HMS London (D16)
Encyclopedia
HMS London was a County-class
destroyer
of the Royal Navy
.
in 1963 under Captain J.C. Bartosik
and initially was fully employed setting her armament to work, successfully firing her Seaslug for the first time off Aberporth
in April 1964. After working up, during which she entertained HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
on board, she crossed the Atlantic in September 1964. She visited Bermuda and Houston before joining a special squadron led by Vice Admiral Sir Fitzroy Talbot
on a round of visits to the South American part of his command. Passing through Panama she visited Peru, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil before proceeding via Tristan da Cunha to Simonstown where she spent Christmas and New Year. She then deployed to the Far East, visiting Hong Kong, Bangkok and Subic, and Singapore and ports in Malaya. During this time she was part of a powerful fleet whose presence acted as a deterrent to Sukarno
's attempt to intimidate the infant Federation of Malaysia through 'Confrontation
'.
London was the last ship to leave Malta when the Maltese government closed the base
. She was the last RN ship capable of firing Mark 1 Sea Slug missiles, and the last ship in Royal Navy to fire a four-gun broadside on 10 December 1981.
London was decommissioned in late December 1981 after completing a six-month deployment to the West Indies during which her crew were involved in the granting of independence to Antigua
. Her Majesty the Queen
was represented by Princess Margaret
at the independence ceremonies.
She was sold to Pakistan on 23 March 1982 and renamed Babur. Babur was decommissioned from Pakistani service in 1993 and was sold for scrap in 1995.
County class destroyer
The County class was a class of guided missile destroyers, the first such vessels built by the Royal Navy. Designed specifically around the Sea Slug anti-aircraft missile system, the primary role of these ships was area air-defence around the aircraft carrier task force in the nuclear-war...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
History
She commissioned at Swan Hunter's yard in WallsendWallsend
Wallsend is an area in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. Wallsend derives its name as the location of the end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 42,842.-Romans:...
in 1963 under Captain J.C. Bartosik
Józef Bartosik
Józef Czeslaw Bartosik, CB, DSC was a Polish Naval officer, born in Topola Wielka near Ostrów Wielkopolski, who served in Polish destroyers during World War II, under British naval command. Shortly after World War II he joined the British Royal Navy and advanced to the rank of rear admiral, before...
and initially was fully employed setting her armament to work, successfully firing her Seaslug for the first time off Aberporth
Aberporth
Aberporth is a community and small town in Ceredigion on the west coast of Wales. The population was 2,485 in 2001.- Location :The town lies at the southern end of Cardigan Bay about six miles north of Cardigan and ten miles south of New Quay approximately one mile west of the A487, on the...
in April 1964. After working up, during which she entertained HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
on board, she crossed the Atlantic in September 1964. She visited Bermuda and Houston before joining a special squadron led by Vice Admiral Sir Fitzroy Talbot
Fitzroy Talbot
|-...
on a round of visits to the South American part of his command. Passing through Panama she visited Peru, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil before proceeding via Tristan da Cunha to Simonstown where she spent Christmas and New Year. She then deployed to the Far East, visiting Hong Kong, Bangkok and Subic, and Singapore and ports in Malaya. During this time she was part of a powerful fleet whose presence acted as a deterrent to Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
's attempt to intimidate the infant Federation of Malaysia through 'Confrontation
Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation during 1962–1966 was Indonesia’s political and armed opposition to the creation of Malaysia. It is also known by its Indonesian/Malay name Konfrontasi...
'.
London was the last ship to leave Malta when the Maltese government closed the base
Freedom Day (Malta)
March 31, 1979 is remembered in the Maltese calendar as Freedom Day . This is the anniversary of the withdrawal of British troops and the Royal Navy from Malta. On taking power in 1971, the Labour Government indicated it wanted to re-negotiate the lease agreement with the United Kingdom...
. She was the last RN ship capable of firing Mark 1 Sea Slug missiles, and the last ship in Royal Navy to fire a four-gun broadside on 10 December 1981.
London was decommissioned in late December 1981 after completing a six-month deployment to the West Indies during which her crew were involved in the granting of independence to Antigua
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
. Her Majesty the Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
was represented by Princess Margaret
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II and the younger daughter of King George VI....
at the independence ceremonies.
She was sold to Pakistan on 23 March 1982 and renamed Babur. Babur was decommissioned from Pakistani service in 1993 and was sold for scrap in 1995.