Jump to content

HMSArgyll(F231)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other ships with the same name, seeHMS Argyll.

HMSArgyll,2009
History
United Kingdom
NameHMSArgyll
OrderedSeptember 1986
BuilderYarrow Shipbuilders
Laid down20 March 1987
Launched8 April 1989
Commissioned31 May 1991
Out of serviceMay 2024
HomeportHMNB Portsmouth[2]
Identification
Motto
  • Ne Obliviscaris
  • ( "Lest We Forget" )
StatusSold to BAE Systems[3]
BadgeShip's badge
General characteristics
Class and typeType 23frigate
Displacement4,900 t (4,800 long tons; 5,400 short tons)[4]
Length133 m (436 ft 4 in)
Beam16.1 m (52 ft 10 in)
Draught7.3 m (23 ft 11 in)
Propulsion
SpeedIn excess of 28kn(52 km/h; 32 mph)
Range7,500nautical miles(14,000 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement185 (accommodation for up to 205)
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried
Aviation facilities

The thirdHMSArgyllwas aType 23Duke-classfrigate.Commissioned in 1991 and prior to her retirement,Argyllwas the oldest serving Type 23 frigate in theRoyal Navy.Like all of her class she was named after a Britishdukedom,in this case that ofArgyll.HMSArgyllwaslaid downin March 1987 byYarrow ShipbuildersatGlasgow,andlaunchedin 1989 by Lady Wendy Levene,sponsoredby theWorshipful Company of Paviors.[9]

Argyllwas the first Type 23 to be fitted with the newSea Ceptormissile system.[10]The ship, like her sistersHMS Monmouth,HMS Montrose,HMS LancasterandHMS Iron Duke,did not receive the newSonar 2087upgrade that other frigates of the class subsequently received. Therefore she was regarded as a "general purpose" frigate without the more specialized anti-submarine capability of the other eight ships in the Type 23 fleet.[11]

Argyllwas retired and sold to BAE Systems for apprentice training in 2024.[12]

Operational history[edit]

1991–2000[edit]

On 26 March 1994,Argyll'sLynx helicoptercrashed into the sea offAndros Islandin the West Indies while practising for an air display. The crew escaped and were rescued but the aircraft was unrecoverable after sinking in 5,000ft of water.[13]

In 2000,Argyllwas part of theRoyal Navytask force – Task Group 342.01 – comprisingIllustrious,Ocean,Iron Duke,Chatham,and fourRFAships – that deployed toSierra Leoneas part of theBritish military intervention in the Sierra Leone civil war.During those operations,Argyllacted as the West African Guardship and remained off West Africa until September 2000. Throughout this periodArgylloperated with her Lynx HMA Mk 8 helicopter. The Lynx undertook daily patrols and searches. The Lynx was instrumental to the successful completion of Operation Barras. During her deployment, the helicopter was scrambled to search for a missing passenger ferry. The aircraft's crew quickly located the vessel and provided escort forArgyll.Argyllsaved fifty-eight lives from drowning. She was relieved by her sister-shipIron Dukein September.[14]During this incidentArgyll,assisted by HMSOcean,laid the foundation for the Iron Duke Community School. This is a school for orphans in Freetown. President Kabbah ofSierra Leonedecreed the school be named after the crew ofIron Dukefor completing the construction of the six classrooms.[15]

2001–2010[edit]

In 2001, while in theBay of Biscay,Argyllsuffered an electrical fire that was quickly put out by the ship's damage control team, with the ship suffering only minimal damage.[16]

Argyllcompleted a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf protecting two oil platforms, working with the American, Australian and Iraqi Navies from February to August 2005.[17]The ship made a short visit toBoulogne,then to its home port ofInverarayand finally toLiverpool,[18]before undergoing Operational Sea Trials.Argyllsuccessfully completed Operational Sea Training and acted as a contingency platform whilstthe Queenspent a week sailing on theHebridean Princessin July 2006.

In September 2006Argyllwas deployed along with other ships such asOceanandAlbionwhere she completed two drugs raids on merchant ships totalling£50 million.They completed their operation in November of the same year.

In October 2007Argyllreturned to the Persian Gulf to take over from her sister-ship,Richmond.[19]

Thursday 3 April 2008 saw more than 500 friends and relatives welcome HMSArgyllas she returned to her home at Devonport after a deployment lasting six months in the Northern Persian Gulf. This wasArgyll's second Gulf deployment to Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 in three years. This deployment included one patrol which lasted 52 days from January to March 2008. HMSArgyllwas also at the 'Meet Your Navy' exhibition at HMNB Portsmouth 2008.[20][21]

6 May 2008 saw the crew return toArgyll,with the crew bidding their commanding officer of seven months, Commander Gavin Pritchard, a fond farewell. Pritchard was succeeded by Commander Peter Olive.Argyllwas then to engage in a period of trials and training before entering a period of maintenance in June.[22]

11 May 2008 saw the Trans-Atlantic solo yacht race in Plymouth Sound started by the ceremonial cannon aboardArgyll.DameEllen MacArthuralso attended the start of the race and Rear Admiral Richard Ibbotson, head of the Flag Officer Sea Training organisation, was also on boardArgyll.[23][24]

On 21 July 2008Argyllled the parade oftall shipsout of Liverpool ahead of theTall Ships Racestarting 23 July.

On 18 February 2009,Argyllsailed fromDevonportas part of the Taurus 09 deployment under Commander UK Amphibious Task Group, Commodore Peter Hudson, She was joined on this deployment by Landing Platform DockBulwark,as Hudson'sflagship,Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH)Ocean,Type 23 frigateSomersetand four ships of theRoyal Fleet Auxiliary.[25]Argyllreturned to Devonport on 17 April from this deployment.[26]

In early October 2010,Argylland her crew arrived in Plymouth last week after an 11-month refit which included 290,000-man-hours spent on modifications, upgrades and improvements. "[27]She has received a new command system, upgrades to Sea Wolf, the Mod1 4.5-inch (114mm) gun, and mounts for new small calibre guns.[27]She was also given new boat-launching equipment.[27]"The refit included the replacing of two of the vessel's four diesel generators and one of her gas turbine engines."[27]Her ventilation system has been improved.[27]"Along with fresh paint on the upper decks she has been coated below the waterline with a special paint to prevent the build-up of sea life which would slow the ship. This also makes her more fuel-efficient."[27]HMSArgyllwas the first Type 23 frigate to undergo a second major refit.[27]

2011–2021[edit]

HMSArgyllmoored in the Royal Victoria Dock forDSEI 2017.

On Sunday 22 January 2012 it was announced thatArgyllwas part of a six-ship convoy which sailed through theStrait of HormuzalongsideFrenchandUnited States Navyvessels, during adiplomatic dispute with Iran.[28]In a period after this she engaged in Exercise 'Goalkeeper' whilst still in the Middle East.[29]

On 30 June 2012,Armed Forces Day,she fired the salute inPlymouthas part of a steampast alongsideRFAMounts Bay,theEarl of Wessexwas in attendance alongside theFirst Sea Lord.[30][31]

In 2013, she served a seven-month deployment to the Atlantic, having visited South Africa.[32]She also engaged in counter-narcotics work in the Eastern Pacific by travelling aroundCape Hornand headed back to her home port via the Panama Canal.[33][34]

In March 2014, she accidentally fired a test (unarmed) torpedo whilst training atDevonport,[35]there were no injuries and minimal damage.

On 30 June 2014, she arrived inHamilton, Bermudafor a three-day visit as part of her deployment to the North Atlantic and Caribbean.[36]

She arrived inBaltimore,Maryland, US on 11 September 2014 to participate in ceremonies commemorating the 200th anniversary of theStar Spangled Banner.[37]

On Thursday 25 September 2014, she arrived inVeracruz.[38]

On 6 October 2014, HMSArgyllvisitedGeorge Town, Grand Cayman,after having been on counter-narcotics deployment in August 2014 as part ofOperation Martillo.[39] From 9 to 13 October 2014 HMSArgyllpaid an official visit to the Dominican Republic during the course of which her flight deck hosted the baptism of Stefania Rozsa, daughter of the British Ambassador. On 18 October 2014, she arrived inBermudato provide assistance in the aftermath ofHurricane Gonzalo.[40]

In 2014, aLynxfromArgyllidentified a suspicious yacht in theCaribbean Sea,and a detachment of theU.S. Coast Guardoperating fromArgyllseized $16 million worth of cocaine found on the yacht. The group had seized an even larger shipment earlier on the same deployment.[41]

In 2015,Argyllunderwent an extended Life Extension (LIFEX) refit in Devonport; she returned to sea in February 2017 with a new principal weapon system,Sea Ceptor,and numerous modifications and alterations to her accommodation and working spaces.[42]Argyllacted as the trials vessel for Sea Ceptor prior to resuming her operational duties and it was announced in September 2017 that she had undertaken the first firings of the new system earlier in the summer off the west coast of Scotland.[43]

In 2017, it was announced thatArgyllwould be sent to join military exercises in the Asia Pacific with theFive Power Defence Arrangementspartners and also theJapanese Maritime Self Defence Force.[44][45]Part of her mission is "to continue the pressure campaign on North Korea".[46]

On 11 March 2019,Argyllrescued a 27-strong crew from a burning container vesselGrande America150 miles off the coast ofFrance.[47]

On 15 March 2019 the ship returned toHMNB Devonportafter a nine-month deployment toSoutheast Asia.[48]

On 11 September 2019 it demonstrated the use of an autonomous PAC24unmanned surface vehicle,a modified version of the boat the ship already carries, at theDefence and Security Equipment International 2019 exhibition.Also involved in the demonstration was an additional autonomous boat: the MAST-13.[49]

2022–present[edit]

In May 2022,Argyllbecame the first Type 23 to have undergone a LIFEX refit to undergo a subsequent major upkeep period, which saw the ship dry-docked for an extended period to enable it to be retained in service until around 2027-28, when it was intended to be replaced by eitherHMSGlasgoworHMSVenturer.[50][51]In response to questions posed in Parliament, the Minister of State at the MoD, James Cartlidge, could not confirm that HMSArgyllwould remain in service.[52]In May 2024, it was confirmed that the frigate would be retired and sold to BAE Systems to support apprentice training.[53]

In 2022,Argyllspent just 21 days at sea.[54]

Argyllhad been scheduled to be withdrawn from service in 2023.[55]However, in 2021 in a written answer provided to the House of Commons Select Defence Committee, the First Sea Lord, Admiral Tony Radakin, suggested that older Type 23 frigates would be retained in service longer than anticipated in order to ensure that total escort numbers did not fall below 17 ships (6 destroyers and 11 frigates) and start to rise above 19 escorts starting in 2026. This would have requiredArgyllto have been kept in service significantly longer than anticipated.[56]

However in May 2024, it was indicated that she would be retired and sold to BAE Systems for apprentice training instead.[57][58]This occurred despite the fact that in May 2022 she began an 18-month refit with the intent of extending her service life until about 2027-28.[59]

Related images[edit]

  • HMS Argyll off Senegal, in 2013
    HMSArgylloff Senegal, in 2013
  • HMS Argyll during Navydays Zeebrugge 2009
    HMSArgyllduring Navydays Zeebrugge 2009
  • Harpoon anti-ship missiles on Argyll
    Harpoonanti-ship missiles onArgyll
  • 4.5-inch Mark 8 naval gun on board Argyll
    4.5-inch Mark 8 naval gun on boardArgyll

Affiliations[edit]

HMSArgyllwas affiliated with:[60]

School Crest of the Dollar Academy, affiliate of HMSArgyll.

In July 2017,GB Railfreightnamed aClass 66locomotiveArgyllin honour of HMSArgyllin a ceremony at Devonport.[61]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Fleet Bridge Card"(PDF).Royal Navy.27 February 2009. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 25 June 2009.Retrieved20 June2009.
  2. ^"FOI(A) regarding the Royal Navy"(PDF).What do they know?.27 April 2021.Retrieved1 June2023.
  3. ^Allison, George (14 May 2024)."Two Royal Navy frigates to be retired".UK Defence Journal.Retrieved14 May2024.
  4. ^"Type 23 Frigate".Royal Navy.Retrieved26 March2019.
  5. ^Peruzzi, Luca."Royal Navy unveiled Sea Ceptor and launched first user group at DSEI 2017".European Defence Review.Retrieved26 November2021.
  6. ^Scott, Richard (19 December 2023)."First NSM fit on RN Type 23 frigate".Janes.Retrieved23 April2024.
  7. ^"Contenders for the Royal Navy's interim anti-ship missile requirement".navylookout.com.26 August 2021.Retrieved31 October2021.
  8. ^"In focus: the Fleet Solid Support ship design".Navy Lookout. 28 February 2023.Retrieved14 April2023.
  9. ^"HMSArgyll".The Worshipful Company of Paviors.Retrieved26 March2019.
  10. ^"HMSArgyllupkeep marks start of Type 23 life extension ".ADS Advance.16 June 2015.Retrieved26 March2019.
  11. ^Allison, George (25 March 2019)."What is the purpose of the Towed Array Patrol Ship?".UK Defence Journal.Retrieved2 May2023.
  12. ^Tringham, Kate (16 May 2024)."UK Royal Navy Type 23 frigates Argyll and Westminster to retire".Janes.com.Retrieved17 May2024.
  13. ^"UK Military Aircraft Losses".
  14. ^"Summer 2000: Duties In Sierra Leone".The Worshipful Company of Paviors.28 November 2000. Archived fromthe originalon 13 March 2008.Retrieved26 March2019.
  15. ^"Iron Dukecompletes 33,000-mile voyage ".Navy News.26 February 2001. Archived fromthe originalon 7 March 2003.Retrieved26 March2019.
  16. ^"Fire on board HMSArgyll".Navy News.3 April 2001. Archived fromthe originalon 1 May 2003.Retrieved26 March2019.
  17. ^"August 2005: In Home Waters".The Worshipful Company of Paviors.24 August 2005. Archived fromthe originalon 23 March 2008.Retrieved26 March2019.
  18. ^"HMSArgyllArrives on Merseyside ".Irish Sea Shipping.Archived from the original on 18 May 2006.Retrieved3 November2009.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  19. ^"Naval News From Around The World".GoGibraltarSite.com.4 October 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 4 November 2007.Retrieved26 March2019.
  20. ^"Warm Welcome for HMS Argyll's Return to Devonport".Royal Navy.31 March 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 10 May 2008.Retrieved26 March2019.
  21. ^"Hundreds Cheer HMSArgyllHome To the UK ".Royal Navy.3 April 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 10 May 2008.Retrieved26 March2019.
  22. ^"HMSArgyllReturns to Work ".Royal Navy.3 April 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 9 June 2008.Retrieved26 March2019.
  23. ^"HMSArgyllStarts Trans-Atlantic Yacht Race ".Royal Navy.9 May 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 10 May 2008.Retrieved26 March2019.
  24. ^"HMSArgyllLaunches Trans-Atlantic Yacht Race ".Royal Navy.12 May 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 9 June 2008.Retrieved26 March2019.
  25. ^"Taurus 09".Royal Navy.Archived fromthe originalon 25 March 2009.Retrieved26 March2019.
  26. ^"ArgyllReturns To Devonport ".Royal Navy.17 April 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 17 April 2009.Retrieved26 March2019.
  27. ^abcdefg"HMSArgyllarrives home following major refit ".Ministry of Defence.7 October 2010.Retrieved26 January2010.
  28. ^"Iran escalation 'could see UK forces sent to Gulf".BBC News. 24 January 2012.Retrieved26 January2012.
  29. ^"Royal Navy Type 23 Frigate HMSArgyll".Flickr.8 September 2009.Retrieved26 March2019.
  30. ^"Armed Forces Day National Event in Plymouth".Flickr.30 June 2012.Retrieved26 March2019.
  31. ^"Armed Forces Day National Event in Plymouth".Flickr.30 June 2012.Retrieved26 March2019.
  32. ^"ArgyllVisits South Africa ".Royal Navy.30 May 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 1 July 2013.Retrieved26 March2019.
  33. ^"Two oceans in one day for HMSArgyll".Navy News.20 August 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 14 July 2014.Retrieved26 March2019.
  34. ^"HMSArgylldue home from successful policing patrol ".Royal Navy.11 September 2013.Retrieved26 March2019.
  35. ^"HMSArgyllnavy torpedo fired into Devonport wharf ".BBC News. 14 March 2014.Retrieved26 March2019.
  36. ^Burton, James (29 June 2014)."HMSArgyllreturns to Bermuda ".Bermuda Sun.Retrieved26 March2019.
  37. ^"Star studded arrival in Baltimore".Royal Navy.11 September 2014.Retrieved26 March2019.
  38. ^"El HSMArgyll,Atracó en Veracruz ".El Mercurio de Veracruz(in Spanish). 26 September 2014.Retrieved26 March2019.
  39. ^"Navy warship visits Cayman".Cayman Compass.7 October 2014.Retrieved26 March2019.
  40. ^"Hurricane Gonzalo: Bermuda 'bruised' by direct hit".BBC News. 19 October 2014.Retrieved26 March2019.
  41. ^Drwiega, Andrew (29 October 2014)."USCG Employs Lynx Helicopter to Catch Cocaine Carriers".RotorAndWing.com.Retrieved26 March2019.
  42. ^"HMSArgylltakes to the seas again after 20 month refit ".The Herald.7 February 2017.[dead link]
  43. ^"Defence Minister announces successful first firings of Sea Ceptor missiles".Royal Navy.4 September 2017.Retrieved26 March2019.
  44. ^Jones, Philip(11 September 2017)."DSEI Maritime Conference".Ministry of Defence.Retrieved26 March2019.
  45. ^"UK security and defence collaboration with Japan steps up a level".Gov.uk.31 August 2017.Retrieved26 March2019.
  46. ^"Royal Navy warship to sail through disputed sea off China – Defence Secretary".Belfast Telegraph.13 February 2018.Retrieved13 February2018.
  47. ^"Navy crew saves 27 from burning ship".BBC News. 11 March 2019.Retrieved11 March2019.
  48. ^"HMSArgyllreturns from nine-month Pacific mission ".Just Plymouth.15 March 2019.Retrieved26 March2019.
  49. ^"HMS Argyll involved with autonomous tech trials".Royal Navy.London. 11 September 2019.Retrieved11 September2019.
  50. ^"Royal Navy frigate HMS Argyll – first to have post-LIFEX upkeep period".Navy Lookout.17 August 2022.Retrieved17 August2022.
  51. ^Tringham, Kate (18 August 2022)."Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll starts post-life extension upkeep".Janes.
  52. ^"HMS Argyll and HMS Westminster".They Work for You.23 April 2024.
  53. ^Allison, George (14 May 2024)."Two Royal Navy frigates to be retired".UK Defence Journal.Retrieved14 May2024.
  54. ^Allison, George (1 June 2023)."Data reveals number of days warships spent at sea last year".UK Defence Journal.Retrieved13 July2023.
  55. ^Andrew Robathan,Minister of State for the Armed Forces(6 September 2012)."Written Answers: HMSArgyll".Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).House of Commons. col. 386W.
  56. ^Allison, George (24 November 2021)."Royal Navy escort fleet to 'return above 19' warships by 2026".UK Defence Journal.Retrieved26 November2021.
  57. ^Allison, George (14 May 2024)."Two Royal Navy frigates to be retired".UK Defence Journal.Retrieved14 May2024.
  58. ^"HMS Argyll and HMS Westminster".They Work for You.23 April 2024.
  59. ^"Snapshot: The Royal Navy escort fleet in March 2023".Navy Lookout.7 March 2023.Retrieved21 May2023.
  60. ^"Affiliations: HMSArgyll".Royal Navy.Archived fromthe originalon 20 January 2009.Retrieved26 March2019.
  61. ^"Sailors celebrate as train named in honour of Plymouth warship HMSArgyll".Just Plymouth.12 July 2017.Retrieved26 March2019.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toIMO 8949599.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HMS_Argyll_(F231)&oldid=1230813120"