In 1980 I had the pleasure of serving as an Artificer Apprentice on the Intrepid. As I remember, she was pretty much a 'serving museum' even then - Steam turbines and WW2 bofors etc. Times were good though, loads of memories and good mates and the best 'Banyans' ever! RIP.

Tim Aldworth, Havant, UK

I served in both Fearless and Intrepid and like Blue Harding, vividly recall searching the the inky black sea for surviors the night the Sea King went in. As far as the future goes, the design of these ships with large open spaces inside and the landing dock door at the stern makes them perfect for conversion to a floating naval museum as well as examples of a fairly unique design of ship and some of the last steam ships to enter the fleet.

Stephen Penfold, Horsham, Sussex

I worked on HMS Intrepid many times in Portsmouth when I served as a CPO in the Fleet Maintenance Group 1979 - 1981. She is a grand old lady and will be missed from the skyline of "The Trot" in the upper reaches of Portsmouth harbour where she and her sister ship HMS Fearless are moored at present.

I am a member of the South Atlantic Medal Association 1982 [SAMA(82)] who looks after the interests of Falkand Veterans, especially those in need of help and assistance. We are always desperate for funds. It would be nice if the scrap merchants that will be selling souvenirs from the ship, donated some of the profits back to Falkand related charities such as SAMA (82) or the Falklands Veterans Foundation [FVF] who's Chief Executive Officer, Derek "Smokey" Cole, served in HMS Intrepid during the conflict in 1982.

John (Joe) Erskine, Portsmouth, Hants

I would like to point out that HMS Plymouth no longer has a home, I am a member of the HMS Plymouth Association and we had raised funds to have this Falklands Hero moved to a promised berth in Plymouth from her present home in Liverpool ( due to the fact that the Historic warships collection in Birkenhead had to close as property developers required the land for Building ) after many months of fund raising , we were informed that the berth was no longer available , so we now have a Paddle without a creek , as John Bennet said there is not enough mone to go around , but in Birkenhead the Historic warships collection was self funding with Thousand of visitors every year , it's sad to see any old girl go , but HMS Plymouth was a fundamental Part of the Falklands war and should be given a Berth to commerate as such , no national newspaper we contacted have shown any interest.
Ready Aye Ready

Tiger Moth , Milton Keynes , England

It's always sad when old warships are scrapped. Over 20 years ago now, I was Christened aboard her and had my name engraved on the bell. I wonder what will happen to that???

Ben Hodges, Redhill, Surrey

Yes, very sad about the "recycling" of HMS Intrepid, but do not be to downhearted, as we still have plenty of worthy naval ships in museum form, starting with HMS Belfast, HMS Cavalier, Hms Plymouth, HMS Caroline HMS Bronington plus 2 submarines (one at Chatham) and the other at Gosport HMS Alliance.
If we have too many there will not be enough money to go round to keep them in good condition! Savvy?

John Bennett, worthing w. sussex , uk

I served in these vessels on 2 occasions, the first time in the late 1960's in the Far East learning the rudiments of Bridge Watch-keeping and the second time as the Staff Communications and Electronic Warfare Officer to the Commodore Amphibious Warfare in the last 1970's. In truth one might suggest not before time, the hulls are 45 years old and well past the normal 25 year lifespan for a vessel, indeed, both of these LPD Amphibious vessels should have been replaced by the late 1980's but defence cutbacks precluded any building programme. However, the sadness is that, along with the rest of our greatly reduced Defence Policy and 'mothballed' Fleet, Intrepid and Fearless do not actually have planned replacements.

Sparks, Suffolk, England

It would be good if 1 of Fearless or Intrepid were preserved as museum ships. If nothing else as a memorial to the falklands war and a reminder that to have a decent size navy is no bad thing ffor and Island.

steve ross, Barnstaple,

I was on the ship when the Helicopter went down.
I remember standing on the Deck scanning the ocean for survivors as it was Just getting dark. I was a member of 3 Para at the time, and some of us knew ex Paratroopers who were in the SAS on that Helicopter that went down
RIP Brothers.

Blue Harding, Baghdad, Iraq