
Anyone connected with the Falklands veteran who wishes to attend the event should contact the decommissioning officer on [email protected] or call 02392 722466.
I believe that Exeter cathedral already holds the battle scarred Battle Ensign flown during the Battle of the River Plate.
Janes is reporting that Pakistan may be interested in buying some old Type 42s - see here. Oh well, we need all the exports we can get!
This Navy News story from April demonstrates links to the previous Exeter.
A WHITE Ensign which ‘flew’ on the wreck of HMS Exeter will find peace in the surroundings of the namesake city’s cathedral.
Veterans of the wartime cruiser were invited aboard the present-day destroyer for a final time – the current ship is decommissioning – to receive the treasured flag.
The heavy cruiser took her place along the lions of Royal Navy history thanks to her crucial role in the Battle of the River Plate in 1939.
She survived the heavy damage she suffered that day at the hands of the ‘pocket battleship’ Graf Spee, but was not so fortunate two and a half years later in the Java Sea.
Mortally wounded by Japanese attack, the cruiser was scuttled by her crew. Most of her ship’s company survived the ordeal, but then faced more than three years in Japanese Prisoner of War camps, where they suffered starvation, disease, and brutality.
More than six decades later, their numbers are few, but eight survivors of the Java Sea battle – Bill Francis, Admiral J P K Harkness, Steve Cairns, Joe Asher, Johnny King, Jimmy Hegney, Admiral Sir Peter Anson and Bill Guy – made the pilgrimage to Portsmouth, where they were hosted both by Exeter and her slightly younger sister HMS Nottingham.
The latter treated the eight veterans to lunch in the wardroom as well as the obligatory photographs for the albums.
The wreck of the heavy cruiser was located by divers after a protracted search of the Java Sea.
She lies around 200ft below far from the site her CO, Capt Oliver Gordon, reported more than six decades ago, and close to the last resting place of her escort, HMS Encounter.
The divers initially attached an ensign to the port torpedo tube as mark of respect.
It has since been recovered and was presented to Exeter veteran Stoker 1st Class Bill Francis, on behalf of his shipmates on the eve of their annual reunion. The ensign will go on display in a wing of Exeter Cathedral which is dedicated to the ship and her men.
As for the current Exeter, she formally leaves the ranks of the RN on May 27 with a decommissioning ceremony in Portsmouth Naval Base.
Anyone connected with the Falklands veteran who wishes to attend the event should contact the decommissioning officer on [email protected] or call 02392 722466.
I believe that Exeter cathedral already holds the battle scarred Battle Ensign flown during the Battle of the River Plate.
Janes is reporting that Pakistan may be interested in buying some old Type 42s - see here. Oh well, we need all the exports we can get!
Last edited by WE Branch Fanatic; 29th May 2009 at 20:42.
HMS Nottingham was due to decommission this week.
So now we are down to just five ships with Sea Dart, Sea Viper on the T45 still not working, and no organic air defence for many years.
So now we are down to just five ships with Sea Dart, Sea Viper on the T45 still not working, and no organic air defence for many years.
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My father was with Exeter when she was sunk at the Battle of the Java sea (and spent 3 years as a POW with the Japanese) and was invited to the christening of the present Exeter.
How sad he and other old Exeter hands would be at this news.
GF
How sad he and other old Exeter hands would be at this news.
GF
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Double Zero
I wholeheartedly agree with you - it is always the PBI that clean up the mess, and a magnificent job they did down south. Of course not without the support of others.
Your remark about gin brought back a memory - I was having a medicinal large rum just before we were sunk..................
No, just bloody brave & tough - how were the officer's ( Army & RAF, Navy too if within range ) mess's going on at the time, not too low on Gin I hope...
Your remark about gin brought back a memory - I was having a medicinal large rum just before we were sunk..................
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GBZ
Try and keep up.
I wholeheartedly agree with you - it is always the PBI that clean up the mess, and a magnificent job they did down south. Of course not without the support of others.
Suspicion breeds confidence
Thread Starter
You seem to forget that Exeter was an anti-aircraft destroyer and a very good one. If you need further clarification on the relevance of the topic, feel free to jump in.
