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Type 23 frigate

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HMSSutherlandin December 2012
Class overview
NameType 23 frigate
BuildersYarrow ShipbuildersandSwan Hunter
Operators
Preceded byType 22 frigate
Succeeded by
Cost£130 million per ship
In commission24 November 1987
Planned16
Completed16
Active9 Royal Navy, 3 Chilean Navy
Retired4 (Royal Navy)
General characteristics
TypeAnti-submarine warfarefrigate
Displacement4,900t(4,800long tons)[1]
Length133.0 m (436 ft 4 in)
Beam16.1 m (52 ft 10 in)
Draught7.3 m (23 ft 11 in)
Propulsion
SpeedIn excess of 28knots(52 km/h; 32 mph)
Range7,500nmi(14,000 km; 9,000 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried
2 ×Pacific 24RIBs
Complement185 (accommodation for up to 205)
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried
  • 1 ×Wildcat HMA2,armed with:
  • 2 × anti-submarine torpedoes or Martlet anti-ship missiles (ASM), initially deployed with RN carrier strike group helicopters in 2021; Sea Venom ASM projected for full operational capability in 2026[2]
  • or
  • 1 ×Westland Merlin HM2,armed with;
  • 4 × anti-submarine torpedoes
Aviation facilities

TheType 23 frigateorDuke classis aclassoffrigatesbuilt for the United Kingdom'sRoyal Navy.The ships are named afterBritish Dukes,thus leading to the class being commonly known as the Duke class. The first Type 23,HMSNorfolk,wascommissionedin 1989, and the sixteenth,HMSSt Albanswas commissioned in June 2002. They form the core of the Royal Navy'sdestroyerand frigate fleet and serve alongside theType 45 destroyers.They were designed foranti-submarine warfare,but have been used for a range of uses.[10]Nine Type 23 frigates remain in service with the Royal Navy, with three vessels having been sold to theChilean Navyand four being retired since 2021.

The Royal Navy's Type 23 frigates will be replaced by the Type 26Global Combat Shipand theType 31 frigate.[11]As of 2021it is anticipated that HMSSt Albanswill be the last to retire from the Royal Navy, in 2035.[5][12]

Development

[edit]

When first conceived in the late 1970s, the Type 23 was intended to be a light anti-submarine frigate with atowed array sonarto counter Soviet nuclear submarines operating in the North Atlantic. The Type 23 would be replacing theLeander-classfrigates (which had entered service in the 1960s) and theType 21 frigate(a general purpose design that had recently entered service) as the backbone of the Royal Navy's surface ship anti-submarine force. The procurement of the class was announced in the1981 Defence White Paperas "simpler and cheaper than theType 22[with] its characteristics... framed with an eye to the export market as well as Royal Navy needs. "[13]

Overhead view of HMSRichmondin August 2013

The ship was designed by theRoyal Corps of Naval Constructors,in close partnership with the prime contractor,Yarrow Shipbuilders.[14]No anti-air warfare system was planned, however the lessons learned during the Falklands War led to the introduction of the vertically launchedSea Wolf missile;In June 1984BAe Dynamicswas awarded a development contract for the missile system.[15][16]Unlike conventional Sea Wolf, the missile is boosted vertically until it clears the ship's superstructure, and then turns to fly directly to the target. Consequently, the ship's structure does not impose no-fire directions that would delay or inhibit missile firing in a conventionally launched system. With the addition ofHarpoonsurface-to-surface missilesand a medium calibre gun fornaval gunfire support,the Type 23 had evolved into a more complex and balanced vessel optimised for general warfare, which introduced a host of new technologies and concepts to the Royal Navy. These included extensiveradar cross-sectionreduction design measures, automation to substantially reduce crew size, acombined diesel-electric and gas(CODLAG) propulsion system providing very quiet running for anti-submarine operations and a large range.[17]

In December 1986 the procurement of aFerranticommand and control system was cancelled as the specification was deemed to be insufficient to meet the demands of a modern warship, particularly the processing demands of the towed sonar array.Dowty-Semawon a contract for a replacement command and control system in August 1989, however, the delay meant early Type 23s entered service without the capability to use the Sea Wolf missile system in combat.[18][19]

It was reported in 1998 to the House of Commons that: "Type 23 frigates achieved approximately 85–89 per cent average availability for operational service in [the previous] five years with the exception of 1996 when the figure dropped to just over 80 per cent due to a number of ships experiencing a particular defect. This discounts time spent in planned maintenance."[20]

Unlike the Type 45 destroyer, the Type 23 frigate does not have the capability to act as a flagship.[21]

Programme costs

[edit]

Prior to the Falklands War the cost of the Type 23 frigates was estimated at £75 million each (September 1980 prices)[22]Changes following the experiences in the Falklands, including improved damage control and fire precautions,[23]led to an increased cost estimated at £110 million (1984–85 prices)[22] By 2001, the Ministry of Defence said the cost ofHMSNorfolkwas £135.449 million and the remaining ships would have a final cost between £60 million and £96 million each. The Ministry of Defence said in 1998 that the Merlin ASW helicopter was costing them £97M each (this was for an order for 44 airframes), and that this was 57% of the cost of Type 23.[24]From this it can be calculated that the cost of Type 23 was £170.1M each. The Government's declared policy for construction contracts for Type 23 was ".. petition, the aim being to secure best value for money for the defence budget." while maintaining "sufficient warship-building capacity to meet likely future defence requirements and a competitive base"[25]

HMSNorfolkwas the first of the class to enter service, commissioned into the fleet on 1 June 1990 at a cost of £135.449 million; later vessels cost £60–96 million.[26]

Upgrades and future technologies

[edit]
The Type 23's propeller is specially designed to reduce underwater noise during anti-submarine operations.

Mid-life refit

[edit]

The class underwent[when?]mid-life refits which lasted 12–18 months and cost £15-20m. Aside from refurbishment of the mess decks and drive train, the ships are being retrofitted with a transom flap which can add up to one knot (1.9 km/h; 1.2 mph) to the top speed[27]and reduce fuel consumption by 13%, and Intersleekanti-fouling paintwhich added two knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) to the top speed of the carrierArk Royal.[28]Although the top speed of the Duke class is commonly quoted as 28 knots, the caption of an official Navy photo suggests thatLancasterwas capable of 32 knots even before her mid-life refit.[29][30]The Sea Wolf Mid Life Update (SWMLU) improves the sensors and guidance of the missiles, point defences are further improved with new remotely operated 30 mm guns, and Mod 1 of theMk8 main gunhas an all-electric loading system and a smaller radar cross-section. The communications and command systems are also upgraded.

A further Life Extension (LIFEX) Upkeep project saw the Sea Wolf missiles replaced with the newSea Ceptoranti-air defence missiles;[31]these were first test-fired from HMSArgyllon 4 September 2017.[32]

Sonar 2087

[edit]

Sonar 2087 is described by its manufacturer as "a towed-array system that enables Type 23 frigates to hunt the latest submarines at considerable distances and locate them beyond the range at which they [submarines] can launch an attack."[33]Sonar 2087 was fitted to eight Type 23 frigates in mid-life refits between 2004 and 2012; the five oldest Type 23 frigates, HMSMontrose,Monmouth,Iron Duke,LancasterandArgyllare not scheduled to receive Sonar 2087. These ships will instead continue to be employed across the normal range ofstanding Royal Navy deployments.[34]The Chilean Navy is procuring a number of Sonar 2087 towed arrays from Thales Underwater Systems to equip its multipurpose frigates.[citation needed]

Artisan 3D radar

[edit]
Type 997 Artisan 3D radar on HMSArgyllfollowing her 2010 refit

The Type 23's original medium-range radar was replaced byBAE SystemsType 997 Artisan 3D radar; the project was worth £100 million and the contract was announced on 4 August 2008.[35]It is a medium-range radar designed to be capable of operating effectively in littoral zones and improving air-defence, anti-surface (anti-ship) and air traffic management capabilities of the Type 23 frigates. The radar is also designed to combat complex jammers.[36]HMSIron Dukewas the first Type 23 frigate to receive the Artisan radar during her refit in 2012–13.[37]

It is claimed the radar is five times more capable than the Type 996 radar it replaces.[38][39]

Common Anti-Air Modular Missile

[edit]

CAMM(M), the maritime variant of the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile, started to replace theSea Wolfmissiles on the Type 23 frigates from 2016. CAMM(M) has a longer range of 1–25+ km compared to the 1–10 km offered by the Sea Wolf missile. An option exists to give the missile a surface-attack capability, though it is currently understood the Royal Navy will not take that option, because of cost.[40]Like Sea Wolf, CAMM(M) will beVLSlaunched; however due to its design, CAMM(M) can be packed much more tightly into the VLS, with up to four CAMM(M) fitting into the space occupied by one Sea Wolf missile.[41]CAMM(M) is known as Sea Ceptor in Royal Navy service.

Martlet Lightweight Multirole Missile

[edit]

On an unspecified date in early 2019,HMSSutherlandtested a modified mounting for the30mm cannonwhich incorporated a launcher for five'Martlet' Lightweight Multirole Missiles,by firing four of them at a small speedboat target at the Aberporth range in Wales. The concept of mounting the missile alongside the 30mm Bushmaster cannon was tested just 5 months after the idea's conception.

The intended role of the Martlet is to further extend the Type 23's capabilities against small, fast moving targets beyond the current 30mm, GPMG and Minigun options to provide a long range 'stand-off' ability. It is not yet clear whether the Royal Navy intends to equip any more Type 23s with the system.[42]

Anti-ship missile

[edit]

In March 2019, a study commenced for an interim replacement for the ageingHarpoonanti-ship missiles, until completion of the Anglo-French Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) programme which was scheduled to enter service in the 2030s.[43]The interim replacement missile was originally planned to be fitted to five of the newer Type 23 frigates.[5]

In November 2021, then First Sea Lord, Admiral Tony Radakin, said that the program had been paused and would likely be cancelled.[44]In February 2022, the project was cancelled.[45]However, in July 2022 the Defence Secretary confirmed that the program had been restarted.[46]In November 2022, it was announced that the Royal Navy would receive theNaval Strike Missile(NSM), which will be fitted to a total of 11 vessels, both Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers.[47][48]

In 2021, it was reported that only two frigates,MontroseandKent,were deployed with a full load of eight Harpoon canisters per ship.[5]In August 2022, it was reported that in preparation for her planned deployment to thePersian Gulfto replace HMSMontrose,HMSLancasterhad also been fitted with eight Harpoon anti-ship missiles.[49]

Weapons, countermeasures, capabilities and sensors

[edit]
HMSMontrosefiring aSea Wolfmissile
HMSRichmondfiring aHarpoonanti-ship missile
HMSNorthumberlandfires her4.5-inch Mark 8 naval gun

Anti-air warfare

[edit]
  • Type 997 Artisan 3Dradar installed/being installed on 12 of 13 vessels replacing previous Type 996 Mod 1, 3D surveillance and target indication radar.
  • 12 of 13 Royal Navy frigates (plus the Chilean vessels) were upgraded with 32-cellSea CeptorGWS.35 VLS canisters[50](range of over 25 kilometres; 16 mi) as replacement for the previousSea Wolf SAM.HMSArgyllwas the first ship to receive Sea Ceptor, completing refit in February 2017.[51]As of 2021 in addition toArgyll,Westminster,Montrose,Northumberland,Kent,Lancaster,RichmondandPortlandhave all received Sea Ceptor systems.Somersetreturned to service with Sea Ceptor in March 2022,[52]andIron Dukefollowed in May 2023.[53]St AlbansandSutherlandare the final frigates to receive the upgrade, withSutherlandhaving begun her refit in April 2021.[54][55]The 2021 defence white paper announced thatMonmouthwill not receive the upgrade and, together withMontrose,would be retired early.[56]Monmouthwas formally withdrawn from service in June 2021.

Anti-ship warfare (missiles)

[edit]

Anti-submarine warfare

[edit]

Guns

[edit]

Countermeasures

[edit]
  • TheSeagnatdecoy system allows for the seduction and distraction of radar guided weapons, through active and passive means.
  • Type 182 towed torpedo decoys.
  • Type 2070 towed torpedodecoysystem.
  • Thales defence Scorpion Electronic Counter Measures/UAF-1 ESM Jammer. Used to confuse or block enemy radar making the Type 23 frigate harder to detect and or locked onto by enemy radar/sonar guided weapons.

Electronic systems

[edit]

Additional capabilities

[edit]
  • The Type 23 frigates have sufficient space to embark a small detachment ofRoyal Marinesand their equipment.

Ships

[edit]
HMSWestminstermoored at South Quay in London

Although the Type 23 is officially the "Duke" class, and includes such famous names as HMSIron Duke(which had been the name of the battleshipHMSIron Duke,AdmiralJellicoe'sflagshipat theBattle of Jutland), five of the names had previously been used on classes known as the "County class":KentandNorfolkwere names given both to 1960sguided-missile destroyersand Second World War-eraCounty-class heavy cruisers,whileMonmouth,Lancaster,KentandArgyllrevived names carried by First World War-eraMonmouth-class armoured cruisers.This use of Ducal and County names broke a tradition ofAlpha betical names for escort shipswhich had run in two – not unbroken – cycles from theL-class destroyersof 1913 to theDaring-class destroyersof 1950; this progression was revived with theAmazon-classType 21 frigatesof 1972–1975, and continued with B and C names for most of the Type 22 frigates of 1976–1989. However, the D names have since been used for the newType 45Daring-classdestroyers.

On 21 July 2004, in theDelivering Security in a Changing Worldreview of defence spending, Defence SecretaryGeoff Hoonannounced thatNorfolk,MarlboroughandGraftonwere to be paid off. In 2005 it was announced that these three vessels would be sold to theChilean Navy,to be delivered in 2008. In September 2005 BAE Systems was awarded a £134 million GBP contract to prepare the frigates for transfer. ex-Marlborough,ex-Norfolkand ex-Graftonwere sold to Chile for a total of £134 million. The letter of intent for purchase was signed in December 2004, followed by a formal contract on 7 September 2005.[64]ex-Norfolkwas handed over by theDefence Logistics Organisationand BAE Systems and commissioned into the Chilean Navy on 22 November 2006, and namedAlmirante Cochrane(FF-05) (afterLord Cochrane,a naval hero to both the British and Chileans). Ex-Graftonwas delivered to Chilean Navy on 28 March 2007 at Portsmouth and renamedAlmirante Lynch(FF-07). Ex-Marlboroughwas delivered to Chilean Navy on 28 May 2008 at Portsmouth and renamedAlmirante Condell(FF-06).[citation needed]As of 2021,these three ships remain in service with the Chilean Navy and were upgraded by Lockheed Martin Canada by the localASMARshipbuilding company.[65]

The two oldest ships in Royal Navy service are classified as General Purpose ships, and are primarily homeported at Portsmouth. The remainder are equipped with the Type 2087 Towed Array Sonar, and are primarily tasked with the anti-submarine warfare mission. These seven ships are based primarily at Devonport.[66]The Type 23 ships in the Royal Navy are due to be replaced in service by theType 26ASW andType 31general purpose frigates.[67]The 2021 defence white paper indicated that bothMontroseandMonmouthwould be withdrawn early.Monmouth,having had the planned life-extension refit cancelled, and been laid up since 2018, was withdrawn from service in June 2021.[56]In 2024, it was indicated that both HMSWestminsterand HMSArgyllwould also be retired.[68]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 frigates of the class would be retained in service longer than anticipated in order to ensure that escort numbers did not fall below 17 ships (6 destroyers and 11 frigates) and start to rise above 19 escorts beginning in 2026. However, personnel shortages and the age of some ships ended up making this cost prohibitive.[69]

Name Pennant No. Type Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Mid-life upgrade Decommissioned Status
Royal Navy
Norfolk F230 Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun 14 December 1985[70] 10 July 1987[70] 1 June 1990[70] 15 April 2005 Sold to Chile asAlmirante Cochrane
Marlborough F233 Swan Hunter, Wallsend 22 October 1987[70] 21 January 1989[70] 14 June 1991[70] 8 July 2005 Sold to Chile asAlmirante Condell
Argyll F231 GP Marconi Marine (YSL),Scotstoun 20 March 1987[70] 8 April 1989[70] 31 May 1991[70] Jun 2015 to Feb 2017[55] Planned 2024 Sold to BAE Systems as training platform in 2024[71]
Lancaster F229 GP Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun 18 December 1987[70] 24 May 1990[70] 1 May 1992[72] March 2017 – December 2019[55] In Active Service[73]
Iron Duke F234 GP Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun 12 December 1988[70] 2 March 1991[70] 20 May 1993[70] From January 2019 - June 2023 In Active Service
Monmouth F235 GP Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun 1 June 1989[70] 23 November 1991[70] 24 September 1993[70] 30 June 2021[74] Awaiting disposal[55]
Montrose F236 GP Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun 1 November 1989[70] 31 July 1992[70] 2 June 1994[72] October 2014 – July 2017[55] 17 April 2023[75] Awaiting disposal[76]
Westminster F237 ASW Swan Hunter,Wallsend 18 January 1991[70] 4 February 1992[72] 13 May 1994[70] November 2014 – January 2017[55] Planned 2024 Awaiting disposal[71]
Northumberland F238 ASW Swan Hunter, Wallsend 4 April 1991[70] 4 April 1992[70] 29 November 1994[72] May 2016 – May 2018[55] Inactive; refit at Devonport;[77]may be beyond economical repair[78]
Richmond F239 ASW Swan Hunter, Wallsend 16 February 1992[72] 6 April 1993[70] 22 June 1995[72] August 2017 – February 2020[55] In Active Service
Somerset F82 ASW Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun 12 October 1992[70] 25 June 1994[70] 20 September 1996[72] November 2018 – March 2022[55] In Active Service
Grafton F80 Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun 13 May 1993[70] 5 November 1994[70] 29 May 1997[70] 31 March 2006 Sold to Chile asAlmirante Lynch
Sutherland F81 ASW Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun 14 October 1993[70] 9 March 1996[70] 4 July 1997[72] December 2020 - March 2024[55][79] In Active Service[80]
Kent F78 ASW Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun 16 April 1997[72] 27 May 1998[72] 8 June 2000[72] January 2017 – August 2018[55] Refit at Devonport[81]
Portland F79 ASW Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun 14 January 1998[72] 15 May 1999[72] 3 May 2001[72] February 2018 – March 2021[55] In Active Service[80]
St Albans F83 ASW Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun 18 April 1999[72] 6 May 2000[72] 6 June 2002[72] July 2019 – November 2023[82] In Active Service[80]
Chilean Navy
Almirante Cochrane FF05 ASW Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun 14 December 1985[70] 10 July 1987[70] 22 November 2006 March 2018 to November 2019[83] In active service
Almirante Condell FF06 ASW Swan Hunter, Wallsend 22 October 1987[70] 21 January 1989[70] 28 May 2008 September 2020 to October 2021[83] In active service
Almirante Lynch FF07 ASW Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun 13 May 1993[70] 5 November 1994[70] 28 March 2007 June 2019 to December 2020[83] In active service

Operational history

[edit]

In 2011,HMSIron Dukedestroyed a gun battery outside the besieged city ofMisrata,Libya.She also firedstar shellsinto the night sky to illuminatepro-Gaddafipositions to allowNATOaircraft to destroy them.[84][85]

On the 9th March 2024Richmondused itsSea Ceptormissiles to shoot down two attack drones. This was the first use ofSea Ceptorin operational circumstances by the class.[86]

In fiction

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
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