Tuesday 7 April 2009

HMS Liverpool


In Liverpool Cathedral there hangs a bell from HMS Liverpool, commemorating the Battle of the Atlantic. Seven ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Liverpool after the city of Liverpool, whilst another was planned but never completed in the 19th century.

HMS Liverpool was a 44-gun fifth-rate frigate, built as HMS Enterprise but renamed before being launched in 1741. She was sold in 1756 and became a privateer. She was reacquired by the Navy in 1759 and entered service as the 30-gun HMS Looe. She was sold in 1763.
HMS Liverpool was a 28-gun sixth-rate frigate launched in 1758 and wrecked in 1778.
HMS Liverpool was a 50-gun fourth-rate frigate launched in 1814 and sold in 1822.
HMS Liverpool was to have been a 58-gun fourth-rate Southampton class frigate, ordered in 1825 and cancelled in 1829.
HMS Liverpool was a fourth-rate screw frigate launched in 1860 and sold in 1875.
HMS Liverpool was a Town-class light cruiser launched in 1909 and scrapped in 1921.
HMS Liverpool was a later Town-class light cruiser launched in 1938 and scrapped in 1958.
HMS Liverpool is a Type 42 destroyer launched in 1980 and deployed to the Persian Gulf during the Iraq War (Operation Telic). She remains in service as of 2008.



The Second World War HMS Liverpool (C11) was a Town class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy in service from 1938 to 1952. She served in the Second World War and with the Mediterranean Fleet from 1945 until her decommission. During the War the cruiser operated variously with the naval stations in the East Indies and China and with the Mediterranean and Home fleets. Seriously damaged in two attacks by torpedo bombers, Liverpool gained four battle honours for her service. An aerial attack in 1943 proved to be the ship's final combat experience of the war. For the rest of the War Liverpool underwent repairs and refitting at Rosyth, Scotland. She returned to service in 1945, was decommissioned in 1952, and dismantled for scrap in 1958 after six-years of reserve status.

2 comments:

  1. "...dismantled for scrap..." What a sad end for such a proud ship.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm with tricia - I hate to hear that these magnificent ships are dismantled. I'd rather hear that they are preserved for future generations to appreciate.

    ReplyDelete

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