HMS Rothesay (F107)

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Career (UK)
Class and type:	Rothesay class frigate
Name:	HMS Rothesay
Builder:	Yarrow, Scotstoun
Laid down:	6 November 1956
Launched:	9 December 1957
Commissioned:	23 April 1960
Decommissioned:	March 1988
Status:	Preserved
General characteristics
Displacement:	As built: 2,150 tons standard 2,560 tons full load As modified: 2,380 tons standard 2,800 tons full load
Length:	370 ft (110 m)
Beam:	41 ft (12 m)
Draught:	17.3 ft (5.3 m)
Propulsion:	'Y-100 plant Two Babcock and Wilcox boilers Two English Electric steam turbines 2 shafts 30,000 shp
Speed:	30 knots (56 km/h)
Range:	400 tons oil fuel, 5,200 nautical miles (9,600 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement:	152, later 225, modified to 235
Sensors and processing systems:	Electronics (as built): Radar Type 293Q target indication Radar Type 277Q height finding Radar Type 275 fire control on director Mark 6M Radar Type 974 navigation Type 1010 Cossor Mark 10 IFF Sonar Type 174 search Sonar Type 162 target classification Sonar Type 170 attack Electronics (as modified): Radar Type 993 target indication Radar Type 903 fire control on director MRS3 Radar Type 978 navigation Type 1010 Cossor Mark 10 IFF Sonar Type 177 search Sonar Type 162 target classification Sonar Type 170 attack
Armament:	Armament (as built): 1 x twin 4.5in gun Mark 6 1 x 40 mm Bofors gun Mark 7 2 x Limbo A/S mortar Mark 10 12 x 21-in A/S torpedo tubes (removed or never shipped) Armament (as modified): 1 x twin 4.5in gun Mark 6 1 x Sea Cat GWS-20 SAM 2 x 20 mm Oerlikon guns 1 x Limbo A/S mortar Mark 10 1 x Westland Wasp HAS.1 MATCH helicopter 2 x 8-barrel 3in Knebworth/Corvus countermeasures launchers
Notes:	Pennant number F107

HMS Rothesay (F107) was a Rothesay or Type 12I class anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy.

[edit] History

In the spring/summer of 1961 HMS Rothesay was in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was intending to make courtesy at ports on the eastern seaboard of the USA but was instead diverted to Bermuda where she was to stay ready to protect British interests in Cuba.

Between 1966 and 1968 Rothesay was refitted in Rosyth, Among the improvements the 40 mm gun was replaced with Seacat missile system, radar and communication equipment was updated, accommodation improved and perhaps most significantly a helicopter flight deck and hangar were added. Although this required the removal of one of the two triple barrelled anti-submarine mortars, it allowed the Rothesay Class to carry the Westland Wasp helicopter which was a huge asset for anti-submarine operations. This modernisation was a vast improvement over the Whitby Class and brought the Rothesay class up to the standard of the succeeding Leander Class.

On 6 August 1969, together with HMS Minerva, they landed 315 men of The Parachute Regiment on Anguilla to restore order after the islanders objected to being placed under the government of Saint Kitts.

In 1973 HMS Rothesay undertook Cod War Fishery Protection Patrols.

In 1977 She attended the Silver Jubilee Fleet Review with sisterships HMS Plymouth and HMS Berwick.

During the Falklands war in 1982, Rothesay was stationed in the Caribbean.

There was plans to withdraw the ship from service in 1983 but these were abandoned and instead in 1985 she underwent a refit in preparation for her new role in the Dartmouth Training Squadron. She served in this role until she was paid off on 13 March 1988. During her many years of service she clocked up over 800,000 miles. She was sold to Spain to be broken up there.

[edit] Trivia

HMS Rothesay appeared in the James Bond film Thunderball in 1965 as the ship which leads the attack on the Disco Volante. During the attack the ship fires a cannon at the Disco Volante.

v • d • e Rothesay class frigates Royal Navy Rothesay  · Londonderry  · Brighton  · Yarmouth  · Falmouth  · Rhyl  · Lowestoft  · Berwick  · Plymouth Royal New Zealand Navy Otago  · Taranaki South African Navy (President class) President Kruger · President Steyn · President Pretorius Preceded by: Type 12 Whitby  · Followed by: Type 12M Leander List of frigate classes of the Royal Navy