HMS PLYMOUTH was a Rothesay-class frigate, which served the Royal Navy from 1959 to 1988. She was named after the English city of PLYMOUTH. After decommissioning as a warship, PLYMOUTH she was preserved, and opened to the public at various United Kingdom ports mainly at Birkenhead. However, following the liquidation of the Warship Preservation Trust in 2006 she languished at Birkenhead Docks for another 8 years before being towed to Aliaga, Turkey for scrapping.

PLYMOUTH was built at Devonport Dockyard, in her namesake city of Plymouth, and was launched by Viscountess Astor on 20 July 1959.

PLYMOUTH was one of the first Royal Navy ships to arrive in the South Atlantic following the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. PLYMOUTH alongside HMS ANTRIM, HMS BRILLIANT and HMS ENDURANCE took part in the recapturing of South Georgia on April 28, 1982 during Operation Paraquet.

PLYMOUTH landed Royal Marines from her Westland Wasp helicopters and bombarded Argentine troop positions on the island. Later her Wasp helicopter took part in an attack on the Argentinian submarine Santa Fe, which was badly damaged and later captured by Royal Marines.

PLYMOUTH re-joined the task force and supported troops on the ground by bombarding Argentine troop positions with her 4.5-inch (114 mm) guns.

PLYMOUTH was hit by four bombs and several cannon shells. One bomb hit the flight deck, detonating a depth charge and starting a fire, one went straight through her funnel and two more destroyed her Limbo anti-submarine mortar.

The wardroom of the PLYMOUTH was where the surrender of Argentine Forces in South Georgia was signed by Lieutenant commander Alfredo Astiz.[ She returned to Rosyth Dockyard after the war for full repair and refit. The following year, PLYMOUTH served as the West Indies guard ship.

PLYMOUTH was decommissioned on April 28, 1988, and was the last Type 12 in service. After decommissioning, the Warship Preservation Trust acquired the ship for preservation. In 1990 she was towed to Glasgow and placed on display at a berth on the River Clyde.

Subsequently she was relocated to Birkenhead's Great Float, for display alongside other ships and submarines. On 6 February 2006 the Warship Preservation Trust closed, citing financial difficulties and, by default,

PLYMOUTH City Council had expressed an interest in PLYMOUTH and the HMS PLYMOUTH Preservation Trust undertook to raise the £250,000 needed to bring the warship back to her home city. It had been hoped that the frigate could be berthed at Millbay Docks, but the offer of a berth was withdrawn in January 2007 by Associated British Ports.

PLYMOUTH was reported sold to Turkish breakers in 2012 by Peel Ports and two years later she was towed away for breaking.