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Type 23 frigates, Duke class
HMS Marlbrough
The type 23 frigate, was intended to be a cheap single purpose anti submarine warfare frigate. Originally only to be armed with a 76mm Oto Breda gun and torpedo tubes the design was altered some what.
The Navy wanted 26 frigates of the Broadsword class, but due to financial reasons, it got 14. So the Navy proposed a cheap escort to fill the numbers. The plan was to order 26 of these cheap type 23 frigates.
Experience in the Falklands suggested that single role ships were of limited value. So the design was emended and the Navy's requirement went down to 20. The new design would be capable of multi purpose missions, but primarily anti submarine warfare (ASW). To fulfill the ASW role, the ship is armed with a highly advanced EH101 Merlin helicopter and twin tubes for the Marconi Stingray torpedoes. The type 23 would be fitted with a new type of engines, allowing silent running upto 12knots for stalking submarines. This is achieved by using diesel generators. But if necessary, full power could be available by engaging the Olympus gas turbines, the same found on Concord, meaning speeds upto 30knots in a matter of seconds.
For anti surface warfare (ASuW) harpoon missiles were installed. The harpoon has a range of 80 nautical miles and travels at just subsonic speeds to its target. It files at 5 meters above the water, to give it a stealthy approach and a 205kg warhead. The 114mm gun, is also capable of targeting surface ships at range in excess of 25km. The gun is capable of firing upto 26 rounds per minute.
For protection against incoming anti ship missiles and aircraft a vertical launch silo was installed. Equipped with 32 Seawolf missiles, this gives the frigate good protection. The Seawolf missile, is short ranged but highly capable. During tests the missile intercepted a 76mm shell. For a last ditch attempt against missiles, the ship is fitted with 2 30mm guns, which are rapid firing at 650rpm.
The frigates are highly capable surface ships. Many people believe them to be the most effective anti submarine platform on the seas. With all the surfaces of the ship, curved inwards at 7degrees, this gives a very low radar cross section, in essence making the type 23 a stealth ship. On an enemy radar, the type 23 has the same signature of a fishing trawler.
On the left, HMS Iron Duke recovers the new Merlin helicopter.
On the right a type 23 frigate, fires a Seawolf SAM.
Click here for the Duke class image gallery
| Ship type: |
General Purpose Frigates (FFG) |
| Class: | Type 23 frigate, Duke class |
| Active: | 15 + 1 building |
| Names: |
Kent (F78), Portland (F79), Grafton (F80), Sutherland (F81), Somerset (F82), St. Albans (F83), Lancaster (F229 ex F232), Norfolk (F230), Argyll (F231), Marlbrough (F233), Iron Duke (F234), Monmouth (F235), Montrose (F236), Westminster (F237), Northumberland (F238) and Richmond (F239) |
| Displacement: | 4,600 tons |
| Length: | 436ft (133m) |
| Beam: | 52.8ft (16.1m) |
| Speed: | 28kts |
| Range: | 7,800 miles at 15kts |
| Missiles: |
x2 Quad launchers for Harpoon anti ship missiles x32 Vertical launch Sea Wolf GWS 26 MOD 2 surface to air missiles |
| Guns: |
1 4.5" (114mm) Vickers MK8 gun 2 30mm DES/MSI cannons |
| Torpedoes: |
2 324mm Cray Marine twin tubes for Marconi Stingray |
| Decoys: |
4 Marconi Sea Gnat 6 barrel launchers Graseby type 182 towed torpedo decoy |
| Radar's: |
Air/surface search - Plessey type 996 3D Navigation - Kelvin Hughes type 1007 or Racal Decca type 1008 Fire control - 2 Marconi type 911 |
| Sonars: |
Ferranti type 2050 hull mounted active search/attack Dowty type 2031Z towed array (F229-239) Dowty type 2087 all other ships from 2003 |
| Helicopters: |
1 Westland Lynx HM8 for anti submarine warfare and anti surface warfare or 1 EH 101 Merlin for anti submarine warfare and anti surface warfare |
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