HMS BERWICK

[MadMaxLab]

TYNE 15/6/1977

[Dennis Maccoy]

Berwick passing John Readhead & Sons' early on a July morning in 1965.

[Whickham]

Looking a bit careworn up front

[Dennis Maccoy]

In addition to the inevitable wear & tear in way of anchors, etc., I think the the Type 12s had a diesel generator space well forward that exhausted through a shell fitting, leading to discolouration of paintwork - I'll bet the 1st lieutenants loved that.

[magoonigal]

Operational Service.

The ship was a member of the Matchmaker fleet in 1965. During the Beira Patrol, she stopped and arrested SS Manuella for attempting to run the oil blockade of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) at Easter 1966. Berwick was re-fitted with helicopter landing facilities in 1967.

From July 1975 to April 1976, she went around the world via the Suez and Panama canals. Other ships in the flotilla included Ajax, Plymouth, Llandaff, Rothesay and Glamorgan. Destinations included Gibraltar, Malta, Egypt (Port Said), India (Madras), Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia (Fremantle, Hobart and Sydney), New Zealand (Nelson and Timaru), Fiji, Samoa, Hawaii, California (San Diego and Long Beach), Panama and finally Curaçao.

In 1977, she attended the Silver Jubilee Fleet Review with sisterships Plymouth and Rothesay. At this time she was part of the 8th Frigate Squadron.

Berwick was sunk as a target ship in August 1986 by a Tigerfish torpedo fired from the submarine Tireless.

Frigate of 2,144 tons disp. One of Nine Rothesay Class.
370(oa) x 41 ft.
2 x 4.5 in. 1 x 40mm. Limbo.
Later. Seacat Missile's fitted in place of the 40 mm. Olus one Wasp Helicopter fitted with homing torpedoe's
Geared Turbines of 30,000 hp giving 30 Kts.
Launched by Harland and Wolff, Belfast on the 15th December 1959.
Modernised 1971 and sunk as a target August 1986 in the Atlantic.

[brianh]

Berwick coming alongside at Tyne Commission Quay on 27 July 1965 as part of the "Special Squadron" visit at the time of Dennis`s post. Of interest, is that before the coming of foul weather gear and hard hats the dress code was long Pussers overcoats and everyday caps.