Last of the Line

This is the warship HMS Edinburgh, the very last Type 42 destroyer in commission with the Royal Navy.

HMS Edinburgh was built by Cammell Laird of Birkenhead. She was launched on 14 April 1983 and commissioned on the 17 December 1985. The largest of the Type 42 destroyers, Edinburgh is known as the "Fortress of the Sea". Edinburgh is scheduled to be decommissioned in June 2013.

Pictured moored alongside HMS Belfast, the Edinburgh is in London for events to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic. Her predecessor, a town-class light cruiser , has a battle honour for her involvement in the long, perilous Atlantic campaign.

After her visit to London HMS Edinburgh is due to visit Edinburgh, her affiliated home city, following which she will transit to Liverpool before making her final entry into Portsmouth. She will be escorted through the Solent by HMS Diamond, one of the new Type 45 Destroyers built to replace HMS Edinburgh and her sister ships.