HMS Edinburgh - Final return to Edinburgh

USPA NEWS - HMS Edinburgh ““ known as the “˜Fortress of the Sea´ ““ is the nation´s last Type 42 destroyer, a veteran of the destroyer fleet known as the workhorses of the Royal Navy. HMS Edinburgh docks in Edinburgh for the last time. (Source: Royal Navy)

The Royal Navy ordered at a cost of £130,600,000 the HMS Edinburgh. It was launched on 14th April, 1983 and it was accepted into service on the 25th July, 1985. Built by Hull builders Cammell Laird & Co. The Royal navy´s HMS Edinburgh is the United Kingdoms largest (Sheffield class) type 42 destroyer. It has a displacement of 5,200 tonnes.The ships armament is 1 x Twin Sea Dwarf missile launcher with a total of 40 missiles, 1 x 4.5 in (110mm) Mk 8 gun, 2 x Phalanx Close-in weapon system (CIWS), 2 x Triple anti submarine torpedo tubes & a Lynx Mk 8 SRU helicopter armed with 3 x anti ship missiles and 2 x anti submarine torpedos.

Bowing out after three decades and with more than 793,500 miles of global operational service the HMS Edinburgh sailed into Scotlands capital city for the last time before being decommissioned. On Friday 17th May 2013, members of the crew, at the invitation of Edinburgh City Council will exercise their Freedom of the City with a Parade through the city´s historic streets. HMS Edinburgh is on it´s farewell tour and will sail from Edinburgh on Tuesday May 21 for the final time, leaving her berth at approximately 11am. She will then stop in at Liverpool before making her way home to Portsmouth on May 31.