My interest in warship Navigation Lights and their associated Glare Shields (where fitted) was piqued when I was making relatively frequent visits to the preserved Type 12 Frigate HMS Plymouth F126, then owned by the Warship Preservation Trust. At the time their ship grouping consisted of the Type 12 Rothesay frigate HMS Plymouth; the Oberon Class submarine HMS Onyx; (both from the Falklands War); the minehunter HMS Bronington; the German submarine U-534; and LCT 7074, the last surviving tank landing craft that took part in D-Day.
The collection was brought to Birkenhead in 2002 and was moored in the West Float of the Birkenhead docks complex.
Type 12 Rothesay Class Frigates (as modified) - the preserved Type 12 Frigate HMS Plymouth F126
Something was different on her bridge roof - that is when compared to what I remembered of my time in HMS Falmouth F113 in her as-built configuration, so:- using attachments derived from a number of sources online I will continue the thread with some observations relating to:- a) lower masthead lights; b) upper masthead lights; and c) Side Lights on this class of warship.
Where it all started for me.....
1. Lower masthead lights (primary and standby)
,, Plymouth Oct26 022 Bellini Tosi (2).jpg
,, 76204_291977180913595_125120622_n Museum Of HMS Plymouth F126 via fb (2).jpg
, 307977_291979760913337_1564715296_n Museum Of HMS Plymouth F126...jpg
A pair of glare shields, one each mounted below the top and bottom lamps. Note that the glare shield under the top lamp is much larger than that under the bottom lamp.
Of interest is that this Lower masthead light assembly is mounted immediately aft of the MF/DF bellini tosi crossed-loop aerial; and further fwd, but still on the fore and aft centre line is a whip aerial mounted atop the 4.5 twin gun turret.
2. Upper masthead lights (primary and standby)
, 222501_291980580913255_489287775_n Museum of HMS Plymouth F126 (2).jpg
Note; that on the attachment I have included an annotation - posing a question whether these two lamps are each mounted on glare shields, or just round base plates.
3. Overall light layout showing a) Upper masthead lights; b) Lower masthead lights; and stbd Side Lights (primary and standby in all instances)
, 620_HMSPLYMOUTH_14 nationalhistoricships.org.uk (2).jpg
Regrettably the images I took myself when she/they were open to visitors are alluding me at present. The attachments are derived from those showing Plymouth F126 in a very run-down condition prior to her being sold for scrap.