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Type 23 frigate

 
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HMS Somerset (F82).jpg
HMS Somerset
Class overview
Name: Type 23 class
Builders: Swan Hunter and Yarrows
Operators:  Royal Navy
 Chilean Navy
Preceded by: Type 22 class frigate
Succeeded by: None
In commission: 24th November 1987
Completed: 16
Active: 13 (Royal Navy) & 3 (Chilean Navy)
General characteristics
Class and type: Frigate
Displacement:

Standard:3500tons

Full Load:4200tons
Length: 133m (436ft 4in)
Beam: 16.1m (52ft 10in)
Draught: 7.3m (24ft)
Propulsion: CODLAG with four 1510kW (2025-shp) Paxman Valenta 12CM diesel generators powering two GEC electric motors delivering 2980kW (4000 shp) and two Rolls-Royce Spey SM1A delivering 23,190kW (31,100 shp) to two shafts
Speed: 28knots HMS Sutherland recently achieved 34.4 knots during high-speed trials (November 2008)
Range: 14,485km (9000miles) at 15 knots
Complement: 181
Armament:

two quadruple launchers for eight Harpoon SSM's Two GWS.26 VLS for 32 Sea Wolf SAMS One 4.5in (114mm) Mk 8 DP gun Two DS 30B 30mm AA guns

Two twin 12.75in (324mm) tubes for Stingray ASW torpedoes.
Aircraft carried: one Lynx HMA.Mk3/8 or Merlin HM.Mk 1 helicopter

The Type 23 frigate is a class of frigate serving with the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. All the ships are named after British Dukes, thus the class is also known as the Duke class. The first Type 23 was commissioned in 1989, and the sixteenth, HMS St Albans was launched in May 2000 and commissioned in June 2002. The combination of Merlin helicopters with their advanced anti submarine equipment, and Sonar 2087, has according to the Royal Navy, re-affirmed its reputation as a leader in anti-submarine warfare.

Contents

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."[1] 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.[2]

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.[3] It was initially proposed that the frigates would not mount defensive armament. Instead the Sea Wolf missile system was to be carried by the Fort Victoria class replenishment oiler, 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.[3] 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 warship 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 June 1, 1990 at a cost of £135.449 million GBP, later vessels cost £60-96 million GBP. [4]

On July 21, 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 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).

Specifications

Weapon Systems

Aircraft:

Electronic Systems

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.[5]

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."[6]

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."[7]

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.[8]

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.[8]

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."[9]

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 1984–85 prices."[10] "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."[11] By January 1985, "the average cost of the type 23 frigate is currently estimated at £110 million at 1984–85 prices. This includes the cost of design changes judged necessary as a result of lessons learned from the Falklands campaign."[10] 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."[1]

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. [12] 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."[13]
  • 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.[14]

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 1987–88), 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."[6]

Pennant Name (a) Hull builder Ordered Laid down Launched Accepted into service[15] Commissioned Original hull cost Estimated building cost[14]
F230 Norfolk Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.[13] 29 October 1984 [16] 14 December 1985 [17] 10 July 1987 [17][18] 1 June 1990 [17][18] £112,030,000 [13] £142,000,000 [19]
£135,449,000 [1]
F231 Argyll Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.[13] 1 September 1986 [16] 20 March 1987 [18][20] 8 April 1989 [18][20] 17 April 1991 [21] 31 May 1991 [18][20] £118,950.000 [13]
F229 (ex-F232)[17] Lancaster Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.[13] 1 September 1986 [16] 18 December 1987 [18][20] 24 May 1990 [18][20] 1 May 1992 [20] £119,710,000 [13]
F233 Marlborough Swan Hunter.[13] 1 September 1986 [17] 22 October 1987 [17][18] 21 January 1989 [17][18] 7 March 1991 [21] 14 June 1991 [17][18] £118,430,000 [13] £120,000,000 [19]
F234 Iron Duke Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.[13] 11 July 1988 [16] 12 December 1988 [18][20] 2 March 1991 [18][20] 20 May 1993 [18][20] £109,770,000 [13]
F235 Monmouth Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.[13] 11 July 1988 [16] 1 June 1989 [18][20] 23 November 1991 [18][20] 24 September 1993 [18][20] £111,660,000 [13]
F236 Montrose Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.[13] 11 July 1988 [16] 1 November 1989 [18][20] 31 July 1992 [18][20] 2 June 1994 [20] £117,290,000 [13]
F237 Westminster Swan Hunter.[13] December 1989 [17] 18 January 1991 [18][20] 4 February 1992 [20] 13 May 1994 [18][20] £112,680,000 [13]
F238 Northumberland Swan Hunter.[13] December 1989 [17] 4 April 1991 [18][20] 4 April 1992 [18][20] 29 November 1994 [20] £114,730,000 [13]
F239 Richmond Swan Hunter.[13] December 1989 [17] 16 February 1992 [20] 6 April 1993 [18][20] 22 June 1995 [20] £116,200,000 [13]
F82 Somerset Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.[13] January 1992 [17] 12 October 1992 [18][20] 25 June 1994 [18][20] 20 September 1996 [20] £114,140,000 [13]
F80 Grafton Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.[13] January 1992 [17] 13 May 1993 [17][18] 5 November 1994 [17] 29 May 1997 [17] £115,560,000 [13] £79,000,000 [19]
F81 Sutherland Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.[13] January 1992 [17] 14 October 1993 [18][20] 9 March 1996 [20] 4 July 1997 [20] £143,580,000 [13]
F78 Kent Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.[13] February 1996 [17] 16 April 1997 [20] 27 May 1998 [20] 8 June 2000 [20] £108,420,000 [13]
F79 Portland Marconi Marine.[13] [Formerly Yarrow.] February 1996 [17] 14 January 1998 [20] 15 December 1999 [20] 3 May 2001 [20] £92,060,000 [13]
F83 St Albans BAE Systems Marine.[13] [Formerly Yarrow.] February 1996 [17] 18 April 1999 [20] 6 May 2000 [20] 6 June 2002 [20] £106,820,000 [13]

Running costs

Date Running cost What is included Citation
1987–88 £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. [22]
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." [23]
2002-03 £10.3 million

Known refits

  • HMS Iron Duke was due to start refit at Rosyth Royal Dockyard in spring 2001.[24]
  • "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."[25]

Refits completed since 1997

HM Ship Refit dates Approx. duration Contracted price[26] Final cost Source
Argyll Jun 03-Nov 03 24 weeks £5.6 million £5.6 million [27]
Lancaster May 04-Dec 04 32 weeks £7.6 million £7.6 million [27]
Somerset May 06-Jun 07 56 weeks £11.9 million £11.9 million [27]
Portland May 06-Jan 07 44 weeks £8.7 million £8.7 million [27]
Richmond Aug 05-Sep 06 56 weeks £9.4 million £9.4 million [27]
Kent Jan 05-Jun 05 24 weeks £5.8 million £5.8 million [27]

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 [27]
St Albans May 07-Jul 08 60 weeks £15.4 million [27]

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."[7]

Disposal

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 [17] FY2005-06 Almirante Cochrane FF-05 Valparaiso 22 November 2006 [28] Active Chilean Navy
HMS Marlborough Portsmouth [17] FY2005-06 Almirante Condell FF-06 Valparaiso 2008 [28] Active Chilean Navy
HMS Grafton Portsmouth [17] Non-operational from 31 March 2006.[8] Almirante Lynch FF-07 Valparaiso 28 March 2007 [28] Active Chilean Navy
HMS Argyll Devonport [17] 2019 [9] 2023 [29] Active RN
HMS Lancaster Portsmouth [17] 2019 [9] 2024 [29] Active RN
HMS Iron Duke Portsmouth [17] 2020 [9] 2025 [29] Active RN
HMS Monmouth Devonport [17] 2021 [9] 2026 [29] Active RN
HMS Montrose Devonport [17] 2021 [9] 2027 [29] Active RN
HMS Westminster Portsmouth [17] 2028 [29] Active RN
HMS Northumberland Devonport [17] 2029 [29] Active RN
HMS Richmond Portsmouth [17] 2030 [29] Active RN
HMS Somerset Devonport [17] 2031 [29] Active RN
HMS Sutherland Devonport [17] 2033 [29] Active RN
HMS Kent Portsmouth [17] 2034 [29] Active RN
HMS Portland Devonport [17] 2035 [29] Active RN
HMS St. Albans Portsmouth [17] 2036 [29] Active RN

The Marlborough, Norfolk and Grafton were sold to Chile for a total of £134 million.[19] The letter of intent for purchase was signed in December 2004, followed by a formal contract on 7 September 2005.[28]

The Royal Navy’s 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.[30]

Type 23 frigates in fiction

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c Hansard 5 Jul 2001: Column: 245W Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence, 5 July 2001.
  2. ^ 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".
  3. ^ a b "Defence;Where's the cache?". The Economist: p. 21. 1982-07-10. 
  4. ^ "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. 
  5. ^ http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.13459/changeNav/6568 Royal Navy News and Events:Navy to Get New Radar
  6. ^ a b Hansard HC Deb 02 November 1989 vol 159 cc333-4W Questions to Secretary of State for Defence, 2 November 1989.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b c Hansard 10 Jan 2006: Column 505W—continued 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Hansard HC Deb 19 July 1983 vol 46 cc179-263
  12. ^ Warship World, Spring 1998, pub Maritime Books, page 13. This figure of £97 million each included research and development costs.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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)—as 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ a b c d Hansard 24 May 2007 : Column 1388W—continued 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.
  20. ^ 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 am Saunders, Stephen Jane's Fighting Ships 2008-2009, pub Jane's Information Group, 2008, ISBN 978-0-7106-2845-9 page 862.
  21. ^ a b Hansard HC 23 May 1991 Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about building programme for Type 23, 23 May 1991.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ Hansard 5 Mar 2003: Column 1031W Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about HMS Montrose's refit, 5 March 2003.
  26. ^ Out-turn cost data are not required for completed contracts as the price is agreed as part of the contract negotiations.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h 25 Nov 2008 : Column WA280
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Hansard 3 Mar 2009 : Column 1446W—continued 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.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ www.imdb.com

References

  • The Encyclopedia of Warships, From World War Two to the Present Day, General Editor Robert Jackson

See also

Search Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Type 23 frigate

Type 23 Duke Class Frigate

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Type 23 frigate
Royal Navy
Chilean Navy
List of frigates of the Royal Navy

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