HMS St Albans

The current HMS St Albans is a Type 23 Duke class frigate, pennant number F83. Launched on May 6, 2000 at Scotstoun she is the sixteenth frigate of her class, she was commissioned in June 2002. In October 2002, she was damaged in a collision with a passenger ferry (the Pride of Portsmouth) during strong winds, in Portsmouth Harbour. She was holed above the waterline and sustained significant damage, while the passenger ferry was relatively unharmed.

The first HMS St Albans was in 1687, a fifty gun ship of the line she fought at Barfleur[?] in 1691 before being wrecked in a gale in Kinsale[?] harbour.

The second St Albans was commissioned in 1706, another fifty gun warship she served in the war against Spain from 1739, mainly in the West Indies. She was wrecked in Kingston during a gale in 1744.

The third St Albans was commissioned in 1747, another fourth rate ship of the line she had sixty guns, she served against the French from 1756 and participated in the Battle of Lagos[?] (1759) before being sold off.

The fourth St Albans served in the American War of Independence from 1777 and was part of the fleet that captured St Lucia and won victories at St Kitts and The Saints.

The fifth St Albans was the 1918 American destroyer USS Thomas, sold to Britain in late 1940 and renamed. Used for escort duties she was transferred to the Russians in July 1944 before being returned in April 1949 when she was scrapped.