Type 23 frigate
Design
Intended role
"The Type 23 class frigate was conceived in the late 1970s as a light anti-submarine frigate whose primary role was to meet the then Soviet nuclear submarine threat in the North Atlantic. This new class was intended to replace the Leander class frigate, which was developed in the 1950s and the Type 21 class frigate, developed in the 1960s, as the backbone of the Royal Navy's surface ship anti-submarine force. The Type 23 class frigate was not procured as a replacement for the Type 22 frigate." Though with the reductions in the size of the Navy as a result of the 1998 Strategic Defence Review the last of the Type 23s, the St Albans did replace a Type 22, the Coventry.
The ships were to carry a towed array sonar to detect Soviet submarines in the North Atlantic and carry a Westland Lynx or EHI Merlin helicopter to attack them. It was initially proposed that the frigates would not mount defensive armament. Instead the Sea Wolf missile system was to be carried by Fort Victoria class replenishment oilers, one of which was to support typically four Type 23s. The Forts would also provide servicing facilities for the force's helicopters; the Type 23 would have facilities only for rearming and refuelling them.
Evolution
As a result of lessons learned from the Falklands War, the design grew in size and complexity to encompass the Vertical Launch Sea Wolf (VLS) system with an extra tracking system as a defence against low-flying aircraft and sea-skimming anti-ship missiles such as Exocet. With the addition of Harpoon surface-to-surface missiles and a medium calibre gun for naval 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 extensive radar cross section reduction design measures, automation to substantially reduce crew size, a CODLAG (Combined Diesel-electric and Gas) propulsion system providing very quiet running for anti-submarine operations along with excellent range, vertical launch missile technology and a fully-distributed combat management system.
The Vertical Launch Sea Wolf surface-to-air missile system was designed for and first deployed on the Type 23. Unlike conventional Sea Wolf, the missile is boosted vertically until it clears the ship's super-structure and then turns to fly directly to the target. Consequently, the ship's structure does not cause no-fire zones that would delay or inhibit missile firing in a conventionally launched system.
HMS Norfolk was the first of the class to enter service, commissioned into the Fleet on 1 June 1990 at a cost of 135.449 million GBP, later vessels cost 60-96 million GBP.
Nomenclature
Although the Type 23 is officially the "Duke" class, and includes such famous names as HMS Iron Duke, (which had been the name of the battleship HMS Iron Duke, Admiral Jellicoe's flagship at the Battle of Jutland), five of the names had previously been used on classes known as the 'County class': Kent and Norfolk were names given both to 1960s guided missile destroyers and Second World War-era heavy cruisers, while Monmouth, Lancaster, Kent and Argyll revived names carried by First World War-era armoured cruisers. This use of Ducal and County names broke a tradition of alphabetical names for escort ships which had run in two - not unbroken - cycles from the L-class destroyers of 1913 to the Daring-class destroyers of 1950; this progression was revived with the Amazon-class Type 21 frigates of 1972-75, and continued with B and C names for most of the Type 22 frigates of 1976-89. However, the D names have since been used for the new Type 45 Daring-class destroyers now entering service from 2009.
Specifications
Type 23 propeller, specially designed to reduce underwater noise.
Weapon Systems
2 x quadruple Harpoon missile launchers
32 x Vertical Launch Sea Wolf Surface-to-air missiles (VLS GWS 26 Mod 1 Block 2 system)
1 x 114 mm (4.5 in) Vickers Mark 8 gun (all ships being upgraded to Mod 1 standard)
2 x Oerlikon 30 mm L/75 KCB guns on single Laurence Scott DS-30B mounts. Being upgraded to remote control with electro-optic director
4 x Cray Marine 324 mm (2 twin) fixed torpedo tubes, Marconi Sting Ray
NATO Seagnat, Type 182 and DLF3 countermeasures launchers
Aircraft:
Westland Lynx HM.8 or AgustaWestland Merlin HM.1 helicopter and Cougar AS532 Chilean Navy
Armament:
Sea Skua missiles (Lynx only)
Sting Ray torpedoes
depth charges
AM-39 Exocet (Chilean Navy Cougars)
Electronic Systems
Search: BAE Systems Radar Type 996 Mod 1, 3D surveillance
Navigation: Kelvin Hughes Radar Type 1007 and Racal Decca Type 1008
Fire control:
2 x GEC Marconi Type 911 Sea Wolf systems
Sperry Sea Archer 30 optronic surveillance / director
Bow sonar: Thales Underwater Systems Type 2050
Towed sonar: Ultra Electronics Type 2031Z, being replaced by Type 2087 in eight ships
Combat Management System: BAE Systems Command System DNA(1)
Note: Type 23's Search Radar will be replaced by BAE Systems Insyte Artisan 3D Radar. The radar also equips Albion Class & HMS Ocean Assault Ships, and will be on the two future Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. The project was worth 100 Million and the contract announced in 4 August, 2008.
Command system
The first few Type 23 frigates entered service without a computerised command system, so the Secretary of State for Defence was asked "what ability those type 23 frigates not fitted with an automated command and control system will possess to identify aircraft as either friendly or hostile." The reply given was that: "The classification of an aircraft as friendly or hostile is based on information from a variety of sources including the ships identification friend or foe (IFF) system and other sensors. In T23 frigates not fitted with a command system this information will be available but will not be correlated automatically."
Crew size
"When first commissioned the complement of crew carried by Type 23 frigates was 173. The current [February 1998] complement is 171." "There are no plans to reduce the complement of Type 23 frigates by refitting with less manpower-intensive equipment. Manning implications are taken into consideration when the Operational Requirement for future ships is considered; however, the size of the complement is affected by other considerations such as the manpower needed for damage control and fire-fighting."
Helicopters
The table below shows how many helicopters were carried by each of the Type 23 frigates, broken down by type of helicopter, as claimed by the Navy in January 2006.
Ship name
Helicopter type
Number
HMS Argyll
Lynx Mk8
1
HMS Sutherland
Lynx Mk3
1
HMS Montrose
Lynx Mk8
1
HMS Saint Albans
Lynx Mk8
1
HMS Iron Duke
Lynx Mk8
1
HMS Kent
Lynx Mk8
1
HMS Portland
Lynx Mk8
1
HMS Somerset
Lynx Mk8
1
HMS Grafton (non-operational from 31 March 2006)
Lynx Mk8
1
HMS Lancaster
Merlin Mk1
1
HMS Monmouth
Merlin Mk1
1
HMS Westminster
Merlin Mk1
1
HMS Northumberland
Merlin Mk1
1
Source: Hansard 10 Jan 2006.
Sonar 2087
Five Type 23 frigates, HM Ships Montrose, Monmouth, Iron Duke, Lancaster and Argyll are not scheduled to receive Sonar 2087. These ships will be employed across the normal range of standing strategic, home and overseas commitments. These include Fleet Ready Escort duties around home waters, operational deployments to the Gulf and Arabian Sea, and standing tasks in the South Atlantic (APT(S)), Caribbean (APT(N)) and within NATO's Standing Maritime Group in the Mediterranean (SNMG2). They will also continue to contribute to the UK's Maritime Joint Rapid Reaction Force (JRRF) held at high readiness for contingent operations, and deploy on pre-planned activities as JRRF elements within a Task Group."
Construction programme
Before the Falklands "the average cost of the type 23 frigate, as then envisaged, was estimated at 75 million at September 1980 prices. This is equivalent to 103 million at 198485 prices." "A number of improvements in ship design have recently taken place, some resulting from lessons learnt in the Falklands conflict and others which were already in train. We are reducing the amount of flammable material in warships and trying to improve fire-resistant cabling. We are also replacing foam mattresses with sprung mattresses to reduce the risk of fire. Some redesigning is taking place with the introduction of better watertight doors and hatches, and further steps are being taken on damage control, with special reference to the spreading of fire and smoke. Comments have been made about the unsuitability of aluminium in a ship's structure because it loses strength in fire. It is used only in type 21 frigates and is not being used in warships today." By January 1985, "the average cost of the type 23 frigate is currently estimated at 110 million at 198485 prices. This includes the cost of design changes judged necessary as a result of lessons learned from the Falklands campaign." By 2001, the Ministry of Defence said: "The cost of HMS Norfolk, the first of the type 23 class frigates, was 135.449 million. The following 16 vessels have cost, or are estimated to cost where final payments are not yet due, between 60 million and 96 million depending on when the vessel was ordered and the scope of shipbuilder supplied equipment."
The Ministry of Defence said in 1998 that the Merlin ASW helicopter was costing them 97,000,000 each (this was for an order for 44 airframes), and that this was 57% of the cost of Type 23. From this it can be calculated that the cost of Type 23 was 170,100,000 each.
The costs in the table below are in two columns:
Original hull cost. "Other costs, such as those for Government furnished equipment, are not held centrally for each ship and could be provided only at disproportionate cost."
Estimated building cost. This is a phrase used in Defence Estimates, and before that in Navy Estimates. It does not include the armament, or government furnished equipment.
In placing construction contracts for Type 23, the Government's policy was "to place orders for warships following competition, the aim being to secure best value for money for the defence budget. Tender prices and compliance with contract conditions will be the major considerations in the current competition for type 23 frigates. However, as the MOD confirmed in its response to the 31 report from the Committee of Public Accounts (Session 198788), its strategy is to maintain sufficient warship-building capacity to meet likely future defence requirements and a competitive base and these twin objectives are always taken into account in the placing of individual ship and submarine orders."
Pennant
Name
(a) Hull builder
Ordered
Laid down
Launched
Accepted into service
Commissioned
Original hull cost
Estimated building cost
F230
Norfolk
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
29 October 1984
14 December 1985
10 July 1987
1 June 1990
112,030,000
142,000,000
135,449,000
F231
Argyll
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
1 September 1986
20 March 1987
8 April 1989
17 April 1991
31 May 1991
118,950.000
F229 (ex-F232)
Lancaster
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
1 September 1986
18 December 1987
24 May 1990
1 May 1992
119,710,000
F233
Marlborough
Swan Hunter.
1 September 1986
22 October 1987
21 January 1989
7 March 1991
14 June 1991
118,430,000
120,000,000
F234
Iron Duke
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
11 July 1988
12 December 1988
2 March 1991
20 May 1993
109,770,000
F235
Monmouth
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
11 July 1988
1 June 1989
23 November 1991
24 September 1993
111,660,000
F236
Montrose
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
11 July 1988
1 November 1989
31 July 1992
2 June 1994
117,290,000
F237
Westminster
Swan Hunter.
December 1989
18 January 1991
4 February 1992
13 May 1994
112,680,000
F238
Northumberland
Swan Hunter.
December 1989
4 April 1991
4 April 1992
29 November 1994
114,730,000
F239
Richmond
Swan Hunter.
December 1989
16 February 1992
6 April 1993
22 June 1995
116,200,000
F82
Somerset
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
January 1992
12 October 1992
25 June 1994
20 September 1996
114,140,000
F80
Grafton
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
January 1992
13 May 1993
5 November 1994
29 May 1997
115,560,000
79,000,000
F81
Sutherland
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
January 1992
14 October 1993
9 March 1996
4 July 1997
143,580,000
F78
Kent
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
February 1996
16 April 1997
27 May 1998
8 June 2000
108,420,000
F79
Portland
Marconi Marine. [Formerly Yarrow.]
February 1996
14 January 1998
15 May 1999
15 December 2000
3 May 2001
92,060,000
F83
St Albans
BAE Systems Marine. [Formerly Yarrow.]
February 1996
18 April 1999
6 May 2000
6 June 2002
106,820,000
Running costs
Date
Running cost
What is included
Citation
198788
3.6 million
Estimate of the annual running costs for a type 23 frigate. These costs include personnel, fuel, spares and so on, and administrative support services, but exclude new construction, capital equipment, and refit-repair costs.
2001-02
10.3 million
"Average annual operating costs, based on historic costs over the last two full financial years are given in the table. The figures include manpower, maintenance, fuel, stores and other costs (such as harbour dues), but exclude depreciation and cost of capital."
2002-03
10.3 million
Known refits
HMS Iron Duke was due to start refit at Rosyth Royal Dockyard in spring 2001.
"HMS Montrose's refit at Rosyth is planned for completion in February 2004 and following associated sea trials, she is expected to be ready for operational deployment later that month. The final refit cost will be agreed once all work is completed, but is expected to be just under 23 million. This exceeds the original budget as it now reflects possible changes in labour rates and takes into account additional work identified after the budget had been set."
Refits completed since 1997
HM Ship
Refit dates
Approx. duration
Contracted price
Final cost
Source
Argyll
Jun 03-Nov 03
24 weeks
5.6 million
5.6 million
Lancaster
May 04-Dec 04
32 weeks
7.6 million
7.6 million
Somerset
May 06-Jun 07
56 weeks
11.9 million
11.9 million
Portland
May 06-Jan 07
44 weeks
8.7 million
8.7 million
Richmond
Aug 05-Sep 06
56 weeks
9.4 million
9.4 million
Kent
Jan 05-Jun 05
24 weeks
5.8 million
5.8 million
Contracts placed under the SSS Programme
HM Ship
Refit dates
Duration
Contracted price incl. profit and growth
Out-turn cost excl. profit
Final cost (m)
Source
Iron Duke
Feb 07-Nov 07
40 weeks
10.8 million
St Albans
May 07-Jul 08
60 weeks
15.4 million
Availability
In February 1998, it was stated that: "Type 23 frigates achieved approximately 85-89 per cent average availability for operational service in each of the last 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."
Disposal
On 21 July 2004, in the Delivering Security in a Changing World review of defence spending, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced that HMS Norfolk, Marlborough and Grafton were to be paid off. In 2005 it was announced that these three vessels would be sold to the Chilean Navy, to be delivered in 2008. In September 2005 BAE Systems was awarded a 134 million GBP contract to prepare the frigates for transfer.
The Marlborough, Norfolk and Grafton were 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.
The Norfolk was handed over by the Defence Logistics Organisation and BAE Systems and commissioned into the Chilean Navy on the 22 November 2006, and named Almirante Cochrane (FF-05) (after Lord Cochrane, a naval hero to both the British and Chileans). The Grafton was delivered to Chilean Navy on 28 March 2007 at Portsmouth and renamed Almirante Lynch (FF-07). The Marlborough was delivered to Chilean Navy on 28 May 2008 at Portsmouth and renamed Almirante Condell (FF-06).
Name
RN Home port
Out-of-service date
(as planned in 2006)
Out-of-service date
(as announced in 2009)
Actual out-of-service date
Name after sale abroad
New home port
Commissioned by foreign navy
Status
HMS Norfolk
Devonport
FY2005-06
Almirante Cochrane FF-05
Valparaiso
22 November 2006
Active Chilean Navy
HMS Marlborough
Portsmouth
FY2005-06
Almirante Condell FF-06
Valparaiso
2008
Active Chilean Navy
HMS Grafton
Portsmouth
Non-operational from 31 March 2006.
Almirante Lynch FF-07
Valparaiso
28 March 2007
Active Chilean Navy
HMS Argyll
Devonport
2019
2023
Active RN
HMS Lancaster
Portsmouth
2019
2024
Active RN
HMS Iron Duke
Portsmouth
2020
2025
Active RN
HMS Monmouth
Devonport
2021
2026
Active RN
HMS Montrose
Devonport
2021
2027
Active RN
HMS Westminster
Portsmouth
2028
Active RN
HMS Northumberland
Devonport
2029
Active RN
HMS Richmond
Portsmouth
2030
Active RN
HMS Somerset
Devonport
2031
Active RN
HMS Sutherland
Devonport
2033
Active RN
HMS Kent
Portsmouth
2034
Active RN
HMS Portland
Devonport
2035
Active RN
HMS St. Albans
Portsmouth
2036
Active RN
The Royal Navy current Type 22 and Type 23 frigates will be replaced by the Future Surface Combatant but the programme has not yet reached the main investment decision stage. However, on current plans, we expect the first vessel to enter service around the end of the next decade.
Type 23 frigates in fiction
HMS Westminster was used for the Type 23 interior shots in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies in three different roles as HMS Chester, HMS Devonshire and HMS Bedford. For the exterior shots a Type 23 model was constructed.
The ITV series Making Waves was set aboard the Type 23 frigate HMS Suffolk (which was portrayed by HMS Grafton).
HMS Montrose and HMS Monmouth were used to portray the interior and exterior shots of the fictional HMS Monarch for the film Command Approved which is the centre piece of Action Stations at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth, England.
Footnotes
^ http://website.lineone.net/~david-carrington/Militaria/RoyalNavy/Major.htm
^ a b c Hansard 5 Jul 2001: Column: 245W Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence, 5 July 2001.
^ Hansard 11 Jul 2000: Column: 449W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence when he planned to withdraw the Type 22 Batch II frigates from service. His answer was:
"HMS Sheffield 2012 - to be superseded by a T45 Destroyer
HMS Coventry 2001 - to be superseded by HMS St. Albans, a T23 Frigate".
^ a b "Defence;Where's the cache?". The Economist: p. 21. 1982-07-10.
^ "House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 5 Jul 2001". Hansard (Official Report). HM Government. 2001-07-05. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo010705/text/10705w05.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
^ http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.13459/changeNav/6568 Royal Navy News and Events:Navy to Get New Radar
^ a b Hansard HC Deb 02 November 1989 vol 159 cc333-4W Questions to Secretary of State for Defence, 2 November 1989.
^ a b Hansard 10 Feb 1998: Column: 195, 10 Feb 1998 : Column: 196 Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about the manning and availability of warships, 10 February 1998.
^ a b c Hansard 10 Jan 2006: Column 505Wontinued Question to the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters are carried by each of the Type 23 frigates, broken down by type of helicopter, 10 January 2006.
^ a b c d e f Hansard 17 July 2006: Column 220W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the five Type 23 frigates which are not to be fitted with Sonar 2087, 17 July 2006.
^ a b HC Deb 11 January 1985 vol 70 c561W Questions to he Secretary of State for Defence about Type 23 frigates, 11 January 1985.
^ Hansard HC Deb 19 July 1983 vol 46 cc179-263
^ Warship World, Spring 1998, pub Maritime Books, page 13. This figure of 97 million each included research and development costs.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag Hansard 13 March 2008: Column 667W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the outturn cost of each Type 23 frigate, 13 March 2008.
^ a b "Unit cost, i.e. excluding cost of certain items (e.g. aircraft, First Outfits)." - Text from Defences Estimates
"They do not include other costs, such as those for Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)s they are not held centrally for each ship and could be provided only at disproportionate cost." Bob Ainsworth, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, 16 July 2008.
^ The term used in Navy Estimates and Defence Estimates is "accepted into service". Hansard has used the term acceptance date. Leo Marriott in his various books uses the term "completed", as does Jane's Fighting Ships. These terms all mean the same thing: the date the Navy accepts the vessel from the builder. This date is important because maintenance cycles, etc. are generally calculated from the acceptance date.
^ a b c d e f Hansard HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc358-61W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him to list the Royal Navy vessels built in each of the past 15 years, showing the cost of each and the yards in which they were constructed.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj Saunders, Stephen Jane's Fighting Ships 2002-2003, pub Jane's Information group, 2002, ISBN 0-7106-2432-8 page 776.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Gardiner, Robert Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995, pub Conway Maritime Press, 1995, ISBN 0-85177-605-1 page 525.
^ a b c d Hansard 24 May 2007 : Column 1388Wontinued Question to the Secretary of State for Defence which naval vessels have been sold by the Royal Navy in the last five years; what the (a) vessel type, (b) service cost and (c) destination country was in each case; and if he will estimate the (i) original costs of each vessel and (ii) financial gains accrued to public funds as a result of each sale, 24 May 2007.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al Saunders, Stephen Jane's Fighting Ships 2008-2009, pub Jane's Information Group, 2008, ISBN 978-0-7106-2845-9 page 862.
^ a b Hansard HC 23 May 1991 Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about building programme for Type 23, 23 May 1991.
^ a b "HMS Portland". Type 23 Frigates. royalnavy.mod.uk. 2009. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/type-23-frigates/hms-portland/. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
^ Hansard HC Deb 10 March 1989 vol 148 c44W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the annual running costs for different classes of frigate and destroyer.
^ Hansard HC Deb 09 September 2003 vol 410 cc346-7W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence ab out the average operating cost of(a) batch 3 type 22, (b) type 23 and (c) type 42 destroyers, 9 September 2003.
^ Hansard 11 Jul 2000: Column: 449W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about which of the Type 23 Frigates are due for refit in the next 12 months, 11 July 2000.
^ Hansard 5 Mar 2003: Column 1031W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about HMS Montrose's refit, 5 March 2003.
^ Out-turn cost data are not required for completed contracts as the price is agreed as part of the contract negotiations.
^ a b c d e f g h 25 Nov 2008 : Column WA280
^ a b c d Saunders, Stephen Jane's Fighting Ships 2008-2009, pub Jane's Information Group, 2008, ISBN 978-0-7106-2845-9 page 111.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Hansard 3 Mar 2009 : Column 1446Wontinued Question to the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) in-service dates and (b) current out-of-service dates are for each (i) submarine, (ii) frigate and (iii) destroyer in the Royal Navy, 3 March 2009.
^ 3 Mar 2009 : Column 1445W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) in-service dates and (b) current out-of-service dates are for each (i) submarine, (ii) frigate and (iii) destroyer in the Royal Navy, 3 March 2009.
^ www.imdb.com
References
The Encyclopedia of Warships, From World War Two to the Present Day, General Editor Robert Jackson
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Type 23 frigate
Type 23 Duke Class Frigate
v d e
Type 23 frigate
Royal Navy
Norfolk Argyll Lancaster Marlborough Iron Duke Monmouth Montrose Westminster Northumberland Richmond Somerset Grafton Sutherland Kent Portland St Albans
Chilean Navy
Almirante Cochrane (ex-Norfolk) Almirante Condell (ex-Marlborough) Almirante Lynch (ex-Grafton)
List of frigates of the Royal Navy
Categories: Frigate classes | Type 23 frigates | Active frigates of the United KingdomHidden categories: Articles needing additional references from June 2008 | All articles needing additional references
Intended role
"The Type 23 class frigate was conceived in the late 1970s as a light anti-submarine frigate whose primary role was to meet the then Soviet nuclear submarine threat in the North Atlantic. This new class was intended to replace the Leander class frigate, which was developed in the 1950s and the Type 21 class frigate, developed in the 1960s, as the backbone of the Royal Navy's surface ship anti-submarine force. The Type 23 class frigate was not procured as a replacement for the Type 22 frigate." Though with the reductions in the size of the Navy as a result of the 1998 Strategic Defence Review the last of the Type 23s, the St Albans did replace a Type 22, the Coventry.
The ships were to carry a towed array sonar to detect Soviet submarines in the North Atlantic and carry a Westland Lynx or EHI Merlin helicopter to attack them. It was initially proposed that the frigates would not mount defensive armament. Instead the Sea Wolf missile system was to be carried by Fort Victoria class replenishment oilers, one of which was to support typically four Type 23s. The Forts would also provide servicing facilities for the force's helicopters; the Type 23 would have facilities only for rearming and refuelling them.
Evolution
As a result of lessons learned from the Falklands War, the design grew in size and complexity to encompass the Vertical Launch Sea Wolf (VLS) system with an extra tracking system as a defence against low-flying aircraft and sea-skimming anti-ship missiles such as Exocet. With the addition of Harpoon surface-to-surface missiles and a medium calibre gun for naval 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 extensive radar cross section reduction design measures, automation to substantially reduce crew size, a CODLAG (Combined Diesel-electric and Gas) propulsion system providing very quiet running for anti-submarine operations along with excellent range, vertical launch missile technology and a fully-distributed combat management system.
The Vertical Launch Sea Wolf surface-to-air missile system was designed for and first deployed on the Type 23. Unlike conventional Sea Wolf, the missile is boosted vertically until it clears the ship's super-structure and then turns to fly directly to the target. Consequently, the ship's structure does not cause no-fire zones that would delay or inhibit missile firing in a conventionally launched system.
HMS Norfolk was the first of the class to enter service, commissioned into the Fleet on 1 June 1990 at a cost of 135.449 million GBP, later vessels cost 60-96 million GBP.
Nomenclature
Although the Type 23 is officially the "Duke" class, and includes such famous names as HMS Iron Duke, (which had been the name of the battleship HMS Iron Duke, Admiral Jellicoe's flagship at the Battle of Jutland), five of the names had previously been used on classes known as the 'County class': Kent and Norfolk were names given both to 1960s guided missile destroyers and Second World War-era heavy cruisers, while Monmouth, Lancaster, Kent and Argyll revived names carried by First World War-era armoured cruisers. This use of Ducal and County names broke a tradition of alphabetical names for escort ships which had run in two - not unbroken - cycles from the L-class destroyers of 1913 to the Daring-class destroyers of 1950; this progression was revived with the Amazon-class Type 21 frigates of 1972-75, and continued with B and C names for most of the Type 22 frigates of 1976-89. However, the D names have since been used for the new Type 45 Daring-class destroyers now entering service from 2009.
Specifications
Type 23 propeller, specially designed to reduce underwater noise.
Weapon Systems
2 x quadruple Harpoon missile launchers
32 x Vertical Launch Sea Wolf Surface-to-air missiles (VLS GWS 26 Mod 1 Block 2 system)
1 x 114 mm (4.5 in) Vickers Mark 8 gun (all ships being upgraded to Mod 1 standard)
2 x Oerlikon 30 mm L/75 KCB guns on single Laurence Scott DS-30B mounts. Being upgraded to remote control with electro-optic director
4 x Cray Marine 324 mm (2 twin) fixed torpedo tubes, Marconi Sting Ray
NATO Seagnat, Type 182 and DLF3 countermeasures launchers
Aircraft:
Westland Lynx HM.8 or AgustaWestland Merlin HM.1 helicopter and Cougar AS532 Chilean Navy
Armament:
Sea Skua missiles (Lynx only)
Sting Ray torpedoes
depth charges
AM-39 Exocet (Chilean Navy Cougars)
Electronic Systems
Search: BAE Systems Radar Type 996 Mod 1, 3D surveillance
Navigation: Kelvin Hughes Radar Type 1007 and Racal Decca Type 1008
Fire control:
2 x GEC Marconi Type 911 Sea Wolf systems
Sperry Sea Archer 30 optronic surveillance / director
Bow sonar: Thales Underwater Systems Type 2050
Towed sonar: Ultra Electronics Type 2031Z, being replaced by Type 2087 in eight ships
Combat Management System: BAE Systems Command System DNA(1)
Note: Type 23's Search Radar will be replaced by BAE Systems Insyte Artisan 3D Radar. The radar also equips Albion Class & HMS Ocean Assault Ships, and will be on the two future Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. The project was worth 100 Million and the contract announced in 4 August, 2008.
Command system
The first few Type 23 frigates entered service without a computerised command system, so the Secretary of State for Defence was asked "what ability those type 23 frigates not fitted with an automated command and control system will possess to identify aircraft as either friendly or hostile." The reply given was that: "The classification of an aircraft as friendly or hostile is based on information from a variety of sources including the ships identification friend or foe (IFF) system and other sensors. In T23 frigates not fitted with a command system this information will be available but will not be correlated automatically."
Crew size
"When first commissioned the complement of crew carried by Type 23 frigates was 173. The current [February 1998] complement is 171." "There are no plans to reduce the complement of Type 23 frigates by refitting with less manpower-intensive equipment. Manning implications are taken into consideration when the Operational Requirement for future ships is considered; however, the size of the complement is affected by other considerations such as the manpower needed for damage control and fire-fighting."
Helicopters
The table below shows how many helicopters were carried by each of the Type 23 frigates, broken down by type of helicopter, as claimed by the Navy in January 2006.
Ship name
Helicopter type
Number
HMS Argyll
Lynx Mk8
1
HMS Sutherland
Lynx Mk3
1
HMS Montrose
Lynx Mk8
1
HMS Saint Albans
Lynx Mk8
1
HMS Iron Duke
Lynx Mk8
1
HMS Kent
Lynx Mk8
1
HMS Portland
Lynx Mk8
1
HMS Somerset
Lynx Mk8
1
HMS Grafton (non-operational from 31 March 2006)
Lynx Mk8
1
HMS Lancaster
Merlin Mk1
1
HMS Monmouth
Merlin Mk1
1
HMS Westminster
Merlin Mk1
1
HMS Northumberland
Merlin Mk1
1
Source: Hansard 10 Jan 2006.
Sonar 2087
Five Type 23 frigates, HM Ships Montrose, Monmouth, Iron Duke, Lancaster and Argyll are not scheduled to receive Sonar 2087. These ships will be employed across the normal range of standing strategic, home and overseas commitments. These include Fleet Ready Escort duties around home waters, operational deployments to the Gulf and Arabian Sea, and standing tasks in the South Atlantic (APT(S)), Caribbean (APT(N)) and within NATO's Standing Maritime Group in the Mediterranean (SNMG2). They will also continue to contribute to the UK's Maritime Joint Rapid Reaction Force (JRRF) held at high readiness for contingent operations, and deploy on pre-planned activities as JRRF elements within a Task Group."
Construction programme
Before the Falklands "the average cost of the type 23 frigate, as then envisaged, was estimated at 75 million at September 1980 prices. This is equivalent to 103 million at 198485 prices." "A number of improvements in ship design have recently taken place, some resulting from lessons learnt in the Falklands conflict and others which were already in train. We are reducing the amount of flammable material in warships and trying to improve fire-resistant cabling. We are also replacing foam mattresses with sprung mattresses to reduce the risk of fire. Some redesigning is taking place with the introduction of better watertight doors and hatches, and further steps are being taken on damage control, with special reference to the spreading of fire and smoke. Comments have been made about the unsuitability of aluminium in a ship's structure because it loses strength in fire. It is used only in type 21 frigates and is not being used in warships today." By January 1985, "the average cost of the type 23 frigate is currently estimated at 110 million at 198485 prices. This includes the cost of design changes judged necessary as a result of lessons learned from the Falklands campaign." By 2001, the Ministry of Defence said: "The cost of HMS Norfolk, the first of the type 23 class frigates, was 135.449 million. The following 16 vessels have cost, or are estimated to cost where final payments are not yet due, between 60 million and 96 million depending on when the vessel was ordered and the scope of shipbuilder supplied equipment."
The Ministry of Defence said in 1998 that the Merlin ASW helicopter was costing them 97,000,000 each (this was for an order for 44 airframes), and that this was 57% of the cost of Type 23. From this it can be calculated that the cost of Type 23 was 170,100,000 each.
The costs in the table below are in two columns:
Original hull cost. "Other costs, such as those for Government furnished equipment, are not held centrally for each ship and could be provided only at disproportionate cost."
Estimated building cost. This is a phrase used in Defence Estimates, and before that in Navy Estimates. It does not include the armament, or government furnished equipment.
In placing construction contracts for Type 23, the Government's policy was "to place orders for warships following competition, the aim being to secure best value for money for the defence budget. Tender prices and compliance with contract conditions will be the major considerations in the current competition for type 23 frigates. However, as the MOD confirmed in its response to the 31 report from the Committee of Public Accounts (Session 198788), its strategy is to maintain sufficient warship-building capacity to meet likely future defence requirements and a competitive base and these twin objectives are always taken into account in the placing of individual ship and submarine orders."
Pennant
Name
(a) Hull builder
Ordered
Laid down
Launched
Accepted into service
Commissioned
Original hull cost
Estimated building cost
F230
Norfolk
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
29 October 1984
14 December 1985
10 July 1987
1 June 1990
112,030,000
142,000,000
135,449,000
F231
Argyll
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
1 September 1986
20 March 1987
8 April 1989
17 April 1991
31 May 1991
118,950.000
F229 (ex-F232)
Lancaster
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
1 September 1986
18 December 1987
24 May 1990
1 May 1992
119,710,000
F233
Marlborough
Swan Hunter.
1 September 1986
22 October 1987
21 January 1989
7 March 1991
14 June 1991
118,430,000
120,000,000
F234
Iron Duke
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
11 July 1988
12 December 1988
2 March 1991
20 May 1993
109,770,000
F235
Monmouth
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
11 July 1988
1 June 1989
23 November 1991
24 September 1993
111,660,000
F236
Montrose
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
11 July 1988
1 November 1989
31 July 1992
2 June 1994
117,290,000
F237
Westminster
Swan Hunter.
December 1989
18 January 1991
4 February 1992
13 May 1994
112,680,000
F238
Northumberland
Swan Hunter.
December 1989
4 April 1991
4 April 1992
29 November 1994
114,730,000
F239
Richmond
Swan Hunter.
December 1989
16 February 1992
6 April 1993
22 June 1995
116,200,000
F82
Somerset
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
January 1992
12 October 1992
25 June 1994
20 September 1996
114,140,000
F80
Grafton
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
January 1992
13 May 1993
5 November 1994
29 May 1997
115,560,000
79,000,000
F81
Sutherland
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
January 1992
14 October 1993
9 March 1996
4 July 1997
143,580,000
F78
Kent
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
February 1996
16 April 1997
27 May 1998
8 June 2000
108,420,000
F79
Portland
Marconi Marine. [Formerly Yarrow.]
February 1996
14 January 1998
15 May 1999
15 December 2000
3 May 2001
92,060,000
F83
St Albans
BAE Systems Marine. [Formerly Yarrow.]
February 1996
18 April 1999
6 May 2000
6 June 2002
106,820,000
Running costs
Date
Running cost
What is included
Citation
198788
3.6 million
Estimate of the annual running costs for a type 23 frigate. These costs include personnel, fuel, spares and so on, and administrative support services, but exclude new construction, capital equipment, and refit-repair costs.
2001-02
10.3 million
"Average annual operating costs, based on historic costs over the last two full financial years are given in the table. The figures include manpower, maintenance, fuel, stores and other costs (such as harbour dues), but exclude depreciation and cost of capital."
2002-03
10.3 million
Known refits
HMS Iron Duke was due to start refit at Rosyth Royal Dockyard in spring 2001.
"HMS Montrose's refit at Rosyth is planned for completion in February 2004 and following associated sea trials, she is expected to be ready for operational deployment later that month. The final refit cost will be agreed once all work is completed, but is expected to be just under 23 million. This exceeds the original budget as it now reflects possible changes in labour rates and takes into account additional work identified after the budget had been set."
Refits completed since 1997
HM Ship
Refit dates
Approx. duration
Contracted price
Final cost
Source
Argyll
Jun 03-Nov 03
24 weeks
5.6 million
5.6 million
Lancaster
May 04-Dec 04
32 weeks
7.6 million
7.6 million
Somerset
May 06-Jun 07
56 weeks
11.9 million
11.9 million
Portland
May 06-Jan 07
44 weeks
8.7 million
8.7 million
Richmond
Aug 05-Sep 06
56 weeks
9.4 million
9.4 million
Kent
Jan 05-Jun 05
24 weeks
5.8 million
5.8 million
Contracts placed under the SSS Programme
HM Ship
Refit dates
Duration
Contracted price incl. profit and growth
Out-turn cost excl. profit
Final cost (m)
Source
Iron Duke
Feb 07-Nov 07
40 weeks
10.8 million
St Albans
May 07-Jul 08
60 weeks
15.4 million
Availability
In February 1998, it was stated that: "Type 23 frigates achieved approximately 85-89 per cent average availability for operational service in each of the last 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."
Disposal
On 21 July 2004, in the Delivering Security in a Changing World review of defence spending, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced that HMS Norfolk, Marlborough and Grafton were to be paid off. In 2005 it was announced that these three vessels would be sold to the Chilean Navy, to be delivered in 2008. In September 2005 BAE Systems was awarded a 134 million GBP contract to prepare the frigates for transfer.
The Marlborough, Norfolk and Grafton were 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.
The Norfolk was handed over by the Defence Logistics Organisation and BAE Systems and commissioned into the Chilean Navy on the 22 November 2006, and named Almirante Cochrane (FF-05) (after Lord Cochrane, a naval hero to both the British and Chileans). The Grafton was delivered to Chilean Navy on 28 March 2007 at Portsmouth and renamed Almirante Lynch (FF-07). The Marlborough was delivered to Chilean Navy on 28 May 2008 at Portsmouth and renamed Almirante Condell (FF-06).
Name
RN Home port
Out-of-service date
(as planned in 2006)
Out-of-service date
(as announced in 2009)
Actual out-of-service date
Name after sale abroad
New home port
Commissioned by foreign navy
Status
HMS Norfolk
Devonport
FY2005-06
Almirante Cochrane FF-05
Valparaiso
22 November 2006
Active Chilean Navy
HMS Marlborough
Portsmouth
FY2005-06
Almirante Condell FF-06
Valparaiso
2008
Active Chilean Navy
HMS Grafton
Portsmouth
Non-operational from 31 March 2006.
Almirante Lynch FF-07
Valparaiso
28 March 2007
Active Chilean Navy
HMS Argyll
Devonport
2019
2023
Active RN
HMS Lancaster
Portsmouth
2019
2024
Active RN
HMS Iron Duke
Portsmouth
2020
2025
Active RN
HMS Monmouth
Devonport
2021
2026
Active RN
HMS Montrose
Devonport
2021
2027
Active RN
HMS Westminster
Portsmouth
2028
Active RN
HMS Northumberland
Devonport
2029
Active RN
HMS Richmond
Portsmouth
2030
Active RN
HMS Somerset
Devonport
2031
Active RN
HMS Sutherland
Devonport
2033
Active RN
HMS Kent
Portsmouth
2034
Active RN
HMS Portland
Devonport
2035
Active RN
HMS St. Albans
Portsmouth
2036
Active RN
The Royal Navy current Type 22 and Type 23 frigates will be replaced by the Future Surface Combatant but the programme has not yet reached the main investment decision stage. However, on current plans, we expect the first vessel to enter service around the end of the next decade.
Type 23 frigates in fiction
HMS Westminster was used for the Type 23 interior shots in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies in three different roles as HMS Chester, HMS Devonshire and HMS Bedford. For the exterior shots a Type 23 model was constructed.
The ITV series Making Waves was set aboard the Type 23 frigate HMS Suffolk (which was portrayed by HMS Grafton).
HMS Montrose and HMS Monmouth were used to portray the interior and exterior shots of the fictional HMS Monarch for the film Command Approved which is the centre piece of Action Stations at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth, England.
Footnotes
^ http://website.lineone.net/~david-carrington/Militaria/RoyalNavy/Major.htm
^ a b c Hansard 5 Jul 2001: Column: 245W Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence, 5 July 2001.
^ Hansard 11 Jul 2000: Column: 449W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence when he planned to withdraw the Type 22 Batch II frigates from service. His answer was:
"HMS Sheffield 2012 - to be superseded by a T45 Destroyer
HMS Coventry 2001 - to be superseded by HMS St. Albans, a T23 Frigate".
^ a b "Defence;Where's the cache?". The Economist: p. 21. 1982-07-10.
^ "House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 5 Jul 2001". Hansard (Official Report). HM Government. 2001-07-05. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo010705/text/10705w05.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
^ http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.13459/changeNav/6568 Royal Navy News and Events:Navy to Get New Radar
^ a b Hansard HC Deb 02 November 1989 vol 159 cc333-4W Questions to Secretary of State for Defence, 2 November 1989.
^ a b Hansard 10 Feb 1998: Column: 195, 10 Feb 1998 : Column: 196 Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about the manning and availability of warships, 10 February 1998.
^ a b c Hansard 10 Jan 2006: Column 505Wontinued Question to the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters are carried by each of the Type 23 frigates, broken down by type of helicopter, 10 January 2006.
^ a b c d e f Hansard 17 July 2006: Column 220W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the five Type 23 frigates which are not to be fitted with Sonar 2087, 17 July 2006.
^ a b HC Deb 11 January 1985 vol 70 c561W Questions to he Secretary of State for Defence about Type 23 frigates, 11 January 1985.
^ Hansard HC Deb 19 July 1983 vol 46 cc179-263
^ Warship World, Spring 1998, pub Maritime Books, page 13. This figure of 97 million each included research and development costs.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag Hansard 13 March 2008: Column 667W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the outturn cost of each Type 23 frigate, 13 March 2008.
^ a b "Unit cost, i.e. excluding cost of certain items (e.g. aircraft, First Outfits)." - Text from Defences Estimates
"They do not include other costs, such as those for Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)s they are not held centrally for each ship and could be provided only at disproportionate cost." Bob Ainsworth, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, 16 July 2008.
^ The term used in Navy Estimates and Defence Estimates is "accepted into service". Hansard has used the term acceptance date. Leo Marriott in his various books uses the term "completed", as does Jane's Fighting Ships. These terms all mean the same thing: the date the Navy accepts the vessel from the builder. This date is important because maintenance cycles, etc. are generally calculated from the acceptance date.
^ a b c d e f Hansard HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc358-61W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him to list the Royal Navy vessels built in each of the past 15 years, showing the cost of each and the yards in which they were constructed.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj Saunders, Stephen Jane's Fighting Ships 2002-2003, pub Jane's Information group, 2002, ISBN 0-7106-2432-8 page 776.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Gardiner, Robert Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995, pub Conway Maritime Press, 1995, ISBN 0-85177-605-1 page 525.
^ a b c d Hansard 24 May 2007 : Column 1388Wontinued Question to the Secretary of State for Defence which naval vessels have been sold by the Royal Navy in the last five years; what the (a) vessel type, (b) service cost and (c) destination country was in each case; and if he will estimate the (i) original costs of each vessel and (ii) financial gains accrued to public funds as a result of each sale, 24 May 2007.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al Saunders, Stephen Jane's Fighting Ships 2008-2009, pub Jane's Information Group, 2008, ISBN 978-0-7106-2845-9 page 862.
^ a b Hansard HC 23 May 1991 Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about building programme for Type 23, 23 May 1991.
^ a b "HMS Portland". Type 23 Frigates. royalnavy.mod.uk. 2009. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/type-23-frigates/hms-portland/. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
^ Hansard HC Deb 10 March 1989 vol 148 c44W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the annual running costs for different classes of frigate and destroyer.
^ Hansard HC Deb 09 September 2003 vol 410 cc346-7W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence ab out the average operating cost of(a) batch 3 type 22, (b) type 23 and (c) type 42 destroyers, 9 September 2003.
^ Hansard 11 Jul 2000: Column: 449W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about which of the Type 23 Frigates are due for refit in the next 12 months, 11 July 2000.
^ Hansard 5 Mar 2003: Column 1031W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about HMS Montrose's refit, 5 March 2003.
^ Out-turn cost data are not required for completed contracts as the price is agreed as part of the contract negotiations.
^ a b c d e f g h 25 Nov 2008 : Column WA280
^ a b c d Saunders, Stephen Jane's Fighting Ships 2008-2009, pub Jane's Information Group, 2008, ISBN 978-0-7106-2845-9 page 111.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Hansard 3 Mar 2009 : Column 1446Wontinued Question to the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) in-service dates and (b) current out-of-service dates are for each (i) submarine, (ii) frigate and (iii) destroyer in the Royal Navy, 3 March 2009.
^ 3 Mar 2009 : Column 1445W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) in-service dates and (b) current out-of-service dates are for each (i) submarine, (ii) frigate and (iii) destroyer in the Royal Navy, 3 March 2009.
^ www.imdb.com
References
The Encyclopedia of Warships, From World War Two to the Present Day, General Editor Robert Jackson
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Type 23 frigate
Type 23 Duke Class Frigate
v d e
Type 23 frigate
Royal Navy
Norfolk Argyll Lancaster Marlborough Iron Duke Monmouth Montrose Westminster Northumberland Richmond Somerset Grafton Sutherland Kent Portland St Albans
Chilean Navy
Almirante Cochrane (ex-Norfolk) Almirante Condell (ex-Marlborough) Almirante Lynch (ex-Grafton)
List of frigates of the Royal Navy
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