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Intrepid doomed to scrapyard fate
She avoided the scrapyard more than 25 years ago, but there will be no final reprieve for HMS Intrepid.
The unsung heroine of the Falklands war is due to be towed out of Portsmouth harbour to be scrapped in Liverpool.
During the 1982 conflict the amphibious landing ship played a vital role in re-taking the South Atlantic islands.
As The News launches our Save our Ships campaign aimed at protecting our naval heritage, former Intrepid crew member Derek 'Smokey' Cole, from Gosport, said her legacy would be treasured.
He said: 'HMS Intrepid took me to war and she also brought me home safely, which is why of the many ships I served in HMS Intrepid will have a very dear spot in my heart.
'I will miss seeing her as I cross the harbour from Gosport to Portsmouth, and as she leaves Portsmouth for the very last time she can be very proud of her achievements in her long lifetime.
'She has the assurance that I and many others will never forget the name HMS Intrepid.'
Radio operator Greg McIntyre was just 18 when he left Portsmouth for the South Atlantic.
He said: 'We had no idea how important our job was going to be. There hadn't been a major war for decades so we didn't know what to expect.
'But we all love her as a ship – I have pictures and memorabilia at home and I will definitely be there to pay my respects.'
Intrepid had been due to leave Portsmouth tomorrow, but bad weather has forced a postponement of her final voyage to Liverpool for scrapping by Leavesley International.
George Heron, 46, a radio operator on the ship who has been campaigning to save her, said: 'I am appalled that there was nothing that could be done to save Intrepid.
'She was a hugely important ship and without her the whole invasion plan for the Falklands would have needed changing.
'They got her out of retirement and ready to go within a fortnight, and along with Fearless they enabled British troops to land at San Carlos.'
And he added: 'We owe her a lot, and it will be a sad day.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -4 C to 4 C
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