HMS EXETER - D89 Captain 5th Destroyer Squadron

[@paulharvey-hunter1909]

25 years in the RN, my memories are fond of all the ships I served upon, but Exeter is the fondest, we went, we fought, we returned safely. Why because of a great crew who jelled together and the great Captain Hugh Balfour who was a wonderful Commanding Officer and who knew how to treat his crew and look after his ship.[May he R.I.P] Although the MOD did not do us proud her crew will always be "Always Faithful" [Semper Fidelis]

[@robpthegills]

Fantastic ship. I joined her in 1980 as a JRO. Great people, great crew. Can still walk around the ship in my mind and visualise where all the lads worked. The naafi man, chinese laundry. Very proud to serve such a great ship and the best Captain ever. As said before Captain Balfour really was an officer and a gentleman.

[@mrdunn1in]

That would be Captain Dreyer. I was a JWEM(R) so we will have come across each other. I do remember being sonar and then 909.

[@mrdunn1in]

I was part of her commissioning guard in Portsmouth in 1980 as a very young JWEM(R).

[@kevinlambert9206]

Served on HMS Exeter from 1989 -1992 as LMEM killack of mess 3P great ship and great ships company proud to have served on her during the first gulf war

[@johnpearce8284]

Hugh Balfour an officer and a gentleman, there are not many can be classed alongside this man

[@KenGriffiths]

Served in the Falklands 82 in HMS Cardiff. HMS Exeter was always on the ball and ahead of us by miles when it came to detecting and acquiring enemy aircraft, superb air teams. Incidentally, the first couple of books written after the war incorrectly credit Exeter with shooting down Canberra B108 on 14 June, a historical error that snowballed for many years. Even some of the Exeter folk started to believe it (Paul Stone for one), It took me many years of writing to aviation journals to put the record straight, all sorted today and Cardiff now correctly gets the credit.

[@ianweatherall2731]

spent 3 years in the last 90s on her a wonderful ship and crew and a fitting bit of music you have done her proud

[@kempo899]

Same here mate...including Far East and Gulf in '96. Wonderful ship's company.

[@matmidd]

I was on her. 1989-92 - Great ship and Crew

[@lulutv3160]

Mat Middlecott

[@chrisjennings5797]

2 excellent years in her 84 86 keeping the combined engineers on toes and looking after SMEO and SWEO

[@dave619uk]

I served on her for 18 months in 1999-2000. Great ship, so sad to see her gone.

[@johnpearce8284]

Loved this ship took her from build through the Falklands, but the one person I will remember is Captain Hugh Balfour an office and a gentleman. More to the point a superb warfare tactician.

[@johnpearce8284]

Me too I was her first internal comms killick, I live in Wallsend

[@pompeywhite159]

Are you still in Wallsend John, I was brought up there before moving to Halifax, I spend a couple of years on the Exeter 90 through 92..

[@seawolf1022]

I feel very strongly the Navy and MOD didnt do right by this fine ship either in the none flying of her paying off pennant on her final arrival back in portsmouth after her last voyage nor their lack of concern over peoples feelings when the Exeter was towed out of portsmouth for the last time without any notification to the hundreds of ex crew members that served on this fine vessel. I have made this video to salute a fine warship of the Royal Navy which has many fond memories for us all.

[@nathanind245]

Can anyone tell me the name of the first piece of music on this video.

[@seawolf1022]

It is the sunset tune played by the royal marines band

[@nathanind245]

Thanks sea wolf

[@WELLBRAN]

@seawolf1022 the MOD did not do the earlier exeter right either sent her out to her doom to the far east

[@johnboothr1]

why the blue bottom? anyone explain? thanks

[@henryvagincourt]

Trial of a new anti-fowling paint, my last ship before leaving the navy, Plymouth, Apollo before. O to be young again.

[@fa0676]

Co-polymer paint, only available at the time in three colours. Light blue was chosen. Looked ace at Hands to Bathe.

[@gilrae2185]

The first time she went into dry dock was in Gibraltar we were heading down south in 1983 and lost one of the variable pitch blades off the port propeller, we went back to Gib and dry docked they flew a spare blade out from uk, the blue paint was clean as a whistle no fouling anywhere. 50% leave for both watches ,remember getting called back on board as the fix had been completed and were sailing pronto,half the ships company was shit faced ,,haha great times

[@WELLBRAN]

The MOD do not care about anyone or anything