HMForces.co.uk

Education >> Browse Articles >> The Royal Navy Fleet

Frigates Of The Royal Navy Type 23

HMS Somerset

Type 23 Frigate

Type 23 Frigates, all of which are named after British Dukes, are better known as the Duke Class with the first ship of the class, HMS Norfolk, being commissioned in 1989. 16 Duke Class frigates have been built, three of which, HMS’s Norfolk, Marlborough and Grafton, have been sold to the Chilean Navy.

Designed for use during the Cold War Type 23’s were highly capable anti-submarine warfare vessels with towed array sonar and either a Lynx or Merlin helicopter capable of operating from the aft flight deck. As with all ship designs new technologies have been integrated into the Type 23 as production of these frigates has progressed. The introduction of Vertical Launch Sea Wolf (VLS) system, Harpoon surface to surface missiles and crew reduction systems and an engine system capable of quiet running during anti-submarine operations have evolved this class of frigate into the very best of naval technology.

Type 23 Frigates weigh in at approximately 4,200 tons which with the CODLAG (Combined Diesel-Electric and Gas) propulsion system is capable of approximately 28 knots and have a crew of 180 offices and men.

The Royal Navy has the following Type 23 Frigates on their inventory:

HMS Argyll – Frigate Type 23
HMS Iron Duke – Frigate Type 23
HMS Kent – Frigate Type 23
HMS Lancaster – Frigate Type 23
HMS Monmouth – Frigate Type 23
HMS Montrose – Frigate Type 23
HMS Northumberland – Frigate Type 23
HMS Portland – Frigate Type 23
HMS Richmond – Frigate Type 23
HMS Somerset – Frigate Type 23
HMS St Albans – Frigate Type 23
HMS Sutherland – Frigate Type 23
HMS Westminster – Frigate Type 23

See our Short History of the Royal Navy and Aircraft Carriers of the Royal Navy

Assault Ships
HMS Ocean
HMS Albion
HMS Bulwark

Frigates
Type 22 Frigates
Type 26 (FSC) Frigates

Destroyers
Type 42 Destroyers
Type 45 Destroyers

HM Submarines
Vanguard Class SSBN
Trafalgar Class SSN
Astute Class SSN