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First ship to claim British victory in Falklands RFA Sir Percivale is dismantled

Falklands’ hero: Sir Percivale was the first ship to sail into Stanley Harbour following the Argentinean surrender on June 14, 1982

In her finest hour she was at the forefront of British victory in the Falklands in a long service that saw her serving the country around the world. Now nearly 28-years after Argentina invaded the Falklands, this once great servant of the Royal Navy sits tired and lifeless in a Merseyside dry dock and is destined to become a tin of beans in your kitchen, reports the Mail on Line

As the first ship to sail into Stanley Harbour following the Argentine surrender on June 14 1982, RFA Sir Percivale gained affectionate notoriety among those who served on her.

Incredible pictures show how over the past three months she has been gradually stripped and ripped to pieces by a CAT digger, broken and up and sold for parts.

Many servicemen who fondly remember the 255 of their brothers in arms killed in the Falklands conflict can see her today in her final hours. But it will surely sadden them to think that the once great machine will be recycled like any other piece of scrap metal.

Pictured at Canada Dock, Liverpool, Merseyside, the 5,674-tonne Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) has been dismantled by as little as 12 people before the end of June.

Simon Capps, 35, sales manager of of Leavesley International, who also carried out the dismantling of HMS Intrepid in 2009, said: 'Many servicemen come to visit the ships we dismantle and shed a few tears in farewell.

“But fortunately we haven't got the attachment that they had to these machines. For us it's about extracting what we can. The Percivale has been taken out of service so it makes sense that we recycle it as much as possible.' The breaking up of the Sir Percivale began in June and the Leavesley team began by dismantling the 'superstructure' - namely the bridge any other areas above deck”.

Once completed, a CAT excavator is sent in to rip apart the hull. “All the steel goes off to China and Eastern Europe and will probably come back in cars or even a can of beans in your cupboard”, said Simon.

“Some of the metal might even go into new structures like high-rise buildings”.

“Non-ferrous metals like the wiring and copper piping are melted down and resold as things like ingots. It could even be salvaged as jewellery if you find the right kinds of metal. So far we are finding copper, brass, titanium and cupro-nickel”.

Colleague Stuart Halsey added: “We towed the ship up from Southampton in December last year. Firstly there is the removal of anything re-saleable such as anchor chains and generators”.

“Then you are let with steal and non ferrous metals which are cut up and sold to local metal merchants”.

Entering service with the RFA in 1970, Sir Percviale played an important role in the major flashpoints involving British maritime forces from the Falklands to the first Gulf War.

In 1982 Sir Percivale was one of the first ships to sail for the South Atlantic, and was in the forefront of the amphibious assault on San Carlos during the Falklands’ conflict.

Measuring 412 feet in length with a crew of 52, Sir Percivale could carry up to 500 troops plus their equipment, vehicles like tanks and aircraft like Chinook helicopters.

Later she would become the first ship to enter Stanley Harbour, followed by RFA Sir Bedivere, after the Argentine surrender. The harbour was the point where many Argentine POWs exited the post-war Falklands when they were transported back to continental Argentina.

“It is a sad day for any ship to be scrapped, especially one with such a notable and illustrious history as RFA Sir Percivale; a history which includes action in the Falklands War” said Commander Gerry Northwood of the Royal Navy.

“That she has been replaced by the 4 highly capable ships of the Bay Class, means her legacy will live into the future as these ships continue to provide the British Naval Service with the Amphibious support it needs from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary”.

The Bay class is a group of landing ships operated by the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary and are lauded with giving British forces significantly enhanced amphibious capability.
Their main role is to get men and equipment ashore when landing.

During the first Gulf War Sir Percivale was deployed on various duties, remaining in theatre for the duration of the conflict. In 1997 she became the last grey ship to leave Hong Kong before the handover of power.

Sir Percivale was decommissioned on August 2004 and was laid up alongside at Marchwood Military Port, Southampton. She remained at the Sea Mounting Centre (SMC) until December 2009 when she made her final voyage (towed) to Liverpool to be demolished. (Mail on Line).