Liverpool’s main gun sends a 4.5in shell hurtling towards a pro-Gaddafi shore battery during last year’s Libyan campaign. Picture: LA(Phot) Caroline Davies

THERE’S a chance to thank the men and women of HMS Liverpool for their deeds off Libya when the destroyer pays a farewell visit to the capital this weekend.

No British warship was involved longer in the campaign to support the free peoples of Libya, pummelling pro-Gaddafi shore batteries, directing the strike missions of NATO aircraft and helping to draw a dragnet across the Gulf of Sirte to prevent arms reaching Libya’s then dictator.

Liverpool sails up the Thames for the final time on Thursday for a five-day visit to London, throwing open her gangway to the public on Sunday for six hours.

Billed ‘the heroine of the Libyan conflict’, the Crazy Red Chicken as she’s affectionately known by her ship’s company – courtesy of the Liver bird on her badge – will be berthed at West India Dock (the nearest Tube station is Canary Wharf, the nearest Docklands Light Railway stop is South Quay) and is open to visitors from 10am on Sunday January 29.

Liverpool seen here on patrol off the Libyan coast. Picture: LA(Phot) Caroline Davies

Meanwhile, for the final couple of months of her long and illustrious career, the Portsmouth-based destroyer’s trophy cabinet positively bulges thanks to her exploits off Libya.

Her sustained actions on Operation Ellamy have rightly earned her the Fleet Destroyer Effectiveness Award which was handed over to a delighted Commanding Officer, Cdr Colin Williams, by Rear Admiral Duncan Potts, Rear Admiral Surface Ships.

“I am immensely proud of being part of this tight-knit family of hard-working professional mariners.  We have proved the versatility and fortitude of the men and women of this ship’s company – and the Royal Navy,” said Cdr Williams.

“I am privileged to accept this award on behalf of my ship’s company for their outstanding efforts throughout the course of last year, be it successful training, High Seas Firing and, of course, our participation in events off Libya.”

Rear Admiral Duncan Potts presents the Fleet Destroyer Effectiveness Award to CO Cdr Colin Williams, while his ship’s company proudly hold the Grytviken and Communications Trophies on Liverpool’s flight deck

Thanks to her impressive gunnery feats – 211 rounds fired from her 4.5in main gun – Liverpool was also presented with the Grytviken Above Water Warfare Trophy (presented to CPO(AWW) Darren Acres on behalf of his shipmates).

And just for good measure the comms department earned the Communications Award (presented to PO(CIS)s Scott Blackburn and Paul McQueer).

All these trophies are in addition to the special award the Crazy Red Chicken received at The Sun Military Awards just before Christmas… and the Desmond Wettern media award for the best frigate or destroyer projecting a positive image of the Senior Service… and she was runner-up in the electronic warfare trophy.

Following Liverpool’s visit to the capital, the final weeks of the ship’s 30-year active career will be spent saying an emotional goodbye to her namesake city from February 29 until March 5.

She’s also due to join much of the Fleet, Royal Marines and Fleet Air Arm in northern Norway for the regular Cold Response Arctic war games. Throughout she’ll proudly fly the Fleet Destroyer Effectiveness flag.

Her career under the White Ensign formally comes to an end on March 30 with a decommissioning ceremony in Portsmouth Naval Base.