Type 23 frigate
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HMS_Richmond_F239_(Type_23_class_frigate).jpg
The Type 23 frigate is a warship class of the Royal Navy also known as the Duke class. Sixteen of this class have been built, with the final vessel, HMS St Albans (F83) launched in May 2000. These vessels currently comprise around half of the entire surface escort fleet of the Royal Navy.
The frigate was initially designed as a light anti-submarine warfare platform, with a Lynx or EH-101 Merlin active dipping sonar helicopter, to replace the frigates of the Leander class. The frigates, with no anti-air armament and which would operate primarily in the North Atlantic, would be resupplied by a large force of Fort class replenishment ships. These supply ships were to be fitted with the Sea Wolf missile system for protection of the frigates. Constraints on the navy and the experiences of the Falklands War led to a redesign of the frigates with the addition of a main gun, and a reduced radar signature. The frigate's role was further expanded to cover all forms of naval operations with the addition of Harpoon and Sea Wolf missile systems.
HMS Norfolk (F230) was the first of the class to enter service, commissioned on June 1, 1990 at a cost of £135.449 million. Later vessels cost £60-96 million. The annual costs of running a Type 23 is around £16 million.
On July 21 2004, in a review of defence spending, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced HMS Norfolk, HMS Marlborough (F233) and HMS Grafton (F80) were to be paid off. Given that the oldest vessel is just over ten years old it seems likely that these would be sold. The governments of Chile, Belgium and Pakistan have all expressed an interest in purchasing all three of the warships.
Specifications
- Length: 133m (436.2ft)
- Beam: 16.1m (52.8ft)
- Displacement: 4,900 tonnes fl
- Crew: 185
- Power: CODLAG (Combined Diesel, Electric and Gas). Two Rolls-Royce Spey 34,000hp (25MW) gas turbines; two Alstom 1.5MW electric motors.
- Speed: 28kts (52km/h) maximum. 12,500km at 15kts (28km/h)
- Weapons:
- 2 x quad Harpoon missile launchers
- VLS GWS 26 Mod 1 Sea Wolf SAM system
- 1-4.5in (114mm) Vickers Mk 8 gun (some ships being upgraded with the Mod 1)
- 2 x Oerlikon 20 mm guns
- 4 Cray Marine 324mm (2 Twin) TT. Marconi Stingray.
- NATO Seagnat, Type 182 and DLF3 decoy launchers
- Aircraft: Lynx Mk 8 helicopter
- Armament:
- Sea Skua missiles
- Stingray torpedoes
- depth charges
- Armament:
- Sensors:
- Air/surface Search: Plessey Type 996, 3D
- Navigation: Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 or Racal Decca Type 1008
- Fire control: 2 Marconi Type 911
- Bow sonar: Ferranti/Thompson-Sintra Type 2050
- Towed sonar: Dowty Type 2031Z to be replaced by Type 2087
Ships
| Name | Pennant | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | Home port | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMS Norfolk | F230 | YSL, Glasgow | July 11 1987 | November 24 1989 | Devonport | |
| HMS Argyll | F231 | YSL | April 1989 | May 30 1991 | Devonport | |
| HMS Lancaster | F229 | YSL | May 24 1990 | May 1 1991 | Portsmouth | |
| HMS Marlborough | F233 | Swan Hunter , Wallsend | January 21 1991 | June 14 1991 | Portsmouth | |
| HMS Iron Duke | F234 | YSL | March 2 1991 | May 30 1991 | Portsmouth | |
| HMS Monmouth | F235 | YSL | November 23 1991 | 1993 | Devonport | |
| HMS Montrose | F236 | YSL | July 31 1992 | June 2 1994 | Devonport | |
| HMS Westminster | F237 | Swan Hunter | February 9 1992 | 1993 | Portsmouth | |
| HMS Northumberland | F238 | Swan Hunter | April 1992 | May 1994 | Devonport | |
| HMS Richmond | F239 | Swan Hunter | April 6 1993 | October 1996 | Portsmouth | |
| HMS Somerset | F82 | YSL | June 24 1994 | September 20 1996 | Devonport | |
| HMS Grafton | F80 | YSL | November 5 1994 | May 1997 | Portsmouth | |
| HMS Sutherland | F81 | YSL | March 9 1996 | July 4 1997 | Devonport | |
| HMS Kent | F78 | YSL | May 28 1998 | February 2000 | Portsmouth | |
| HMS Portland | F79 | Marconi Marine (YSL) | December 15 2000 | May 3 2001 | Devonport | |
| HMS St Albans | F83 | BAE Systems Marine (YSL) | May 6 2000 | November 2001 | Portsmouth |
| Type 23 frigate |
| Norfolk | Argyll | Lancaster | Marlborough | Iron Duke | Monmouth | Montrose | Westminster | Northumberland | Richmond | Somerset | Grafton | Sutherland | Kent | Portland | St Albans |
| List of frigates of the Royal Navy |