HMS Newcastle (D87)

The eighth and current HMS "Newcastle" (D87) is a retired Type 42 (Batch 1) destroyer of the Royal Navy, launched in 1975. The Batch 1 ships are much smaller than the Batch 3 ships of the same class.

In 1998, "Newcastle" made her way to the British territory of Montserrat to assist the population, a few months after a devastating volcanic eruption, who were rather distressed and in need of outside assistance. HMS "Liverpool" had been the first ship to come to the aid of the people of Montserrat.

In 1999, "Newcastle" escorted HMS "Invincible" during the Kosovo War, in which "Invincible" performed with distinction, launching precise and deadly attacks on Serbian targets. "Newcastle" took part in six-month Atlantic Patrol Deployment in 2002. During this deployment, she visited Sierra Leone to display the continuing UK commitment to that country. She was the longest serving Type 42 in Royal Navy service,Dubious|date=March 2008 and speculation has been rife that four Type 42s would be either decommissioned or mothballed. Despite this in January 2004, "Newcastle" deployed to the Mediterranean for a 6 to 7-month tour of duty.

It was announced in July 2004, as part of the "Delivering Security in a Changing World" review, that "Newcastle" would be decommissioned in January 2005. "Newcastle" was finally decommissioned on 1 February 2005 and placed into inactive reserve.

HMS "Newcastle" was the adopted ship of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. Her captain and crew were awarded the freedom of the city, and she was often referred to as the Geordie Gunboat.