Sailors from HMS Edinburgh on parade at the decommisioning ceremony for the Royal Navy's last Type 42 destroyer.
<p>The last of the Royal Navy’s fleet of Type 42 destroyers which have served across the globe for 40 years bowed out of service June 6.
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<ul><li><ul><li>Consent forms signed and held at Fleet Photographic Unit East, Portsmouth**</li></ul></li></ul><p>HMS Edinburgh’s White Ensign was lowered for the last time during her decommissioning ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base, ending an era which began with the launch of HMS Sheffield in 1971.
</p><p>The ageing Type 42s have gradually been phased out of service to make way for the successor Type 45s which are among the most modern and powerful warships in the world.
</p><p>Among hundreds of guests at the decommissioning ceremony were Lady Heseltine, HMS Edinburgh’s sponsor and wife of former Defence Secretary Michael Heseltine, who launched the ship on 14 April 1983. Seventeen former Edinburgh Commanding Officers and dozens of Type 42 veterans also attended.
</p><p>Edinburgh’s 270 ship’s company were on parade during the 50-minute ceremony and were inspected by Lady Heseltine and senior Naval officers. RAF Typhoon and Hawk aircraft, together with a Sea Fury from the RN Historic Flight, performed a flypast before the final lowering of the ship’s White Ensign.
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<ul><li><ul><li>Consent forms signed and held at Fleet Photographic Unit East, Portsmouth**</li></ul></li>
<li>Organization: ROYAL NAVY</li>
<li>Object Name: FX130198093</li>
<li>Category: MOD</li>
<li>Supplemental Categories: People, Royal Navy</li>
<li>Keywords: Royal Navy, Personnel, Identifiable, Sailor, Female, Officer, Lieutenant, Lt, Equipment, Ship, Destroyer, DDG, Type 42, HMS Edinburgh, Sailors</li>
<li>Country: UK</li></ul>
LA(Phot) Maxine Davies
OGL v1.0
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