NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Battleaxe 1980 Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Broadsword	F88	1016	Yarrow SB, Scotstoun	7.2.1975	12.5.1976	4.5.1979	to Brazil 6.1995 (Greenhalgh)
Battleaxe	F89	1017	Yarrow SB, Scotstoun	4.2.1976	18.5.1977	28.3.1980	to Brazil 4.1997 (Rademaker)
Brilliant	F90	1018	Yarrow SB, Scotstoun	25.3.1977	15.12.1978	15.5.1981	to Brazil 8.1996 (Dodsworth)
Brazen	F91	1019	Yarrow SB, Scotstoun	18.8.1978	4.3.1980	2.7.1982	to Brazil 11.1994 (Bosísio)

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	3900
Displacement full, t	4400
Length, m	125.0 wl 131.2 oa
Breadth, m	14.8
Draught, m	4.30 hull 6.00 sonar dome
No of shafts	2
Machinery	COGOG: 2 Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines / 2 Rolls-Royce Tyne RM1A gas turbines
Power, h. p.	54600 / 8200
Max speed, kts	29
Fuel, t	gas turbine oil
Endurance, nm(kts)	4500(18)
Armament	F88, 89: 4 x 1 Exocet MM38 SSM (4 MM38/GWS50), 2 x 6 Sea Wolf GWS25 Mod.0 SAM (60 Sea Wolf), 2 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 9, 2 x 1 - 20/90 GAM-B01, 2 helicopters (Lynx) F90, 91: 4 x 1 Exocet MM38 SSM (4 MM38/GWS50), 2 x 6 Sea Wolf GWS25 Mod.0 SAM (60 Sea Wolf), 2 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 9, 2 x 1 - 20/90 GAM-B01, 2 x 3 - 324 STWS.2 TT, 2 helicopters (Lynx)
Electronic equipment	type 967/968, 2x type 910, type 1006 radars, type 2016 sonar, UAA-1, 2x type 670 ECM suites, 2x Corvus decoy RL, 2x DEC laser-dazzlers, type 182 torpedo decoy, CAAIS CCS
Complement	239

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Originally conceived as a follow-on to the Leander class and intended to be built for the Royal Netherlands Navy as well, the Type 22 design was forced to grow to meet new threats and to accommodate new technology. The increasing inability of medium-range active sonars to cope with fast nuclear submarines led to the development of a new 'fleet' sonar, capable of long-range passive detection and use of convergence zones and 'bottom-bounce' techniques. The threat from Malakhit 'pop-up' missiles dictated the development of Sea Wolf anti-missile system, and finally the creation of the SOSUS barriers of underwater listening arrays in the GIUK Gap required a ship with a high degree of autonomy and good seakeeping.

As a result the Broadsword hull had much more freeboard than the Sheffield class DDG, a double hangar to accommodate a second Lynx (a late addition), a double-headed Sea Wolf system, and a main armament restricted to four MM38 Exocet SSM. The hull was in fact an expansion of the original Type 12 design, intended to be driven in rough weather with little reduction in speed. The processing equipment needed for all this required seven computers, but there was another reason for the spaciousness: experience has shown that maintenance is the biggest headache in a warship, and that the 'payload' has to be updated once or even twice in the lifetime of the 'platform' or hull. Thus the Broadsword design left additional space for future growth, in much the same way as the American Spruance design.

Although rated as frigates they were bigger than the DDGs, and proved magnificent ASW ships. They were to be fitted with the Type 2031Z towed array, but the weight of the winch would have strained the hull girder. The enormous number of inputs from towed arrays also showed that the original Type 22 AlO was not big enough for the task. Large as these ships were, a second 'stretched' batch was ordered. For the first time the lead yard received all subsequent orders, as it is now recognised that this saves a considerable amount of time and money.

Modernizations

1980-1982, Broadsword, Battleaxe: + 2 x 3 - 324 STWS.2 TT

1982-1983, all: + 2x Mk 36 SRBOC decoy RL

late 1980s, all: - 2 x 1 - 40/60; + 2 x 2 - 30/75 GCM-A02

late 1980s, Broadsword, Brilliant; early 1990s, Battleaxe: - type 2016 sonar; + type 2050 sonar

Naval service

In 1988-89 both Broadsword and Battleaxe were refitted by DML, with new funnels similar to their later sisters and additional accommodation for training. In 1991 it was suggested that these fine ships might be offered for sale, and in November 1994 all four were bought by Brazil.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.