THE Ensign of a city submarine was lowered for the last time as HMS Turbulent was decommissioned.
Emotions ran high at a special ceremony, held at Devonport's Naval base, as the ship was retired after 29 years serving her country.
A poignant last supper was also held aboard HMS Turbulent on Friday night attended by 12 of her commanding officers, including one with a Titanic connection, Lady Deborah Cassidi, the ship's sponsor, and her husband Admiral Cassidi.
The Royal Marine Band Service, based at Lympstone, performed some stirring renditions of songs including 'We Are Sailing'.
After the ship's company fall in, a parade and inspection of the guard, Lady Cassidi addressed the ship's men: "Turbulent as a ship has indeed been turbulent to our enemies.
"She has always been that, but was friendly to her friends."
"All of you have served with great loyalty, great professionalism and with a sense of humour because she (Turbulent) has been a little troublesome."
"She has been the happiest boat and I know she will live on in your memories of her as you continue to serve."
The ship's motto has always been Turbulenta Hostibus Fiat which means "troublesome to her enemies".
The boat's hunter-killer title came from the primary role – to hunt out and destroy enemy nuclear missile submarines as well as surface ships.
She spent much time in the North Atlantic collecting intelligence on Russians and also spent time at the North Pole.
Capt Tim Lightoller, who was Turbulent's first commanding officer, was holding back tears.
The Captain, whose own grandfather, Charles Lightoller, served on RMS Titanic as Second Officer and survived by getting into the water and climbing onto an up-turned lifeboat, said she was the "happiest ship".
"I was in charge of the boat for its first three years' of life and was at the launch with Lady Cassidi and got it through trials and testing and into operational service.
"It was then the Cold War and our prime role was monitoring Soviet submarine operations and working under the ice in the north Atlantic."
When he went back aboard for the final meal, he said "nothing had changed – that spirit was still there".
He said he'd never wanted to do anything but work on submarines since the age of four. He described life as a submariner as "learning to control yourself' and "getting on with everybody" and being all about "honesty".
Cdr Ryan Ramsey who was the commissioning officer on-board HMS Turbulent from November 2008 until December 2011, said the ceremony was "exceptionally emotional".
"The ceremony was about two things. One to celebrate all the success we had and to say goodbye – it was emotional to talk to all the men who were once my team. There is a strong bond between all of us which will stay throughout.
"I never fail to be amazed by what my team did for operations for the UK."
He said one of his highlights commanding the ship was when a television show was made about the submarine's missions.
They were filmed just off the coast of Libya.
"It gave us the chance to tell our story," he said.
Another was watching his team "grow and progress".
HMS Turbulent's current commanding officer, Commander Nicholas Wheeler offered his and the Royal Navy's gratitude for the hard work the men of Turbulent had provided over recent years. He said Lady Cassidi had always offered 'unfaltering support'.
HMS Turbulent will undergo a work package where all systems are made 'safe' and then eventually go into 3 Basin awaiting dismantling. The future dismantling process is the subject of a public consultation process by the MOD.
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