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Friday, 12th March 2010

Intrepid doomed to scrapyard fate

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Published Date:
09 September 2008
Defence correspondent
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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  • Last Updated: 09 September 2008 8:51 AM
  • Source: The News
  • Location: Portsmouth
 
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Chris 71,

Pompey 09/09/2008 10:20:32
Its so sad to see Intrepid sitting there slowly rusting up. The last time I saw her close up was when she docked at Plymouth in January 1972 when I met my fiance off her. I don't know about putting 'listed status' on old warships though. I mean, where would you keep them all?
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Wrinkley,

PORTSMOUTH 09/09/2008 10:38:59
I seem to recall that The News once reported that she had to return to port from a NATO Exercise because she was either unfit for service or not up to the task that was required of her.

In its campaign to 'Save our Ships', The News has yet to say how much money it would cost to save them.
How much money it would cost to restore them.
Where this money would come from.
Where the ships would be based, once restored and who then would be responsible for their up-keep.

At a time when we are told that pensioners could be faced with the choice of 'eat or heat' this winter, I can think of better things on which to campaign and better things on which to spend money!
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Mike Quinn,

Shrewsbury 09/09/2008 13:31:11
I was onboard in the 1982 conflict. The Veterans wanted Intrepid to be made into a museum and educational facility, our history could be preserved and educate future generations, whilst supporting jobs.
However, this failed and Intrepid wil sail out of Portsmouth to the scrapyard to be recycled. We wanted to create a Trust for her, and take hands off the MOD.
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Bob Hope,

Peak District 10/09/2008 00:09:08
Intrepid was a special ship, the proverbial unsung hero. In view of the fact that she was HQ for the SAS and SBS and that Argentina had no idea she was at the Falklands, it was kept a secret she was even there so we never got the press that other ships got, even when we were mercilessly attacked by the Argentinian Air Force. But we never minded. We weren't there for glory.
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