Missile Frigate

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

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