Editing HMS Cardiff (D108)

{{short description|Type 42 destroyer}}
{{Other ships|HMS Cardiff}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{| {{Infobox ship begin}}
 {{Infobox ship image
 | Ship image = [[File:HMS Cardiff (D108) 1.jpg|300px|alt=Grey warship with black towers and red missiles on its bow, city buildings are in the background.]]
 | Ship caption = HMS ''Cardiff'' in Portsmouth, c. 2005
}}
{{Infobox ship career
 | Ship country = United Kingdom
 | Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
 | Ship name = HMS ''Cardiff''
 | Ship namesake = [[Wales|Welsh]] capital city of [[Cardiff]]<ref>{{cite hansard |title=Ship-Town Links |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1989/may/15/ship-town-links#S6CV0153P0-05389 |house=House of Commons |date=15 May 1989 |column_start=69W |column_end=70W |speaker=[[Archie Hamilton|Hamilton, Sir Archie]] |position=[[Minister of State for the Armed Forces]] |access-date=5 September 2008}}</ref>
 | Ship ordered =
 | Ship builder = [[Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering]]
 | Ship laid down = 6 November 1972
 | Ship launched = 22 February 1974
 | Ship acquired =
 | Ship commissioned = 24 September 1979
 | Ship decommissioned = 14 July 2005
 | Ship in service =
 | Ship out of service =
 | Ship struck =
 | Ship reinstated =
 | Ship honours =
*2 × [[battle honour]]s:
**Falkland Islands 1982<ref>{{cite hansard |title=The Falklands Campaign: Battle Honours |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1983/oct/25/the-falklands-campaign-battle-honours#S5LV0444P0-01040 |house=House of Lords |date=25 October 1983 |column_start=242WA |column_end=244WA |speaker=[[David Trefgarne, 2nd Baron Trefgarne|Baron Trefgarne]] |position=Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Armed Forces |access-date=5 September 2008}}</ref>
**Kuwait 1991<ref>{{cite hansard |title=The Gulf Campaign: Battle Honours |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1993/feb/24/gulf-campaign-battle-honours-1#S5LV0543P0-05500 |house=House of Lords |date=24 February 1993 |column_start=8WA |column_end=15WA |speaker=[[Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury|Viscount Cranborne]] |position=Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence |access-date=5 September 2008}}</ref>
*[[Freedom of the City]] of Cardiff<ref name="BBCCardiffsfinalvisit">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4654149.stm |title=HMS ''Cardiff''{{'}}s final visit to city |date=6 July 2005 |work=[[BBC News Online|BBC News]] |access-date=9 March 2008}}</ref>
 | Ship identification =*[[Pennant number]]: D108
*[[Pennant number#Deck codes|Deck code]]: CF
*{{IMO Number|4907024}}
 | Ship fate = [[Ship breaking|Scrapped]]
 | Ship homeport = [[HMNB Portsmouth]]
 | Ship motto =*{{lang|la|Acris in cardine rerum}}
*([[Latin]]: "Keen in emergency")
 | Ship nickname = "The Welsh Warship"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/1091.html |title=HMS ''Cardiff'' |work=Royal Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050709235903/http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/1091.html |archive-date=9 July 2005}}</ref>
 | Ship badge = [[File:HMS Cardiff Crest.png|60px|alt=Crest rimmed with golden rope bearing the word Cardiff at the top. On top of the crest is a crown decorated with jewels and golden sails. In the crest is a castle tower on ocean waves, the tower has a golden portcullis.|HMS Cardiff's crest]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
 | Ship class = [[Type 42 destroyer|Type 42]] [[destroyer]]
 | Ship displacement = {{convert|4000|t|-2|abbr=on}}
 | Ship length = {{convert|125|m|ft|abbr=on}}
 | Ship beam = {{convert|14.3|m|ft|abbr=on}}
 | Ship draught = {{convert|5.8|m|ft|abbr=on}}
 | Ship propulsion = 2 × [[COGOG]] turbines producing {{convert|36|MW|shp|abbr=on}}, driving 2&nbsp;shafts
 | Ship speed = {{convert|30|kn|km/h|abbr=on|order=flip}}
 | Ship range = {{convert|4000|nmi|km|abbr=on|order=flip}} at {{convert|18|kn|km/h|abbr=on|order=flip}}
 | Ship complement = 287–301
 | Ship sensors =
 | Ship EW =UAA1
 | Ship armament = 
*1 × Twin [[Sea Dart missile]] launcher
*1 × [[4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun|4.5&nbsp;inch (113&nbsp;mm) Mk.8 gun]]
*2 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20&nbsp;mm Oerlikon guns]]
*2 × [[Phalanx CIWS|Phalanx close-in weapon system]]
*2 × Triple [[anti-submarine]] torpedo tubes
*[[Seagnat|NATO Seagnat]] and [[DLF3]] decoy launchers
 | Ship armour =
 | Ship aircraft = [[Westland Lynx|Lynx]] H[[Anti-submarine warfare|AS]].3
 | Ship notes =
 }}
|}

'''HMS ''Cardiff''''' was a British [[Type 42 destroyer]] and the third ship of the [[Royal Navy]] to be named in honour of the [[Wales|Welsh]] capital city of [[Cardiff]].

''Cardiff'' served in the [[Falklands War]], where she was involved in the [[1982 British Army Gazelle friendly fire incident]]. She also shot down the last [[Argentina|Argentine]] aircraft of the conflict and accepted the surrender of a 700-strong garrison in the settlement of [[Port Howard]].

During the 1991 [[Gulf War]], her [[Westland Lynx|Lynx]] helicopter sank two [[Iraq]]i [[minesweeper]]s. She later participated in the build-up to the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] as part of the Royal Navy's constant [[Armilla patrol]], but was not involved in the actual invasion.

''Cardiff'' was [[Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] in July 2005, and sent for [[Ship breaking|scrapping]] despite calls by former servicemen for her to be preserved as a [[museum ship]] and local tourist attraction in Cardiff.

== Construction ==

The [[Type 42 destroyer|Type 42]] destroyers, also known as the ''Sheffield'' class, were built in three batches; ''Cardiff'' was built in the first. The cost of the warships  construction was over [[Pound sterling|£]]30&nbsp;million, which was double her original quoted price.<ref>{{cite book |title=Intelligence, Defence, and Diplomacy: British Policy in the Post-War World |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oSZHqtcBBKEC&q=%22HMS+Cardiff%22&pg=PA119 |last=Aldrich |first=Richard James |year=1994 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=0-7146-4140-5 |page=119 |access-date=10 March 2008}}</ref> The [[keel]] was laid down on 6 November 1972, at [[Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd]] in [[Barrow-in-Furness]], Cumbria. The build was interrupted by a labour shortage at Vickers. To solve this problem, the unfinished hull was towed to [[Swan Hunter]]{{'s}} [[Hawthorn Leslie and Company|Hawthorn Leslie]] yard in [[Hebburn]], Tyne and Wear and completed there.<ref>{{cite book |last=Daniel |first=R. J. |year=2003 |title=The End of an Era |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iDeBCVj_PJQC&q=%22hms+cardiff%22&pg=PA216 |publisher=Periscope Publishing Ltd |page=216 |isbn=1-904381-18-9 |access-date=10 March 2008}}</ref>

Type 42s were designed as [[anti-aircraft]] vessels primarily equipped with the [[Sea Dart missile|Sea Dart]], a [[surface-to-air missile]] system capable of hitting targets up to {{convert|30|nmi|km|order=flip}} away.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/weapon-systems/sea-dart/ |title=Sea Dart |website=Royal Navy |access-date=5 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704033420/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/weapon-systems/sea-dart/ |archive-date=4 July 2009}}</ref> ''Cardiff''{{'}}s secondary weapon system was a [[4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun|4.5&nbsp;inch Mark 8 naval gun]], capable of firing {{convert|21|kg|lb|adj=on}} shells to a range of {{convert|22|km|nmi}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/weapon-systems/114-mm-4-5-inch-gun/ |title=114 mm (4.5 inch) Gun |website=Royal Navy |access-date=10 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621121101/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/weapon-systems/114-mm-4-5-inch-gun/ |archive-date=21 June 2009}}</ref> After the Falklands War, in which two Type 42s were sunk by enemy aircraft, the entire class was equipped with the [[Phalanx CIWS|Phalanx]] [[close-in weapon system]],<ref name="HazeGray">{{cite web |url=http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/rn/destroyers/type42/ |title=Type 42 destroyer |website=Haze Gray and Underway |access-date=10 February 2008}}</ref> a [[Gatling gun|Gatling cannon]] that could fire 3,000&nbsp;rounds per minute and was designed to shoot down [[anti-ship missile]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/mk-15.htm |title=MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) |last=Pike |first=John |date=9 January 2003 |website=[[Federation of American Scientists]] |access-date=10 February 2008}}</ref>

== Operational history ==

=== Early career ===

''Cardiff'' was [[ship naming and launching|launched]] on 22 February 1974 by [[Ian Gilmour, Baron Gilmour of Craigmillar|Lady Caroline Gilmour]].<ref name="BHCA">{{cite web |url=http://www.britishhighcommission.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1084277289672 |title=Last Ship Visit To Ghana; Visit of HMS Cardiff, 8-11 May 2004 |website=British High Commission, Accra |access-date=10 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040818231454/http://www.britishhighcommission.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage&c=Page&cid=1084277289672 |archive-date=18 August 2004}}</ref> Following [[fitting-out]] and [[sea trial]]s, ''Cardiff'' [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 24 September 1979 under command of Captain [[Barry Wilson (Royal Navy officer)|Barry Wilson]].<ref name="NavyNews">{{cite news |url=http://www.navynews.co.uk/falklands/ships/cardiff.asp# |title=Ships of the Royal Navy – HMS ''Cardiff'' |newspaper=[[Navy News]] |date=November 1980 |number=300 |access-date=10 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070307092759/http://www.navynews.co.uk/falklands/ships/cardiff.asp |archive-date=7 March 2007}}</ref> During the next 12&nbsp;months of active service she steamed over {{convert|13000|mi|km|order=flip}} and undertook various duties. She returned to her place of construction, [[Tyne and Wear]], so that the [[Swan Hunter]] crew who fitted her out could exhibit the warship to their families. In the spirit of establishing a firm association, ''Cardiff'' visited her namesake city and welcomed more than 7,000&nbsp;people on board. Her crew raised over [[Pound sterling|£]]1,000 for local charities by participating in sponsored bicycle rides and [[dinghy]] rows from [[Portsmouth]] and [[Newcastle upon Tyne]]. [[BBC Radio Wales]] based an entire programme on her and she appeared on the [[BBC]] and [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] national television channels. In November 1979, ''Cardiff'' coordinated the search for survivors of the {{MV|Pool Fisher}}, which sank off the [[Isle of Wight]] with the loss of most of her crew.<ref name="NavyNews" />

In 1980, she attended the annual [[Navy Days]] event at Portsmouth and [[Portland Harbour]], receiving a total of 17,300&nbsp;visitors. In October of the same year, she ventured abroad for the first time on a visit to [[Ghent]], Belgium. She followed this with a fortnight of Sea Dart exercises on a range off [[Aberporth]], in [[South Wales]]. Whilst in the region, the destroyer attended celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of Cardiff's [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]].<ref name="NavyNews" />

=== Falklands War (1982) ===

On 2 April 1982, the disputed [[British overseas territory]] of the [[Falkland Islands]] was invaded by neighbouring Argentina.<ref name="BBCintro">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/guides/457000/457033/html/default.stm |title=Key facts: The Falklands War, Introduction |work=BBC News |access-date=7 March 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308095608/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/guides/457000/457033/html/default.stm |archive-date=8 March 2008}}</ref> The United Kingdom, nearly {{convert|8000|mi|km|order=flip}} away, assembled and dispatched a naval [[Events leading to the Falklands War#Task force|task force]] of 28,000&nbsp;troops to recapture the islands.<ref name="BBCintro" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/guides/457000/457033/html/nn2page1.stm |title=Key facts: The Falklands War, Task Force |work=BBC News |access-date=7 October 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007112348/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/guides/457000/457033/html/nn2page1.stm |archive-date=7 October 2007}}</ref> The conflict ended that June with the [[Falklands War Argentine surrender|surrender of the Argentine forces]]; the battles fought on land, at sea, and in the air had cost the lives of some 900 British and Argentine servicemen.<ref name="BBCintro" />

Just over a month before the start of the war, ''Cardiff'', under the command of Captain [[Michael Harris, 9th Baron Harris|Michael Harris]],<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=49194 |supp=y|page=16121|date=13 December 1982}}</ref> had begun a six-month deployment to the [[Persian Gulf]] with the [[Armilla Patrol]]. ''Cardiff'' had relieved her sister ship and [[lead ship|class lead]] {{HMS|Sheffield|D80|2}} from this operational tasking,<ref name="Deployment Diary">{{cite web |url=http://hmscardiff.co.uk/timeline.aspx |title=Deployment Diary |website=HMS Cardiff – The 1982 Ship's Company |access-date=11 February 2008 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526024756/http://hmscardiff.co.uk/timeline.aspx |archive-date=26 May 2008}}</ref> but was herself redeployed to the Falklands effort on 23 April. She sailed alone to [[Gibraltar]]<ref name="Deployment Diary" /> and rendezvoused on 14 May with the [[Bristol group]] of British warships already heading south to the islands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naval-history.net/F37weekseven.htm |title=Task Force Departures, from Monday, 10 May |website=Naval History.net |access-date=5 March 2008}}</ref>

During the journey, ''Cardiff''{{'}}s crew performed various training exercises, including defence against air attack (involving simulation runs by friendly [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier|Harrier]] and [[SEPECAT Jaguar|Jaguar]] aircraft), [[Weapon of mass destruction|nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons]] and [[Exocet]] anti-ship missiles.<ref name="Report of Proceedings">{{cite web |url=http://hmscardiff.co.uk/rop.aspx |title=Report of Proceedings |website=HMS Cardiff – The 1982 Ship's Company |access-date=12 February 2008 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526055504/http://hmscardiff.co.uk/rop.aspx |archive-date=26 May 2008 }}</ref> All British Type 42's involved in the war were instructed to paint two vertical black stripes down either side the middle of their ships. This would allow the Royal Navy submarines to distinguish them from the two Argentine Type 42's.<ref>{{cite book |title=Four Weeks in May |last=Hart-Dyke |first=David |author-link=David Hart Dyke |year=2008 |publisher=Atlantic Books |location=Great Britain |isbn=978-1-84354-591-0 |page=31 |chapter=Chapter 2}}</ref> On 22 May, an Argentine reconnaissance [[Boeing 707]], no.&nbsp;TC-92 of the [[Argentine Air Force]]'s {{lang|es|Grupo 1, De Transporte Aereo Escuadron II}} (Spanish for "2nd Air Transport Squadron, Group 1"), was fired on by ''Cardiff''.{{sfnp|Freedman|2005|p=473}} The aircraft was detected while shadowing the Bristol group, and ''Cardiff'' was ordered to drop back and engage.{{sfnp|Freedman|2005|p=473}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.navynews.co.uk/falklands/stories/8202052201.asp |title=The Falklands Conflict&nbsp;— 22 May 1982 |date=July 1982 |newspaper=[[Navy News]] |access-date=12 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106064031/http://www.navynews.co.uk/falklands/stories/8202052201.asp |archive-date=6 January 2009 }}</ref> The ship fired two Sea Darts at the aircraft at 11:40 (local time) from maximum range; the first fell short and second missed{{sfnp|Freedman|2005|p=473}} due to evasive manoeuvres taken by the aircraft's crew.<ref name="Malvinas">{{cite web |url=http://www.aeroespacio.com.ar/site/anteriores/538-550/546/site/_01malvinas.htm |title=Malvinas 20 Anos–Testimonios |access-date=23 April 2008 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027154705/http://www.aeroespacio.com.ar/site/anteriores/538-550/546/site/_01malvinas.htm |archive-date=27 October 2007 }}</ref> After the attack, TC-92 dropped below radar level and returned to [[El Palomar, Buenos Aires|El Palomar]].<ref name="Malvinas" /> On 25 May, ''Cardiff'' was tasked with the recovery of four [[Special Air Service]] (SAS) troopers, who had parachuted from a [[C-130 Hercules]] passing over the destroyer.<ref name="Report of Proceedings" />

[[File:SAS Parachute down to HMS Cardiff.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Four small parachutes can be seen coming out the back of a distant, silhouetted plane in flight. It is daytime, however the sky is dark and cloudy.|Four [[Special Air Service|SAS]] troopers rendezvous with ''Cardiff'' via airdrop, en route to the islands]]
The Bristol group met up with the main task force on 26 May.{{sfnp|Freedman|2005|p=55}} ''Cardiff''{{'}}s arrival allowed the damaged {{HMS|Glasgow|D88|2}} to return to the United Kingdom for repairs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.navynews.co.uk/falklands/stories/8202051001.asp |title=The Falklands Conflict&nbsp;— 12 May 1982&nbsp;— Glasgow's Day of Victory |newspaper=[[Navy News]] |access-date=5 April 2008 |date=July 1982 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051231011050/http://www.navynews.co.uk/falklands/stories/8202051001.asp |archive-date=31 December 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naval-history.net/F46weeknineTF.htm |title=Black Buck, Victor, Vulcan, Engadine, Fort Grange in British Task Force Movements |website=Naval History.net |access-date=5 May 2008}}</ref> ''Cardiff''{{'}}s primary role was to form part of the anti-aircraft warfare [[Radar picket|picket]], protecting British ships from air attack and attempting to ambush Argentine aircraft that were re-supplying [[Port Stanley Airport]].<ref name="RNA">{{cite web |url=http://www.rna-10-area.co.uk/falklands.html |title=Falklands 25&nbsp;— On this Day–14 June |website=Royal Naval Association Number 10 Area |access-date=13 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080218032150/http://www.rna-10-area.co.uk/falklands.html |archive-date=18 February 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.navynews.co.uk/falklands/stories/8202060201.asp |title=The Falklands Conflict&nbsp;— 2 June 1982 |newspaper=[[Navy News]] |access-date=2 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041225190350/http://www.navynews.co.uk/falklands/stories/8202060201.asp |archive-date=25 December 2004 }}</ref> She was also required to fire at enemy positions on the islands with her [[4.5-inch (114 mm) Mark 8 naval gun|4.5-inch gun]]. In one engagement she fired 277&nbsp;high-explosive rounds.<ref name="Report of Proceedings" />

Shortly after arrival, she was involved in the final Exocet raid against the aircraft carrier {{HMS|Invincible|R05|2}}.<ref name="Report of Proceedings" /> In the early hours of 6 June, ''Cardiff'' shot down a friendly [[Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)|Army Air Corps]] [[Aérospatiale Gazelle|Gazelle]] helicopter (no.&nbsp;[[1982 British Army Gazelle friendly fire incident|XX377]] of [[No. 656 Squadron AAC|656 Squadron]]), in the belief it was a low flying enemy C-130 Hercules.<ref name="isbn0-7546-4950-4">{{cite book |last1=Masakowski |first1=Yvonne |last2=Cook |first2=Malcolm |last3=Noyes |first3=Jan |year=2007 |title=Decision-making in Complex Environments |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L3tjkgpS5jAC&q=%22HMS+Cardiff%22&pg=PA197 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing |page=197 |isbn=978-0-7546-4950-2 |access-date=11 March 2008}}</ref><ref name="BluffCove">{{cite journal |url=http://usacac.army.mil/cac/milreview/download/English/NovDec04/bolia.pdf |title=The Falklands War: The Bluff Cove Disaster |last=Bolia |first=Robert S. |journal=[[Military Review]] |issue=November–December 2004 |pages=66–72 |access-date=26 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625021734/http://usacac.army.mil/cac/milreview/download/English/NovDec04/bolia.pdf |archive-date=25 June 2007}}</ref> All four on board were killed,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naval-history.net/F51opsweek10.htm |title=Stanley, Mount Kent, Mount Longdon, Top Malo House in Falkland Area Operations&nbsp;— Falklands War 1982 |website=Naval History.net |access-date=5 March 2008}}</ref> the factors contributing to the accident were a poor level of communication between the army and navy, and the helicopter's "[[Identification Friend or Foe]]" transmitter had been turned off due to it interfering with other equipment.<ref name="isbn0-7546-4950-4" /><ref name="BluffCove" /> However a board of inquiry recommended that neither negligence nor blame should be attributed to any individual and that no action should be taken against any individual.<ref>{{cite hansard |title=L/Cpl. S. J. Cockton |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1987/feb/02/lcpl-s-j-cockton |house=House of Commons |date=2 February 1987 |column_start=517W |column_end=519W |speaker=[[John Stanley (Tonbridge and Malling MP)|Stanley, John]] |position=Minister of State for the Armed Forces |access-date=1 June 2008}}</ref> The number "205" was later painted at the crash site ({{Coord|-51.783600| -58.467786}}) as a memorial, the significance being that two of the helicopter's passengers were from [[205 Signal Squadron|205&nbsp;Signal Squadron]]. Approximately an hour after the shoot down, ''Cardiff'' spotted four [[Landing Craft Utility|landing craft]] carrying troops from the 2nd Battalion, [[Scots Guards]].<ref name="Deployment Diary" /> Having been told there were no other British forces in the area, ''Cardiff's'' crew assumed they were Argentine, and fired illuminating [[star shell]]s over them in preparation to attack. When the Guards saw the star shells and realised ''Cardiff''{{'}}s intentions, the officer in charge of the landing craft, [[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]] [[Ewen Southby-Tailyour]], moved them to shallow water in an attempt to outrun her. ''Cardiff'', still closing on the craft, signalled to them a single word "friend" via [[Aldis lamp]], Southby-Tailyour responded with "to which side".{{sfnp|Freedman|2005|p=600}} At this point ''Cardiff'' "left them alone",{{sfnp|Freedman|2005|p=600}} neither attacking or assisting them, nevertheless another "[[Friendly fire|blue on blue]]" incident was avoided.<ref name="isbn1-84176-422-1">{{cite book |last=Anderson |first=Duncan |year=2002 |title=The Falklands War 1982 (Essential Histories) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gNb9YyNCXksC&q=%22hms+cardiff%22+lamp&pg=PA58 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=UK |page=58 |isbn=1-84176-422-1 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

[[File:Lynx 335 HMS Cardiff March 1982.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Two men in flight suits grapple on the side of a dark blue helicopter hovering over water.|''Cardiff''{{'}}s helicopter, piloted by Lieutenant [[Christopher Clayton]], practising [[search and rescue]] prior to the war]]

On the morning of 13 June, two Argentine [[IAI Nesher|Dagger]] aircraft attacked ''Cardiff''{{'}}s Lynx helicopter, no.&nbsp;335 of [[829 Naval Air Squadron|829&nbsp;NAS]], while it was searching in the [[Falkland Sound]] area. Poor weather had forced the Argentine craft to abandon their original mission of bombing [[Mount Longdon]], and the third Dagger of their formation had suffered a mechanical failure and returned to base.<ref name="13 de Junio">{{cite web |url=http://www.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar/conflicto/dias/jun13.html |title=13 de Junio |website=Argentine Air Force |language=es |access-date=13 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401070934/http://www.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar/conflicto/dias/jun13.html |archive-date=1 April 2008 }}</ref> The Lynx began evasive manoeuvres and dodged the attacks; the pilot, Lieutenant [[Christopher Clayton]], was [[mentioned in despatches]] for his efforts.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=49134 |date=8 October 1982 |page=12 |supp=y }}</ref>

[[File:Canberra Bomber B-108.jpeg|thumb|right|alt=A close-up of a jet in flight, the pilot is wearing a white helmet. On the nose of the plane are the Spanish words "Fuerza Aerea Argentina" and the designation code "B-108".|[[English Electric Canberra|Canberra bomber]] B-108 of ''Grupo de Bombardeo&nbsp;2''. This Argentine aircraft, the last to be lost during the Falklands War, was shot down by ''Cardiff''.]]

Later that day, ''Cardiff'' shot down what would prove to be the last Argentine aircraft lost during the war, with a Sea Dart missile<ref name="Deployment Diary" /><ref>{{cite book |title=Hostile Skies |last=Morgan |first=David |year=2007 |publisher=Phoenix |location=London |isbn=978-0-7538-2199-2 |page=285}}</ref> [[English Electric Canberra|Canberra bomber]] B-108 of {{lang|es|Grupo de Bombardeo&nbsp;2}} ("Bombing Group 2") en route to bomb [[Port Harriet House]].<ref name="13 de Junio " /> The pilot, Captain Pastrán, managed to eject but the navigator,<ref name="RNA" /> Captain Casado, (whose ejection seat may have been damaged by the missile) was killed.<ref name="13 de Junio " /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar/conflicto/camberra.html |title=BAC MK-62 Canberra |website=Argentine Air Force |access-date=26 April 2008 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501205601/http://www.fuerzaaerea.mil.ar/conflicto/camberra.html |archive-date=1 May 2008 }}</ref> The remains of Captain Casado were discovered in 1986, and identified by DNA testing in September 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.mercopress.com/2008/09/12/falkland-islands-weekly-penguin-news-update |title=Remains identified |date=12 September 2008 |work=Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update |publisher=MercoPress |access-date=16 December 2009}}</ref>

[[Falklands War Argentine surrender|Argentina surrendered]] on 14 June, and ''Cardiff'' was required to accept the surrender of a 700-strong Argentine garrison in the settlement of [[Port Howard]] on West Falkland a day later.<ref name="Report of Proceedings" /> Five members of ''Cardiff''{{'}}s crew were used to man a captured Argentine patrol boat, renamed {{HMS|Tiger Bay}}, in [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|Stanley]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://issuu.com/navynews/docs/198208 |title=They have a tiger by the tail... |newspaper=Navy News |page=18 |date=July 1982}}</ref> ''Cardiff'' spent the rest of June acting as the Landing Area Air Warfare Controller (LAAWC) around [[San Carlos Water|San Carlos]].<ref name="Report of Proceedings" />

Over the course of the war, ''Cardiff'' fired nine Sea Dart missiles and one [[Mark 46 torpedo|Mk&nbsp;46 torpedo]].<ref name="Report of Proceedings" /> She returned to the United Kingdom on 28 July 1982, having left the Falklands three weeks earlier along with {{HMS|Exeter|D89|2}} and {{HMS|Yarmouth|F101|2}}.<ref name="Deployment Diary" /> Captain Michael Harris handed over command on 24 August 1982, after the annual maintenance period.<ref name="Report of Proceedings" /> Following the war, all Type 42 destroyers were fitted with [[Oerlikon 30 mm twin cannon|Oerlikon 30&nbsp;mm twin cannons]] port and starboard, for protection against airborne threats. These were later replaced by the [[Phalanx CIWS|Phalanx]] [[close-in weapon system]].<ref name="HazeGray" />

=== Gulf War (1990–91) ===

When [[Saddam Hussein]]'s [[Iraq]] invaded [[Kuwait]] on 2 August 1990, British [[Secretary of State for Defence]] [[Tom King, Baron King of Bridgwater|Tom King]] soon announced that the UK military contribution to the region was to be increased.<ref name="Gazette Gulf">[[Patrick Hine|Hine, Sir Patrick]], Official despatch, as published in {{London Gazette |issue=52589 |date=29 June 1991 |pages=39–43 |supp=2}}</ref> A [[coalition of the Gulf War|coalition of nations]] was formed, and a combined naval force entered the [[Persian Gulf]] and sailed north, neutralising the [[Iraqi Navy]] as it went, and then began conducting [[naval gunfire support]] and [[mine countermeasures|mine counter-measure]] missions in preparation for the main amphibious landing force.<ref name="Gazette Gulf" />

Having returned from the Persian Gulf in May 1990, after only a few months in UK ''Cardiff'' sailed again, as a reinforcement to Group X-Ray, {{HMS|Brazen|F91|2}}, {{HMS|London|F95|2}} and {{HMS|Gloucester|D96|2}} who had sailed to relieve Armilla Group Whiskey, which consisted of {{HMS|Battleaxe|F89|2}}, {{HMS|Jupiter|F60|2}} and {{HMS|York|D98|2}}.<ref name="Gazette Gulf" /> ''Cardiff'' and {{HMS|Gloucester|D96|2}} were to form part of the air defence barrier along with {{USS|Bunker Hill|CG-52|2}}, {{USS|Princeton|CG-59|2}} and {{USS|Worden|CG-18|2}} protecting three United States [[aircraft carrier]]s: {{USS|Midway|CV-41|2}}, {{USS|Ranger|CV-61|2}} and {{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71|2}}.<ref name="Gazette Gulf" /> ''Cardiff'' had other responsibilities, including surface surveillance<ref name="Gazette Gulf" /> and boarding operations, to maintain the security around the task force.<ref name="isbn1-55002-256-3">{{cite book |last1=Gimblett |first1=Richard H. |last2=Morin |first2=Jean |year=1997 |title=Operation Friction, 1990–1991: Canadian Forces in the Persian Gulf |url=https://archive.org/details/operationfrictio0000mori |url-access=registration |quote=HMS Cardiff. |publisher=Dundurn Press |location=Toronto |page=[https://archive.org/details/operationfrictio0000mori/page/140 140] |isbn=1-55002-256-3 |access-date=12 March 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Lynx 335.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A light blue helicopter on a ship's flight deck with its rotor blades folded away. A large dark blue missile is attached to its right side and the number 335 is written in white on its door.|''Cardiff'''s [[Westland Lynx|Lynx]] helicopter, no.&nbsp;335, with a [[Sea Skua]] missile]]

Royal Navy [[Westland Lynx|Lynxes]] worked in combination with US [[SH-60 Seahawk|Seahawks]] during the [[Gulf War]]. The American helicopters lacked an effective anti-ship missile, but had superior surveillance capability compared to the British Lynx. They would locate hostile boats for the British helicopters, which would then attack the target with its [[Sea Skua]] missiles.<ref name="isbn0-313-31024-6">{{cite book |last=Pokrant |first=Marvin |title=Desert Storm at sea: what the Navy really did |url=https://archive.org/details/desertstormatsea00pokr |url-access=registration |quote=HMS Cardiff. |publisher=Greenwood Press |location=Westport, Conn |year=1999 |page=[https://archive.org/details/desertstormatsea00pokr/page/58 58] |isbn=0-313-31024-6 |access-date=12 March 2008}}</ref> In total, Lynx helicopters flew nearly 600&nbsp;sorties during the Gulf War,<ref name="Gazette Gulf" /> while their crews and engineers maintained flying rates three times their norm.<ref name="isbn0-7146-5479-5">{{cite book |last=Finlan |first=Alistair |title=Royal Navy in the Falklands and the Gulf War: Culture and Strategy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TmP27lCid8AC&q=%22HMS+Cardiff%22&pg=PA151 |publisher=Frank Cass |location=London |year=2004 |page=151 |isbn=0-7146-5479-5 |access-date=12 March 2008}}</ref>

Despite her parent ship dodging mines and maintaining the air defence line as the closest non-US to Kuwait for the first 4 weeks of the 1991 War, ''Cardiff''{{'}}s Lynx helicopter, no.&nbsp;[[Lynx 335|335]] of [[815 Naval Air Squadron|815&nbsp;NAS]],<ref name="isbn1-84176-295-4">{{cite book |last=Chant |first=Christopher |title=Air War in the Gulf 1991 |series=Osprey Combat Aircraft |number=27 |year=2001 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7L-PvBlfFW0C&q=%22HMS+Cardiff%22&pg=PT56 |publisher=Osprey Aviation |page=90 |isbn=1-84176-295-4 |access-date=12 March 2008 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> saw more of the combat in the Gulf War than ''Cardiff'' actually did. On 24 January 1991, no.&nbsp;335 spotted Iraqi [[minesweeper (ship)|minesweepers]] and landing craft going to support the Iraqi land operations of the [[Battle of Khafji]]. 335 attacked and sank one - the first successful British naval engagement of the war.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Mammoth Book of Eyewitness Naval Battles |url=https://archive.org/details/mammothbookofeye00lawr |url-access=registration |quote=HMS Cardiff lynx minesweeper. |last=Lawrence |first=Richard Russell |year=2003 |publisher=[[Carroll & Graf]] |isbn=0-7867-1238-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/mammothbookofeye00lawr/page/637 637] |access-date=27 April 2008}}</ref> Later that day, [[Qaruh Island]] was captured by coalition forces, becoming the first Kuwaiti territory to be liberated. Overnight five days later (30–31 January 1991) with Lynxes from ''Gloucester'' and ''Brazen'', no.&nbsp;335 attacked at least two Iraqi missile firing fast patrol boats vessels exiting the Shatt Al Arab .<ref name="Gazette Gulf" /> ''Cardiff'' and 335 sank two more Iraqi ships in February. ''Cardiff'' and ''Brazen'' were relieved in mid February by Group Yankee, comprising {{HMS|Brave|F94|2}}, {{HMS|Brilliant|F90|2}}, {{HMS|Exeter|D89|2}} and {{HMS|Manchester|D95|2}}.<ref name="Gazette Gulf" />

=== Post Gulf War ===

After the Gulf War, ''Cardiff''{{'}}s assignments included a deployment with the [[Standing Naval Force Mediterranean]], a post [[Cold War]] [[NATO]] immediate reaction force in the [[Mediterranean]], and counter-narcotics patrols in the [[West Indies]], during which she also assisted with relief tasks on the island of [[Eleuthera]] in the wake of [[Hurricane Andrew]].<ref name="rw">{{cite report |work=United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs |date=26 August 1992 |title=Bahamas and U.S.A. – Hurricane Andrew Aug 1992 UN DHA Information Reports 1-3 |publisher=[[ReliefWeb]] |location=New York City, New York |access-date=20 June 2012 |url=http://reliefweb.int/node/34555}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://tech.mit.edu/V112/N36/bahamas.36w.html |title=Storm Ravaged Island in Bahamas |first=Jonathan |last=Freedland |author-link=Jonathan Freedland |date=2 September 1992 |newspaper=[[The Tech (newspaper)|The Tech]] |volume=112 |issue=36 |access-date=20 June 2012 |archive-date=5 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005042654/http://tech.mit.edu/V112/N36/bahamas.36w.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> From 1993 to 1994, she was commanded by [[Richard Leaman]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Leaman, Rear Adm. Richard Derek |url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U250713 |website=Who's Who 2016 |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=November 2015 |access-date=29 July 2016}}</ref>

''Cardiff'' later returned to the [[Persian Gulf]] for seven months.<ref name="NavyNewsBackground">{{cite news |url=http://www.navynews.co.uk/ships/cardiff.asp |title=Background on HMS ''Cardiff''|newspaper=[[Navy News]] |access-date=4 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325071429/http://www.navynews.co.uk/ships/cardiff.asp |archive-date=25 March 2008}}</ref>

On 14 October 1994, in response to renewed Iraqi deployment of troops near the Kuwaiti border, the US-led [[Operation Vigilant Warrior]] began. The operation was designed to deter Saddam Hussein's "[[wikt:sabre-rattling|sabre-rattling]]" by sending large amounts of allied military forces to Kuwait; {{HMS|Cornwall|F99|2}} and ''Cardiff'' were the UK contribution.<ref name="isbn0-8330-3287-9">{{cite book |last=Larson |first=Eric V. |title=Interoperability of U.S. and NATO Allied Air Forces: Supporting Data and Case Studies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vlvDowMvJ-kC&q=%22HMS+Cardiff%22&pg=PA61 |publisher=Rand |location=Santa Monica, California |year=2003 |page=61 |isbn=0-8330-3287-9 |access-date=11 March 2008}}</ref> The operation ended on 21 December 1994, when Hussein pulled back his forces.

[[File:HMS Cardiff Marines 2002 2.JPEG|thumb|right|alt=On a boat, two soldiers are pointing guns at eight Arabic men. The soldiers are in green camouflage, they're kneeling and only their backs can be seen. One of them is wearing a "camel water bag" on his back. The Arabic sailors are wearing civilian clothing and all of them have their hands on their heads.|Personnel from ''Cardiff'' guard the crew of an Iraqi oil tanker during her last [[Armilla Patrol]], in late 2002.]]

Upon her return to the UK from Operation Vigilant Warrior, ''Cardiff'' participated in the 1995 NATO exercise "[[Exercise Strong Resolve|Strong Resolve]]", a training exercise conducted every four years in dual crisis management. The ship next underwent Operational Sea Training (OST) at [[Isle of Portland|Portland]], in preparation for assuming the duty of [[Fleet Ready Escort]], which required a ship to be available to deploy anywhere in the world at short notice. After completing OST, she attended the 50th [[VE Day]] anniversary in [[Copenhagen]] and [[Oslo]] and provided navigational sea training for frigate and destroyer navigating officer candidates. A visit to her namesake city of Cardiff for [[VJ Day]] celebrations followed, after which she sailed to Plymouth for a trials and weapon training programme. She then took part in [[Operation Bright Star]], a multi-national exercise conducted every two years in [[Egypt]]. In November, ''Cardiff'' became the first Royal Navy ship to enter the [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] capital of [[Beirut]] in 27&nbsp;years, spurring the creation of the [[Beirut Phoenicians Rugby Club]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbylebanon.com/history.htm |title=History |website=RugbyLebanon.com |access-date=9 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715213019/http://www.rugbylebanon.com/history.htm |archive-date=15 July 2011 }}</ref> followed by visits to [[Tunisia]] and Gibraltar.<ref name="NavyNewsBackground" />

In 2000, as part of the Royal Navy's [[Atlantic Patrol Task (North)|Atlantic Patrol Task North]], ''Cardiff'' spent six months in the [[Caribbean]] with [[RFA Black Rover (A273)|RFA ''Black Rover'']].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.3440/changeNav/3533 |title=''Cardiff''&nbsp;— Back from sunnier climes |website=Royal Navy |access-date=4 March 2008}} {{Dead link|date=December 2009}}</ref> They provided relief aid to the island of [[Caye Caulker]], near [[Belize]], in the wake of [[Hurricane Keith]]. In addition to clearing routes, distributing supplies, and making buildings and electrical cables safe, ''Cardiff''{{'}}s surgeon and medical team monitored sanitation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.3416/changeNav/3533 |title=HMS ''Cardiff'' and RFA ''Black Rover'' assist in wake of Hurricane Keith |website=Royal Navy |access-date=4 March 2008 |quote=Personnel from HMS ''Cardiff'', under the command of Lieutenant Commander Simon Turnbull Royal Navy, and RFA ''Black Rover'', under Captain Dale Worthington Royal Fleet Auxiliary, are relieving soldiers of No.7 Company Coldstream Guards, who have been helping distribute relief aid on the island of Caye Caulker. HMS ''Cardiff''{{'}}s surgeon and medical team are on hand to treat any injuries and are monitoring the sanitation and health situation. In addition to clearing routes, making buildings safe and continuing to ensure food and water is distributed, the Ships Companies are also making safe electric cables so that no further damage is caused when power to the island is eventually restored.}} {{Dead link|date=December 2009}}</ref> In October, they also took part in the NATO exercise "[[Unified Spirit]]", held off the east coast of the United States. "Unified Spirit" is a training exercise conducted every four years in NATO-led "out-of-area" UN peace support operations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/unified-spirit.htm |title=Unified Spirit |website=Global Security.org |access-date=25 June 2008}}</ref> In the same year she participated in the US Navy Fleet Battle Exercise after her combat system was integrated into the [[Digital Fires Network]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Role of Experimentation in Building Future Naval Forces |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9sgMI18jDWMC&q=%22HMS+Cardiff%22&pg=PA67 |publisher=National Academies Press |location=Washington, D.C. |year=2004 |page=67 |isbn=0-309-08873-9 |access-date=11 March 2008 |author=Committee for the Role of Experimentation in Building Future Naval Forces, Naval Studies Board, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences; National Research Council of the National Academies}}</ref>

''Cardiff'' conducted her last [[Armilla patrol]] in early 2003.<ref>{{cite hansard |title=Armilla Patrol |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo030211/text/30211w03.htm |house=House of Commons |date=11 February 2003 |column=628W |speaker=[[Adam Ingram (Labour politician)|Ingram, Adam]] |position=Minister of State for the Armed Forces}}</ref> During her time in the Persian Gulf, ''Cardiff'' prevented more than £2&nbsp;million of illegal cargo from being smuggled out of Iraq, inspected 178&nbsp;vessels, and seized more than 25,000&nbsp;[[tonne]]s of oil. The destroyer was relieved by {{HMS|Richmond|F239|2}} before the beginning of the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|Iraq War]] and returned to Portsmouth on 4 April 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.3706/changeNav/3533 |title=HMS ''Cardiff'' returns from Gulf patrols |website=Royal Navy |access-date=4 March 2008 |quote=Portsmouth warship HMS ''Cardiff'' returns home on Friday 4th April from successful anti-smuggling missions in the Persian Gulf. During six months away the Type 42 destroyer prevented more than £2m of illegal cargo being smuggled out of Iraq before the war started. Captain Tim Fraser, ''Cardiff''{{'}}s Commanding Officer, said his crew were glad to be back after a busy and demanding operation during which they boarded 178 vessels and seized more than 25,000 tonnes of oil. ''Cardiff'' handed over her Armilla duties last month to Portsmouth frigate HMS ''Richmond''.}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In late 2003, the ship was involved in the annual Sea Days demonstration exercise,<ref>{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Scott |title=Sea Days 2003 |work=Jane's Navy International |publisher=[[Jane's Information Group]] |date=1 November 2003 }}</ref> and in October was used for tests of [[QinetiQ]]'s Maritime Tactical Network.<ref>{{cite news |first=Giles |last=Ebbutt |title=QinetiQ tests Maritime Tactical Network |work=Jane's Navy International |publisher=[[Jane's Information Group]] |date=1 September 2004 }}</ref>

In 2005, she participated in the [[Trafalgar 200]] [[International Fleet Review 2005|International Fleet Review]], just two weeks before she was decommissioned.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trafalgar200.com/tallship_royal_ships.html |title=Royal Navy Ships Attending |website=Trafalgar 200 |access-date=13 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050526015320/http://www.trafalgar200.com/tallship_royal_ships.html |archive-date=26 May 2005}}</ref> In this post Gulf War period, the Royal Navy's first female chaplain also served on board.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/PeopleInDefence/RoyalNavysFirstFemaleChaplainRetires.htm |title=Royal Navy's first female Chaplain retires |website=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] |access-date=11 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110065751/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/PeopleInDefence/RoyalNavysFirstFemaleChaplainRetires.htm |archive-date=10 January 2008 }}</ref>

== Decommissioning and fate ==

[[File:HMS Cardiff rusted.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Close-up of a ship's light blue hull with the word "Cardiff" embossed on to it. There is rust drizzling down from the lettering.|''Cardiff''{{'s}} [[starboard]] quarter (stern) in 2007, her name rusted]]

''Cardiff'' was originally to be replaced in 2009 by {{HMS|Daring|D32|2}}, the first of the Royal Navy's next generation [[Type 45 destroyer]]s.<ref>{{cite hansard |title=RN Vessels |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199900/cmhansrd/vo000317/text/00317w03.htm |house=House of Commons |date=17 March 2000 |column_start=345W |column_end=346W |speaker=[[John Spellar|Spellar, John]] |position=Minister of State for the Armed Forces |access-date=9 March 2008}}</ref> However, it was announced in July 2004 that she would be one of a number of ships withdrawn from service early, in accordance with the "[[Delivering Security in a Changing World]]" [[white paper]] on the British military.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/147C7A19-8554-4DAE-9F88-6FBAD2D973F9/0/cm6269_future_capabilities.pdf |title=Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities (Cm 6269) |website=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] |access-date=9 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311235023/http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/147C7A19-8554-4DAE-9F88-6FBAD2D973F9/0/cm6269_future_capabilities.pdf |archive-date=11 March 2008 }}</ref>

''Cardiff'' was [[Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] on 14 July 2005, after making a final visit to her namesake city, where members of the public were allowed on board.<ref name="BBCCardiffsfinalvisit" /> She then stayed in [[HMNB Portsmouth|Portsmouth Harbour]] at [[Fareham Creek]] ({{Coord|50.818486| -1.130644}}) alongside sister ship {{HMS|Newcastle|D87|2}}, where both were heavily cannibalised to keep the remaining Type 42 Destroyers running.

On 21 November 2008, the two ships left Portsmouth for the last time for [[Aliağa]], Turkey under tow for scrapping.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/saveourships/HMS-Cardiff-heads-off-tobe.4699193.jp |title=HMS Cardiff heads off to be scrapped |date=14 November 2008 |newspaper=[[The News (Portsmouth)|The News]] |access-date=9 December 2009 |archive-date=27 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727062956/http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/saveourships/HMS-Cardiff-heads-off-tobe.4699193.jp |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qhm.mod.uk/portsmouth/port/port-movements?shipaction=showpdf&date=2008-11-18&days=1 |title=Portsmouth Harbour Shipping Movements, Tuesday, 18 November 2008 |website=[[Queen's Harbour Master]], Portsmouth |access-date=12 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424042531/http://www.qhm.mod.uk/portsmouth/port/port-movements?shipaction=showpdf&date=2008-11-18&days=1 |archive-date=24 April 2012}}</ref> Following a decommissioning ceremony at [[City Hall, Cardiff|Cardiff City Hall]], her bell was removed and is now mounted in the north aisle of [[St John the Baptist Church, Cardiff|St John's Parish Church]] in Cardiff.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=4079&Language=.pdf |title=Cloch i gofio am long y ddinas |trans-title=Bell is reminder of city's own ship |newspaper=Capital Times |language=cy |date=December 2005 |issue=70 |page=9 |access-date=6 May 2008 |quote=Mae gan ran o’r HMS ''Cardiff'', y llong ryfel a gafodd ei digomisiynu yn gynharach eleni, bellach gartref parhaol yn ei dinas ei hun. [A part of HMS ''Cardiff'', the warship which was decommissioned earlier this year, has a permanent place in its home city.] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225131400/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=4079&Language=.pdf |archive-date=25 February 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://edgeofthecentre.blogspot.com/2007/08/hms-cardiffs-bell-welcomed-home.html |title=HMS ''Cardiff''{{'}}s bell welcomed home |first=Keith |last=Kimber |date=21 August 2007 |website=Edge of the Centre |access-date=9 March 2008}}</ref> Calls were made for the conversion of the ship into a Cardiff tourist attraction by a [[Member of the National Assembly for Wales]] and former naval servicemen.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=123622&speeches=1 |title=Save HMS ''Cardiff'' for the city |website=[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] |access-date=23 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060225022808/http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page |archive-date=25 February 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4633095.stm |title=Call for Cardiff home for warship |date=29 June 2005 |work=BBC News |access-date=9 March 2008}}</ref>

{{HMS|Dragon|D35|2}}, a Type&nbsp;45 destroyer, has been assigned as the current Royal Navy ship to be affiliated with the city of Cardiff.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/6686029.stm |title=Navy destroyer linked to Cardiff |date=24 May 2007 |work=BBC News |access-date=9 March 2008}}</ref>

On 1 March 2018, [[Secretary of State for Defence|Defence Secretary]] [[Gavin Williamson]] announced that the third [[Type 26 frigate]] would be named ''Cardiff''. This will be the fourth Royal Navy vessel of its name.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-type-26-frigate-named-hms-cardiff/ |title=New Type 26 Frigate named HMS Cardiff |first=George |last=Allison |date=1 March 2018 |work=UK Defence Journal |access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.marinelink.com/news/warship-cardiff-names434562 |title=UK Names Next Type 26 Warship HMS Cardiff |date=1 March 2018 |work=MarineLink |access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|United Kingdom}}
* [[British naval forces in the Falklands War]]
* [[1982 British Army Gazelle friendly fire incident]]
{{-}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PSsxmXWChqIC |last=Freedman |first=Lawrence |author-link=Lawrence Freedman |title=The Official History of the Falklands Campaign; Vol. II&nbsp;— War and Diplomacy |year=2005 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York |isbn=0-7146-5207-5 |access-date=23 April 2008}}

== External links ==

{{Commons and category|HMS Cardiff (D108)|HMS Cardiff (D108)}}
*{{cite web |url=http://hmscardiff.co.uk/default.aspx |title=Home Page |website=HMS Cardiff: The 1982 Ship's Company |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110223041818/http://hmscardiff.co.uk/default.aspx |archive-date=23 February 2011}}
*{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/photo_gallery/3051764.stm |title=In pictures: HMS ''Cardiff'' |date=7 July 2003 |website=BBC News}}

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| image1 = [https://exequielmartinez.com.ar/site/galeria/malvinas/gambeteando_misiles Artist's depiction of the encounter with the Argentine Boeing 707]<!--<ref>{{cite web |url=https://exequielmartinez.com.ar/site/galeria/malvinas/gambeteando_misiles |title=Gambeteando Misiles |website=Exequielmartinez.com.ar |access-date=10 December 2009}}</ref> -->
}}

{{Type 42 destroyer}}
{{Falklands War British ships}}
{{Featured article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cardiff (D108)}}
[[Category:HMS Cardiff (D108)| ]]<!-- sort at top of eponymous category -->
[[Category:Type 42 destroyers of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Barrow-in-Furness]]
[[Category:Ships built on the River Tyne]]
[[Category:1974 ships]]
[[Category:Cold War destroyers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Falklands War naval ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Gulf War ships of the United Kingdom]]