In the 1960s, the Royal Navy began developing a new class of heavy destroyers. These were designed as escort for the planned aircraft carriers of the CVA-01 concept. However, when the carrier project was suddenly canceled in 1966, there was no longer any need for the destroyers. The Royal Navy decided instead to build a new class of significantly smaller and less expensive destroyers, the Sheffield- class . The Bristol , which was already under construction at this time , was thus completed as the only ship of its class.
After commissioning in 1973, the Bristol was used as a test ship for new guided missile systems of the Royal Navy. The introduction of the Ikara missile for anti-submarine defense and the Sea Dart air defense system were essential . In 1982 the Bristol was sent to the Falkland Islands as part of the Falklands War to protect the British fleet from air attacks by Argentine fighter jets.
In the mid-1980s, the Royal Navy then decided to retire the Bristol . The Sheffield- class destroyers had completely taken over the Bristol's duties and maintenance was becoming increasingly inefficient. In 1987 she replaced the HMS Kent as the training ship of the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, but remained fully operational and continued to take part in maneuvers. In 1991 a fundamental renovation of the ship began, in which all armament was removed and instead additional accommodation was created on board, as the Bristol was to serve as a training ship for cadets and members of the naval reserve in Portsmouth in the future. Since 1993 she has been anchored off Whale Island in the north of the Portsmouth naval base . A significant number of the Royal Navy cadets begin their training aboard the Bristol today . It is also used to train foreign cadets. There are regular exchange programs with the United States , Canada , India and South Africa , among others . A total of around 14,000 cadets from 21 countries use the ship every year.
