Yesterday my wife and I went on a tour around HMS Campbeltown which was docked at the Pier Head over in Liverpool. She was built by Cammell Laird shipyards in 1987. A type 22 frigate, she was kitted out with antisubmarine and antiaircraft weapons systems. She also carries a helicopter.
As part of the Strategic Defence Review the Royal Navy is scrapping four type 22 frigates (including HMS Campbeltown) so this was her last trip to Liverpool. Type 23 frigates will be replaced with more modern war ships from 2020. Pictures from the trip are below.
After the tour we happened to pass Cllr. Moira McLaughlin (Deputy Mayor) in the Albert Dock area. She said she’d been round HMS Campbeltown the evening before. This was probably something similar to the meal that Wirral Met College students did for VIPs a few weeks ago on HMS Liverpool.
On the HMS Campbeltown the crew was friendly, polite and welcoming. Members of the public thought the tour of HMS Campbeltown was much better than the one of HMS Liverpool a few weeks ago. On the way to and from the ship, Leonora found a memorial (at Canada Boulevard) to Canadian servicemen and women.
Clearly the days of tens of thousands of people employed at Cammell Lairds building ships has left (similar to the mining communities when the pits shut) unemployment in Birkenhead which has been made worse by the recession. If Birkenhead is to improve, employment for its citizens is key to ensuring the future quality of life for us all. You can click on the thumbnails of photos below for larger versions.
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