NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Northumberland 2003

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Norfolk	F230	1033	Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun	14.12.1985	10.7.1987	1.6.1990	to Chile 11.2006 (Almirante Cochrane)
Marlborough	F233		Swan Hunter, Wallsend	22.10.1987	21.1.1989	14.6.1991	to Chile 5.2008 (Almirante Condell)
Argyll	F231	1035	Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun	20.3.1987	8.4.1989	31.5.1991	in service (2019)
Lancaster	F229	1036	Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun	18.12.1987	24.5.1990	1.5.1992	in service (2019)
Iron Duke	F234	1040	Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun	12.12.1988	2.3.1991	20.5.1993	in service (2019)
Monmouth	F235	1041	Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun	1.6.1989	23.11.1991	24.9.1993	in service (2019)
Montrose	F236	1042	Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun	1.11.1989	31.7.1992	2.6.1994	in service (2019)
Westminster	F237		Swan Hunter, Wallsend	18.1.1991	4.2.1992	13.5.1994	in service (2019)
Northumberland	F238		Swan Hunter, Wallsend	4.4.1991	4.4.1992	29.11.1994	in service (2019)
Richmond	F239		Swan Hunter, Wallsend	16.2.1992	6.4.1993	22.6.1995	in service (2019)
Somerset	F82	1043	Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun	12.10.1992	25.6.1994	20.9.1996	in service (2019)
Grafton	F80	1044	Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun	13.5.1993	5.11.1994	29.5.1997	to Chile 3.2007 (Almirante Lynch)
Sutherland	F81	1045	Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun	14.10.1993	9.3.1996	4.7.1997	in service (2019)
Kent	F78	1051	Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun	16.4.1997	27.5.1998	8.6.2000	in service (2019)
Portland	F79	1052	Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun	14.1.1998	15.5.1999	3.5.2001	in service (2019)
St. Albans	F83	1053	Marconi Marine (YSL), Scotstoun	18.4.1999	6.5.2000	6.6.2002	in service (2019)

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	3600
Displacement full, t	4300
Length, m	123.0 pp 133.0 oa
Breadth, m	15.0 wl 16.1 deck
Draught, m	4.30 hull 5.50 max
No of shafts	2
Machinery	F229-231, 233-236: CODLAG: 2 Rolls-Royce Spey SM1A gas turbines + 4 Paxman Valenta 12RPA 200CZ diesel-generators, 2 electric motors F237-239, 78-83: CODLAG: 2 Rolls-Royce Spey SM1C gas turbines + 4 Paxman Valenta 12RPA 200CZ diesel-generators, 2 electric motors
Power, h. p.	F229-231, 233-236: 37540 + 4000 = 41540 F237-239, 78-83: 52300 + 4000 = 56300
Max speed, kts	F229-231, 233-236: 28 F237-239, 78-83: 30
Fuel, t	gas turbine oil + diesel oil 800
Endurance, nm(kts)	7800(17)
Armament	2 x 4 Harpoon SSM (8 RGM-84C/GWS.60), 1 x 32 Sea Wolf GWS.26 SAM (VLS, 32 Sea Wolf GWS26), 1 x 1 - 114/55 Mk 8, 2 x 1 - 30/75 DS-30B, 2 x 1 - 20/90 GAM-B01, 4 - 324 DMTS90 TT, 1 helicopter (Lynx)
Electronic equipment	F229-231, 233-236: type 996(1), 2x type 911, type 1007 radars, type 2050NE, type 2031Z sonars, GSA.8/GPEOD Sea Archer E/O director, UAF(1), 2x type 675 ECM suites, 4x Sea Gnat/Siren UAF-1 decoy RL, 2x DEC laser dazzlers, 4x DLF(2) floating decoy launchers, type 182 torpedo decoy, DNA(1) SSCS CCS F237, 238: type 996(1), 2x type 911, type 1007 radars, type 2050NE, type 2031Z sonars, GSA.8/GPEOD Sea Archer E/O director, UAF(1), 2x type 675 ECM suites, 4x Sea Gnat/Siren UAF-1 decoy RL, 2x DEC laser dazzlers, 4x DLF(2) floating decoy launchers, type 2070 torpedo decoy, DNA(1) SSCS CCS F239, 78-83: type 996(1), 2x type 911, type 1007 radars, type 2050NE sonar, GSA.8/GPEOD Sea Archer E/O director, UAT(1), 2x type 675 ECM suites, 4x Sea Gnat/Siren UAF-1 decoy RL, 2x DEC laser dazzlers, 4x DLF(2) floating decoy launchers, DNA(1) SSCS CCS
Complement	169

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Although the Type 22 was recognised as a highly efficient ASW platform, alarm at its high cost led to a call for a cheaper frigate, relying on the Type 2031Z towed array sonar rather than the big Type 2050 and Lynx helicopters. Out of this has emerged the Type 23, expanded to include a bow-mounted sonar, a large ASW helicopter and more general-purpose qualities. Although Falklands experience resulted in improved fire precautions and damage control, the decision to incorporate a double-headed Sea Wolf SAM system predated that conflict. By the time the design was finalized BAE's vertically launched version was nearly ready for trials, and it was selected in place of the earlier lightweight version of GWS25.

The design is optimized for towed array operations, so silencing of machinery was a top priority. Finally a unique combined diesel electric and gas turbine (CODLAG) was chosen, using Spey gas turbines for main drive, and switching to a diesel-electric drive for slow but silent running when using the towed array. The advantage of CODLAG is the elimination of gearbox noise, and the generators are positioned above the waterline to reduce radiated noise.

The opportunity was taken to incorporate ' stealth' features to enhance survivability in surface warfare. This takes the form of a flared hull and the elimination of right angles and radar-reflecting corners in the superstructure, etc. It is claimed that the Type 23 is 'invisible' to the seekers of the current range of anti-ship missiles, and it also claimed to be the quietest ASW ship in the world.

Modernizations

late 1990s, all: - type 996(1) radar; + type 996(2), type 1008 radars

early 2000s, Lancaster, Iron Duke; late 2000s, Sutherland, Somerset, St. Albans, Westminster, Northumberland, Richmond; early 2010s, Monmouth, Montrose, Kent, Portland: - 1 Lynx helicopter; + 1 Merlin helicopter

2004, Westminster; 2005, Northumberland: - type 2031Z sonar, type 2070 torpedo decoy, 2x type 675 ECM suites, 4x DLB decoy RL; + type 2070 torpedo decoy, 2x type 695 ECM suites, 4x DLH decoy RL

2005, Richmond; 2006, Somerset; 2007, St. Albans; 2008, Sutherland; 2011, Kent; 2012, Portland: - 2x type 675 ECM suites, 4x DLB decoy RL; + type 2087 sonar, type 2170 SSTDS anti-torpedo system, 2x type 695 ECM suites, 4x DLH decoy RL

2006-2008, Norfolk, Lancaster, Iron Duke, Monmouth, Montrose, Westminster, Northumberland, Richmond; 2007-2011, Argyll, Somerset, Sutherland, Kent, Portland, St. Albans: - 1 x 1 - 114/55 Mk 8, 2 x 1 - 30/75 DES-30B; + 1 x 1 - 114/55 Mk 8 Mod. 1, 2 x 1 - 30/75 DS-30M Mk 2, SIGMA IR detector, Shaman/Sextant ISTAR communication interceptor

2006-2011, all survived: - Sea Wolf GWS.26 SAM; + Sea Wolf GWS.26 Mod.1 SAM (VLS, 32 Sea Wolf)

2009-2010, Argyll, Montrose, Westminster; 2011, Lancaster: - Sea Wolf GWS.26 Mod.1 SAM, 4x Sea Gnat/Siren UAF-1 decoy RL, SSCS DNA(1) CCS; + Sea Wolf SWMLU GWS 26 Mod. 1 SAM (32 Sea Wolf), 4x Sea Gnat/Siren UAT-1 decoy RL, CMS-1 DNA(2) CCS

2011, Kent; 2012, Richmond, Portland, St. Albans; 2013, Northumberland: - Sea Wolf GWS.26 Mod.1 SAM, SSCS DNA(1) CCS; + Sea Wolf SWMLU GWS 26 Mod. 1 SAM (32 Sea Wolf), CMS-1 DNA(2) CCS

2013, Iron Duke; 2015, Monomouth: - 4x Sea Gnat/Siren UAF-1 decoy RL; + 4x Sea Gnat/Siren UAT-1 decoy RL

2013, Iron Duke, Somerset; 2014, St. Albans; 2015, Monmouth: - type 996(2), 2x type 911 radars; + Scan Eagle UAVs, type 997 ARTISAN, 2x type 911(1) radars, MIDAS ECM suite

2017-later, Lancaster, Iron Duke, Monmouth, Argyll, Montrose, Westminster, Northumberland: - 1 x 32 Sea Wolf GWS.26 SAM VLS, type 996(2), 2x type 911 radars; + 1 x 32 Cea Ceptor SAM VLS (32 Sea Ceptor), Scan Eagle UAVs, type 997 ARTISAN, 2x type 911(1) radars

Naval service

No significant events.