HMS BRISTOL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP05T00644R000501470028-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 19, 2009
• Sequence Number: 28
• Content Type: PHOTO

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Guided Missile Destroyer
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.Captain D. W. Brown RN Cganding Officer HMS Bristol
in 1978.
Captain Brown is married, with three daughters, and lives in Soberton, Hampshire.
Captain D. W. Brown joined the Royd! Nay)' as a Cadet in 1945 and during his early
training was awarded the King's. Telescope and the Goodenough Medal for Gunner .
After.serving for 2- years in a destroyer in the Mediterranean Fleet, he comm tided
Motor Torpedo Boats before specialising in Torpedo and Anti Submarine Warfare.
He then served as First Lieutenant of the Ocean Minesweeper HMS Bramble on Fishery
Protection Duties, and completed the Naval Staff Course in 1958. As a Lieutenant
Commander he was appointed Senior Officer of a Minesweeping Squadron, comma ding
HMS Dalswinton and later HMS Chailey.
His next appointment was to the staff of the Flag Officer, Second-in-Comman Far
East Station after which he was promoted to Commander. In 1963/64 he commlinded
the destroyer, HMS Cavendish and three years later, the frigate, HMS Falni'outh.
Both of these ships saw service in the Far-East. He was then appointed as Fleet Operations
Officer to the Commander-in-Chief, - Western Fleet and was promoted to Captgrym in
1970. The following year he went to the Ministry of Defence and became Director of
Nava! Operations and Trade. He then joined HMS Hermione as Captain (F) 5th Frigate
Squadron which operated in the Atlantic and Far East. In 1974 he was appointeil to
the NATO Headquarters of Allied' Command Southern Europe as Deputy Assistant
Chief of Staff, Plans and Policy after which he returned to Whitehall in 1976 as Director
of Naval Officers Appointment (Seamen). He joined HMS Bristol, his eighth com%nand,
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HMS Bristol was built by Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd.,
at Wallsend-on-Tyne. Laid down in April 1967, she was
launched in 1969 by Lady Hogg and completed in December
1972.
The ship is 507 feet long, has a beam of 55 feet and a standard
displacement of 6,000 tons. She is powered by two steam
turbines for normal steaming and two Olympus gas turbines
for additional boost for high speeds or for leaving harbour
in an emergency. The four power units are coupled to two
shafts giving the ship a maximum speed in excess of 30 knots.
To meet the requirements of weapons and domestic facilities
the ship has a total generating capacity of 7,000 kilowatts.
HMS Bristol is the most powerful guided missile ship
yet built for the Royal Navy. Compared with earlier
warships she may seem to have fewer visible signs of
weaponry, but this is misleading. She packs a very remark-
able fire power effectively designed to meet not only today's
threat but that of the foreseeable future. Her role is the
provision of a Flag and Command platform, and area
defence for a Task Force, together with other units. To
achieve this she carries a comprehensive and extensive
communications outfit and deploys a number of advanced
weapon systems.
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The main armament is the Sea Dart, a new missile with
supersonic speed, range and manoeuverability to cope with
any air or missile attack. The Sea Dart can also be used
effectively against surface targets.
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The gun armament consists of a single barrel 4.5 inch
mounting which can be used for self-defence anti-aircraft
fire, against other ships, and for shore bombardment in
support of the Army. It is automatic, (no man in the turret),
and has a high rate of fire and accuracy.
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The main anti-submarine weapon is Ikara, a radio controlled
missile which delivers a homing torpedo to attack submarines
detected by the force. The ship also carries one triple-
barrelled anti-submarine mortar that is aimed and fired
automatically by the ship's sonar.
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The ship's radar and sonar (underwater detection)
equipment monitor activity over a wide area and
feed basic data into two micro-miniaturised com-
puters. The Ship's Inertial Navigation System
(SINS), a complex installation of electronics and
sensitive gyroscopes, continuously inform the
computers of the ship's geographical position,
course, speed, pitch and roll attitude. These inputs
enable the computers to provide an up to date
visual presentation which ensures the most efficient
and accurate employment of the weapons and the
control of other ships and aircraft.
Because modern warfare requires quick reaction
all the weapon systems are fully automatic but
the decision to open fire remains with the Captain,
who is also responsible for the tactical handling
and fighting of the ship.
Comprehensive radio communications equipment
enables the ship to maintain vital links with other
ships, aircraft and the shore. The ship can ex-
change signals with any part of the world and can
be in constant communication with the Ministry
of Defence or the Operational Commander
throughout 24 hours each day.
The nerve centre of a modern warship is the operations room. Information
gained by the ship's detection equipment is fed to the 'ops' room. which is well
below decks, and it is from this point the Captain fights his ship.
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HMS Bristol, when at sea or away from her base
port, is home for 29 officers and 378 ratings. She
can be likened to a small town whose inhabitants
carry out all the normal domestic and town chores
as well as doing their daily work. Further, this
town may move rapidly from the tropics to the
Arctic.
Manpower is a very expensive commodity in a war-
ship. Every member of the crew is a skilled, highly
trained man, who, if he is to be economically used,
must be properly managed and given every possible
mechanical aid to carry out his ship upkeep duties.
He also requires living conditions which are as
comfortable and up to date as it is possible to
provide in a fighting unit where so much space is
demanded by weapons, machinery and stores.
Every effort has been made in the Bristol to see
that these ideals have been met. She is not the
first ship to have bunks, vacuum cleaners, air-
conditioning, laundry, NAAFI shop and a modern
cafeteria - to name a few facilities - but she was
among the first to have her interior decor chosen
by a firm of consultants and to have her own TV
studio and cameras. Points like these typify the
thought and money which has been spent in making
her comfortable and easy to run, as well as being
a powerful fighting ship.
Although the ship's company have families from
all over the British Isles, from places as far apart
as Dundee and Guernsey, they are very proud
of the ship's association with the city whose
name she bears, and of their affiliation with the
famous Gloucestershire Regiment. Most of all,
however they are proud to serve in their country's
finest warship.
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Below: The computer room. HMS Bristol has two micro-miniaturised
computers to 'digest' information and suggest a course of action.
Above: The main control position of the engine room. Here the watchkeepers
control the steam and gas turbines.
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48 gun ship. 532 tons. Crew 230. 1796 - 64 gun ship. 1439 tons. Crew 491.
In action against Dutch and French fleets. Originally named HMS Agincourt. Renamed
HA4.S Bristol in 1812.
17/1 - 50 gun ship. 704 tons. Crew 350.
In action against French fleets. /861 - Screw frigate. 4020 tons. Crew 600.
Used as a seagoing training ship for cadets.
1775 - 50 gun ship. 1044 tons. Crew 350.
1n action during war of American colonies 1910
and against French fleets.
SANTA CRUZ 1657
FOUR DAYS BATTLE 1666
ORFORDNESS 1666
SOLE BAY 1672
TEXEL 1673
FINISTERRE 1747
FALKLAND ISLANDS 1914
Produced by the Directorate of Public Relations (Royal Navy) and
Printed in England for Her Majesty s Stationery Office by the Bourne Press, Bournemouth
12 gun light cruiser. 4800 tons. Crew 610.
In action during World War I.
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