In 1984, Southampton ran over one of the Shambles Buoys off Portland during the final Thursday War intended to prepare her to deploy to the Falklands Islands.

The collision sank the buoy and resulted in a period in dry dock for repair, after which Southampton left for a six-month deployment as a Falkland Islands guard ship.

On 3 September 1988, whilst serving on the Armilla Patrol, Southampton was involved in a collision with MV Tor Bay, a container ship in a convoy being escorted through the Straits of Hormuz.

Three members of her crew were slightly injured and a 10-metre (33 ft) hole torn in Southampton's hull.

The destroyer was returned to the UK aboard a semi-submersible heavy lift ship.