Type 23 Frigate

The Type 23 frigate or Duke-class is a class of frigate built for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. The ships are named after British Dukes, thus leading to the class being commonly known as the Duke-class. The first Type 23 was commissioned in 1989, and the sixteenth, HMS St Albans was commissioned in June 2002. They form the core of the Royal Navy's destroyer and frigate fleet and serve along side the Type 45 destroyers. Originally designed for anti-submarine warfare in the North Atlantic, the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates have proven their versatility in warfighting, peace-keeping and maritime security operations across the globe. Sixteen vessels are in service with the Royal Navy, with three vessels having been constructed for the Chilean Navy.

The Royal Navy’s current Type 23 frigates will be replaced by the Global Combat Ship starting from 2021. As of 2012 it is planned that HMS Norfolk will be the first Type 23 to retire from the Royal Navy in 2023 while HMS St Albans will be the last, in 2036.

Specifications

 * Type: Multirole Frigate
 * Service Period: 1987-Present
 * Characteristics
 * Length: 436 feet 4 inches (132.99 meters)
 * Beam: 52 feet 10 inches (16.11 meters)
 * Draught: 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 meters)
 * Displacement: 4,900 t (4,800 long tons; 5,400 short tons)
 * Crew: 185
 * Propulsion: CODLAG with four 1510 kW (2,025 shp) Paxman Valenta 12CM diesel generators powering two GEC electric motors delivering 2980kW (4000 shp) and two Rolls-Royce Spey SM1A replaced by updated SM1C delivering 23,190 kW (31,100 shp) to two shafts
 * Range: 9,000 miles (14,484 kilometers)
 * Speed: 30 knots (55.56 km/hr)
 * Sensor Suite:
 * Type 911 fire control radars x 2
 * Type 997 Artisan 3D radar
 * Kelvin Hughes Radar Type 1007
 * Racal Decca Type 1008
 * Sperry Sea Archer 30 optronic surveillance/director'
 * BAE Systems Command System DNA
 * Thales Type 2057 Hull Mounted Sonar
 * Thales Type 2087 Towed Array Sonar
 * Armament
 * 1 x BAe Systems Mark 8 Mod 2 4.5"/55-caliber naval gun
 * 1 x Sea Wolf GWS.26 VLS array (32-cells)
 * 2 x 8-cell Mark 143A Harpoon AShM Launchers
 * 2 x 30mm DS30M automated guns
 * 2 x 12.75" triple fire torpedo tubes
 * 2 x 30mm Goalkeeper CIWS
 * Aviation Faciliites: Flight Deck and enclosed hangar
 * Aircraft Carried: 1 x Westland Lynx HMA8 or 1 x AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin

Royal Navy

 * HMS Norfolk (F230)
 * HMS Argyll (F231)
 * HMS Lancaster (F232)
 * HMS Marlborough (F233)
 * HMS Iron Duke (F234)
 * HMS Monmouth (F235)
 * HMS Montrose (F236)
 * HMS Westminster (F237)
 * HMS Northumberland (F238)
 * HMS Richmond (F239)
 * HMS Somerset (F240)
 * HMS Grafton (F241)
 * HMS Sutherland (F242)
 * HMS Kent (F243)
 * HMS Portland (F244)
 * HMS St. Albans (F245)

Chilean Navy

 * BAC Almirante Cochrane (FF-05)
 * BAC Almirante Condell (FF-06)
 * BAC Almirante Lynch (FF-07)