History & Modifications
All ships:
The torpedo tubes had been removed from all the class by the early 1960s. All the class were refitted
between 1966 and 1972, beginning with Rothesay. This involved the removal of the forward Limbo, the
resulting hole being plated over to make a flightdeck. The aft superstructure was converted to a hangar
for a Wasp HAS1 helicopter. On top of the hangar, a quad SeaCat SAM launcher was fitted with GWS20
director.
Type Type 293Q radar was replaced by the Type 993 and two 20mm guns were added alongside the bridge.
Corvus decoy launchers were added and the lattice mast was replaced by a plated structure. The crew
was increased to 235.
Berwick:
Berwick was decommissioned in 1985 and sunk as a target in September 1986.
Brighton:
Brighton was laid up in 1981 and not refitted for Falklands service. She arrived for scrapping on 16th
September 1985 on the Medway.
Falmouth:
Falmouth was decommissioned in 1984, and was then used as a taget ship. She left Portsmouth under
tow to Spain on 4th May 1989 for scrapping.
Londonderry:
Between 1975 and October 1979, Londonderry was converted to a trials ship, involving the removal of
all armament, and the installation of 2 extra masts to support radar and other electronic instruments.
After refitting, she was used for trials with the JTIDS, or Joint Tactical Information Distribution
System. The 30mm Rarden cannon intended for the Scorpion light tank was tested on board. She was also
fitted with pump jet propulsion.
She decommisioned in March 1982. In May 1983 she was recommisioned in the Dartmouth Training Squadron,
and finally decommissioned in March 1984. From then on she was used as a static training ship until
being sunk as a target on 25th June 1989.
Lowestoft:
Lowestoft was used in sonar trials with an experimental towed array. Although she was refitted for
the Falklands war, the Argentinians surrendered before she could leave for the islands.
She was then used as guardship at Gibralter and decommissioned in 1985. On 16th June 1986 she was
sunk as a target.
Plymouth:
During the Falklands war, Plymouth was involved in the operation to recapture South Georgia, and
ccepted the surrender of the Argentine commander of the islands, Captain Alfredo Astiz. She then
covered the landings at San Carlos. During the war, she fire 9 SeaCat missiles, destroying 5 enemy
aircraft.
On 8th June 1982 she was hit by 4 bombs in an air attack. None exploded on board, but one caused
depth charges on the flightdeck to explode. Another destroyed the Limbo mortar, leaving 1 of the
rounds loaded. The ships crew were gathered on the foredeck while a bomb disposal team made safe
the depth charge. Despite all the damage, her only casualties were 5 injured crew.
Plymouth was disposed of in 1988. Instead of scrapping, she was preserved as a museum by the city
of Plymouth. But a permanent berth could not be found there, and she was moved to Birkenhead,
Liverpool where she remains today.
Rhyl:
Rhyl was refitted to take part in the Falklands war, but the Argentinians had surrendered before
she could leave for the islands. She decommissioned in 1983 and was sunk as a target in September 1985.
Rothesay:
Rothesay was given two GAM-B01 20mm guns in the mid-1980s. She was sold for scrapping in 1988.
Yarmouth:
In the Falklands, Yarmouth assisted rescuing survivors from Arrow and Ardent. Along with the ice
atrol ship Endurance she recaptured the island of South Thule which had been occupied by the
Argentinians since 1976. After a short bombardment, the occupiers surrendered without firing a shot.
She was sunk as a target in July 1987.