The UK Navy warship HMS Exeter, whichh participated in Falklands conflict of 1982, was retired from service on 27 May 2009.

During the vessel’s span of deployment with the navy, the Portsmouth-based ship brought down four Argentine aircraft, two Skyhawks and two reconnaissance planes.

HMS Exeter’s last commanding officer Commander Paul Brown said that the warship had given 29 years of loyal service and will be replaced by the new Type 45 destroyers to enhance capability.

HMS Exeter was built by Swan Hunter shipbuilders, launched in 1978 and included in service in September 1980.

In the 1991 Gulf war, it was put to use supporting US battleship and mine countermeasures vessels off the Kuwaiti coast, while in 2005 it participated in the international fleet review to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

During its career the warship travelled up to 892,811nm across the globe.