Type 23 frigate

Design				Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
Intended role				January 1992
"The Type 23 class frigate was conceived in the late				14 October 1993
1970s as a light anti-submarine frigate whose primary				9 March 1996
role was to meet the then Soviet nuclear submarine				4 July 1997
threat in the North Atlantic. This new class was				143,580,000
intended to replace the Leander class frigate, which				F78
was developed in the 1950s and the Type 21 class				Kent
frigate, developed in the 1960s, as the backbone of the				Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.
Royal Navy's surface ship anti-submarine force. The				February 1996
Type 23 class frigate was not procured as a				16 April 1997
replacement for the Type 22 frigate." Though with the				27 May 1998
reductions in the size of the Navy as a result of the				8 June 2000
1998 Strategic Defence Review the last of the Type				108,420,000
23s, the St Albans did replace a Type 22, the				F79
Coventry.				Portland
The ships were to carry a towed array sonar to				Marconi Marine. [Formerly Yarrow.]
detect Soviet submarines in the North Atlantic and				February 1996
carry a Westland Lynx or EHI Merlin helicopter to				14 January 1998
attack them. It was initially proposed that the frigates				15 May 1999
would not mount defensive armament. Instead the Sea				15 December 2000
Wolf missile system was to be carried by Fort Victoria				3 May 2001
class replenishment oilers, one of which was to				92,060,000
support typically four Type 23s. The Forts would also				F83
provide servicing facilities for the force's helicopters;				St Albans
the Type 23 would have facilities only for rearming				BAE Systems Marine. [Formerly Yarrow.]
and refuelling them.				February 1996
Evolution				18 April 1999
As a result of lessons learned from the Falklands War,				6 May 2000
the design grew in size and complexity to encompass				6 June 2002
the Vertical Launch Sea Wolf (VLS) system with an				106,820,000
extra tracking system as a defence against low-flying				Running costs
aircraft and sea-skimming anti-ship missiles such as				Date
Exocet. With the addition of Harpoon				Running cost
surface-to-surface missiles and a medium calibre gun				What is included
for naval gunfire support, the Type 23 had evolved				Citation
into a more complex and balanced vessel optimised				198788
for general warfare, which introduced a host of new				3.6 million
technologies and concepts to the Royal Navy. These				Estimate of the annual running costs for a type 23
included extensive radar cross section reduction design				frigate. These costs include personnel, fuel, spares and
measures, automation to substantially reduce crew				so on, and administrative support services, but exclude
size, a CODLAG (Combined Diesel-electric and Gas)				new construction, capital equipment, and refit-repair
propulsion system providing very quiet running for				costs.
anti-submarine operations along with excellent range,				2001-02
vertical launch missile technology and a fully-distributed				10.3 million
combat management system.				"Average annual operating costs, based on historic
The Vertical Launch Sea Wolf surface-to-air missile				costs over the last two full financial years are given in
system was designed for and first deployed on the				the table. The figures include manpower, maintenance,
Type 23. Unlike conventional Sea Wolf, the missile is				fuel, stores and other costs (such as harbour dues),
boosted vertically until it clears the ship's				but exclude depreciation and cost of capital."
super-structure and then turns to fly directly to the				2002-03
target. Consequently, the ship's structure does not				10.3 million
cause no-fire zones that would delay or inhibit missile				Known refits
firing in a conventionally launched system.				HMS Iron Duke was due to start refit at Rosyth Royal
HMS Norfolk was the first of the class to enter				Dockyard in spring 2001.
service, commissioned into the Fleet on 1 June 1990 at				"HMS Montrose's refit at Rosyth is planned for
a cost of 135.449 million GBP, later vessels cost 60-96				completion in February 2004 and following associated
million GBP.				sea trials, she is expected to be ready for operational
Nomenclature				deployment later that month. The final refit cost will be
Although the Type 23 is officially the "Duke" class, and				agreed once all work is completed, but is expected to
includes such famous names as HMS Iron Duke,				be just under 23 million. This exceeds the original
(which had been the name of the battleship HMS Iron				budget as it now reflects possible changes in labour
Duke, Admiral Jellicoe's flagship at the Battle of				rates and takes into account additional work identified
Jutland), five of the names had previously been used				after the budget had been set."
on classes known as the 'County class': Kent and				Refits completed since 1997
Norfolk were names given both to 1960s guided missile				HM Ship
destroyers and Second World War-era heavy				Refit dates
cruisers, while Monmouth, Lancaster, Kent and Argyll				Approx. duration
revived names carried by First World War-era				Contracted price
armoured cruisers. This use of Ducal and County				Final cost
names broke a tradition of alphabetical names for				Source
escort ships which had run in two - not unbroken -				Argyll
cycles from the L-class destroyers of 1913 to the				Jun 03-Nov 03
Daring-class destroyers of 1950; this progression was				24 weeks
revived with the Amazon-class Type 21 frigates of				5.6 million
1972-75, and continued with B and C names for most				5.6 million
of the Type 22 frigates of 1976-89. However, the D				Lancaster
names have since been used for the new Type 45				May 04-Dec 04
Daring-class destroyers now entering service from				32 weeks
2009.				7.6 million
Specifications				7.6 million
Type 23 propeller, specially designed to reduce				Somerset
underwater noise.				May 06-Jun 07
Weapon Systems				56 weeks
2 x quadruple Harpoon missile launchers				11.9 million
32 x Vertical Launch Sea Wolf Surface-to-air missiles				11.9 million
(VLS GWS 26 Mod 1 Block 2 system)				Portland
1 x 114 mm (4.5 in) Vickers Mark 8 gun (all ships				May 06-Jan 07
being upgraded to Mod 1 standard)				44 weeks
2 x Oerlikon 30 mm L/75 KCB guns on single				8.7 million
Laurence Scott DS-30B mounts. Being upgraded to				8.7 million
remote control with electro-optic director				Richmond
4 x Cray Marine 324 mm (2 twin) fixed torpedo tubes,				Aug 05-Sep 06
Marconi Sting Ray				56 weeks
NATO Seagnat, Type 182 and DLF3				9.4 million
countermeasures launchers				9.4 million
Aircraft:				Kent
Westland Lynx HM.8 or AgustaWestland Merlin HM.1				Jan 05-Jun 05
helicopter and Cougar AS532 Chilean Navy				24 weeks
Armament:				5.8 million
Sea Skua missiles (Lynx only)				5.8 million
Sting Ray torpedoesdepth charges				Contracts placed under the SSS Programme
AM-39 Exocet (Chilean Navy Cougars)				HM Ship
Electronic Systems				Refit dates
Search: BAE Systems Radar Type 996 Mod 1, 3D				Duration
surveillance				Contracted price incl. profit and growth
Navigation: Kelvin Hughes Radar Type 1007 and Racal				Out-turn cost excl. profit
Decca Type 1008				Final cost (m)
Fire control:				Source
2 x GEC Marconi Type 911 Sea Wolf systems				Iron Duke
Sperry Sea Archer 30 optronic surveillance / director				Feb 07-Nov 07
Bow sonar: Thales Underwater Systems Type 2050				40 weeks
Towed sonar: Ultra Electronics Type 2031Z, being				10.8 million
replaced by Type 2087 in eight ships				St Albans
Combat Management System: BAE Systems				May 07-Jul 08
Command System DNA(1)				60 weeks
Note: Type 23's Search Radar will be replaced by				15.4 million
BAE Systems Insyte Artisan 3D Radar. The radar				Availability
also equips Albion Class & HMS Ocean Assault				In February 1998, it was stated that: "Type 23 frigates
Ships, and will be on the two future Queen Elizabeth				achieved approximately 85-89 per cent average
class aircraft carriers. The project was worth 100				availability for operational service in each of the last
Million and the contract announced in 4 August, 2008.				five years with the exception of 1996 when the figure
Command system				dropped to just over 80 per cent due to a number of
The first few Type 23 frigates entered service				ships experiencing a particular defect. This discounts
without a computerised command system, so the				time spent in planned maintenance."
Secretary of State for Defence was asked "what				Disposal
ability those type 23 frigates not fitted with an				On 21 July 2004, in the Delivering Security in a
automated command and control system will possess				Changing World review of defence spending, Defence
to identify aircraft as either friendly or hostile." The				Secretary Geoff Hoon announced that HMS Norfolk,
reply given was that: "The classification of an aircraft				Marlborough and Grafton were to be paid off. In 2005
as friendly or hostile is based on information from a				it was announced that these three vessels would be
variety of sources including the ships identification				sold to the Chilean Navy, to be delivered in 2008. In
friend or foe (IFF) system and other sensors. In T23				September 2005 BAE Systems was awarded a 134
frigates not fitted with a command system this				million GBP contract to prepare the frigates for
information will be available but will not be correlated				transfer.
automatically."				The Marlborough, Norfolk and Grafton were sold to
Crew size				Chile for a total of 134 million. The letter of intent for
"When first commissioned the complement of crew				purchase was signed in December 2004, followed by
carried by Type 23 frigates was 173. The current				a formal contract on 7 September 2005.
[February 1998] complement is 171." "There are no				The Norfolk was handed over by the Defence
plans to reduce the complement of Type 23 frigates				Logistics Organisation and BAE Systems and
by refitting with less manpower-intensive equipment.				commissioned into the Chilean Navy on the 22
Manning implications are taken into consideration when				November 2006, and named Almirante Cochrane
the Operational Requirement for future ships is				(FF-05) (after Lord Cochrane, a naval hero to both the
considered; however, the size of the complement is				British and Chileans). The Grafton was delivered to
affected by other considerations such as the				Chilean Navy on 28 March 2007 at Portsmouth and
manpower needed for damage control and				renamed Almirante Lynch (FF-07). The Marlborough
fire-fighting."				was delivered to Chilean Navy on 28 May 2008 at
Helicopters				Portsmouth and renamed Almirante Condell (FF-06).
The table below shows how many helicopters were				Name
carried by each of the Type 23 frigates, broken down				RN Home port
by type of helicopter, as claimed by the Navy in				Out-of-service date
January 2006.				(as planned in 2006)
Ship name				Out-of-service date
Helicopter type				(as announced in 2009)
Number				Actual out-of-service date
HMS Argyll				Name after sale abroad
Lynx Mk8				New home port
1				Commissioned by foreign navy
HMS Sutherland				Status
Lynx Mk3				HMS Norfolk
1				Devonport
HMS Montrose				FY2005-06
Lynx Mk8				Almirante Cochrane FF-05
1				Valparaiso
HMS Saint Albans				22 November 2006
Lynx Mk8				Active Chilean Navy
1				HMS Marlborough
HMS Iron Duke				Portsmouth
Lynx Mk8				FY2005-06
1				Almirante Condell FF-06
HMS Kent				Valparaiso
Lynx Mk8				2008
1				Active Chilean Navy
HMS Portland				HMS Grafton
Lynx Mk8				Portsmouth
1				Non-operational from 31 March 2006.
HMS Somerset				Almirante Lynch FF-07
Lynx Mk8				Valparaiso
1				28 March 2007
HMS Grafton (non-operational from 31 March 2006)				Active Chilean Navy
Lynx Mk8				HMS Argyll
1				Devonport
HMS Lancaster				2019
Merlin Mk1				2023
1				Active RN
HMS Monmouth				HMS Lancaster
Merlin Mk1				Portsmouth
1				2019
HMS Westminster				2024
Merlin Mk1				Active RN
1				HMS Iron Duke
HMS Northumberland				Portsmouth
Merlin Mk1				2020
1				2025
Source: Hansard 10 Jan 2006.				Active RN
Sonar 2087				HMS Monmouth
Five Type 23 frigates, HM Ships Montrose, Monmouth,				Devonport
Iron Duke, Lancaster and Argyll are not scheduled to				2021
receive Sonar 2087. These ships will be employed				2026
across the normal range of standing strategic, home				Active RN
and overseas commitments. These include Fleet				HMS Montrose
Ready Escort duties around home waters, operational				Devonport
deployments to the Gulf and Arabian Sea, and				2021
standing tasks in the South Atlantic (APT(S)),				2027
Caribbean (APT(N)) and within NATO's Standing				Active RN
Maritime Group in the Mediterranean (SNMG2). They				HMS Westminster
will also continue to contribute to the UK's Maritime				Portsmouth
Joint Rapid Reaction Force (JRRF) held at high				2028
readiness for contingent operations, and deploy on				Active RN
pre-planned activities as JRRF elements within a Task				HMS Northumberland
Group."				Devonport
Construction programme				2029
Before the Falklands "the average cost of the type 23				Active RN
frigate, as then envisaged, was estimated at 75 million				HMS Richmond
at September 1980 prices. This is equivalent to 103				Portsmouth
million at 198485 prices." "A number of improvements in				2030
ship design have recently taken place, some resulting				Active RN
from lessons learnt in the Falklands conflict and others				HMS Somerset
which were already in train. We are reducing the				Devonport
amount of flammable material in warships and trying to				2031
improve fire-resistant cabling. We are also replacing				Active RN
foam mattresses with sprung mattresses to reduce				HMS Sutherland
the risk of fire. Some redesigning is taking place with				Devonport
the introduction of better watertight doors and hatches,				2033
and further steps are being taken on damage control,				Active RN
with special reference to the spreading of fire and				HMS Kent
smoke. Comments have been made about the				Portsmouth
unsuitability of aluminium in a ship's structure because it				2034
loses strength in fire. It is used only in type 21 frigates				Active RN
and is not being used in warships today." By January				HMS Portland
1985, "the average cost of the type 23 frigate is				Devonport
currently estimated at 110 million at 198485 prices. This				2035
includes the cost of design changes judged necessary				Active RN
as a result of lessons learned from the Falklands				HMS St. Albans
campaign." By 2001, the Ministry of Defence said: "The				Portsmouth
cost of HMS Norfolk, the first of the type 23 class				2036
frigates, was 135.449 million. The following 16 vessels				Active RN
have cost, or are estimated to cost where final				The Royal Navy current Type 22 and Type 23
payments are not yet due, between 60 million and 96				frigates will be replaced by the Future Surface
million depending on when the vessel was ordered and				Combatant but the programme has not yet reached
the scope of shipbuilder supplied equipment."				the main investment decision stage. However, on
The Ministry of Defence said in 1998 that the Merlin				current plans, we expect the first vessel to enter
ASW helicopter was costing them 97,000,000 each				service around the end of the next decade.
(this was for an order for 44 airframes), and that this				Type 23 frigates in fiction
was 57% of the cost of Type 23. From this it can be				HMS Westminster was used for the Type 23 interior
calculated that the cost of Type 23 was 170,100,000				shots in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies in
each.				three different roles as HMS Chester, HMS
The costs in the table below are in two columns:				Devonshire and HMS Bedford. For the exterior shots a
Original hull cost. "Other costs, such as those for				Type 23 model was constructed.
Government furnished equipment, are not held centrally				The ITV series Making Waves was set aboard the
for each ship and could be provided only at				Type 23 frigate HMS Suffolk (which was portrayed
disproportionate cost."				by HMS Grafton).
Estimated building cost. This is a phrase used in				HMS Montrose and HMS Monmouth were used to
Defence Estimates, and before that in Navy Estimates.				portray the interior and exterior shots of the fictional
It does not include the armament, or government				HMS Monarch for the film Command Approved which
furnished equipment.				is the centre piece of Action Stations at Portsmouth
In placing construction contracts for Type 23, the				Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth, England.
Government's policy was "to place orders for				Footnotes
warships following competition, the aim being to secure				^
best value for money for the defence budget. Tender				^ a b c Hansard 5 Jul 2001: Column: 245W Questions
prices and compliance with contract conditions will be				to the Secretary of State for Defence, 5 July 2001.
the major considerations in the current competition for				^ Hansard 11 Jul 2000: Column: 449W Question to the
type 23 frigates. However, as the MOD confirmed in				Secretary of State for Defence when he planned to
its response to the 31 report from the Committee of				withdraw the Type 22 Batch II frigates from service.
Public Accounts (Session 198788), its strategy is to				His answer was:
maintain sufficient warship-building capacity to meet				"HMS Sheffield 2012 - to be superseded by a T45
likely future defence requirements and a competitive				Destroyer
base and these twin objectives are always taken into				HMS Coventry 2001 - to be superseded by HMS St.
account in the placing of individual ship and submarine				Albans, a T23 Frigate".
orders."				^ a b "Defence;Where's the cache?". The Economist:
Pennant				p. 21. 1982-07-10.
Name				^ "House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for
(a) Hull builder				5 Jul 2001". Hansard (Official Report). HM Government.
Ordered				2001-07-05. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
Laid down				^ Royal Navy News and Events:Navy to Get New
Launched				Radar
Accepted into service				^ a b Hansard HC Deb 02 November 1989 vol 159
Commissioned				cc333-4W Questions to Secretary of State for
Original hull cost				Defence, 2 November 1989.
Estimated building cost				^ a b Hansard 10 Feb 1998: Column: 195, 10 Feb 1998 :
F230				Column: 196 Questions to the Secretary of State for
Norfolk				Defence about the manning and availability of
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.				warships, 10 February 1998.
29 October 1984				^ a b c Hansard 10 Jan 2006: Column 505Wontinued
14 December 1985				Question to the Secretary of State for Defence how
10 July 1987				many helicopters are carried by each of the Type 23
1 June 1990				frigates, broken down by type of helicopter, 10 January
112,030,000				2006.
142,000,000				^ a b c d e f Hansard 17 July 2006: Column 220W
135,449,000				Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about
F231				the five Type 23 frigates which are not to be fitted
Argyll				with Sonar 2087, 17 July 2006.
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.				^ a b HC Deb 11 January 1985 vol 70 c561W
1 September 1986				Questions to he Secretary of State for Defence
20 March 1987				about Type 23 frigates, 11 January 1985.
8 April 1989				^ Hansard HC Deb 19 July 1983 vol 46 cc179-263
17 April 1991				^ Warship World, Spring 1998, pub Maritime Books,
31 May 1991				page 13. This figure of 97 million each included
118,950.000				research and development costs.
F229 (ex-F232)				^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa
Lancaster				ab ac ad ae af ag Hansard 13 March 2008: Column
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.				667W Question to the Secretary of State for
1 September 1986				Defence about the outturn cost of each Type 23
18 December 1987				frigate, 13 March 2008.
24 May 1990				^ a b "Unit cost, i.e. excluding cost of certain items (e.g.
1 May 1992				aircraft, First Outfits)." - Text from Defences Estimates
119,710,000				"They do not include other costs, such as those for
F233				Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)s they are not
Marlborough				held centrally for each ship and could be provided only
Swan Hunter.				at disproportionate cost." Bob Ainsworth, Minister of
1 September 1986				State for the Armed Forces, 16 July 2008.
22 October 1987				^ The term used in Navy Estimates and Defence
21 January 1989				Estimates is "accepted into service". Hansard has used
7 March 1991				the term acceptance date. Leo Marriott in his various
14 June 1991				books uses the term "completed", as does Jane's
118,430,000				Fighting Ships. These terms all mean the same thing:
120,000,000				the date the Navy accepts the vessel from the builder.
F234				This date is important because maintenance cycles,
Iron Duke				etc. are generally calculated from the acceptance
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.				date.
11 July 1988				^ a b c d e f Hansard HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol
12 December 1988				158 cc358-61W Question to the Secretary of State
2 March 1991				for Defence asking him to list the Royal Navy vessels
20 May 1993				built in each of the past 15 years, showing the cost of
109,770,000				each and the yards in which they were constructed.
F235				^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa
Monmouth				ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj Saunders, Stephen Jane's
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.				Fighting Ships 2002-2003, pub Jane's Information group,
11 July 1988				2002, ISBN 0-7106-2432-8 page 776.
1 June 1989				^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa
23 November 1991				Gardiner, Robert Conway's All the World's Fighting
24 September 1993				Ships 1947-1995, pub Conway Maritime Press, 1995,
111,660,000				ISBN 0-85177-605-1 page 525.
F236				^ a b c d Hansard 24 May 2007 : Column
Montrose				1388Wontinued Question to the Secretary of State for
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.				Defence which naval vessels have been sold by the
11 July 1988				Royal Navy in the last five years; what the (a) vessel
1 November 1989				type, (b) service cost and (c) destination country was
31 July 1992				in each case; and if he will estimate the (i) original costs
2 June 1994				of each vessel and (ii) financial gains accrued to public
117,290,000				funds as a result of each sale, 24 May 2007.
F237				^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa
Westminster				ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al Saunders, Stephen
Swan Hunter.				Jane's Fighting Ships 2008-2009, pub Jane's Information
December 1989				Group, 2008, ISBN 978-0-7106-2845-9 page 862.
18 January 1991				^ a b Hansard HC 23 May 1991 Questions to the
4 February 1992				Secretary of State for Defence about building
13 May 1994				programme for Type 23, 23 May 1991.
112,680,000				^ a b "HMS Portland". Type 23 Frigates.
F238				royalnavy.mod.uk. 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
Northumberland				^ Hansard HC Deb 10 March 1989 vol 148 c44W
Swan Hunter.				Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about
December 1989				the annual running costs for different classes of frigate
4 April 1991				and destroyer.
4 April 1992				^ Hansard HC Deb 09 September 2003 vol 410
29 November 1994				cc346-7W Question to the Secretary of State for
114,730,000				Defence ab out the average operating cost of(a)
F239				batch 3 type 22, (b) type 23 and (c) type 42
Richmond				destroyers, 9 September 2003.
Swan Hunter.				^ Hansard 11 Jul 2000: Column: 449W Question to the
December 1989				Secretary of State for Defence about which of the
16 February 1992				Type 23 Frigates are due for refit in the next 12
6 April 1993				months, 11 July 2000.
22 June 1995				^ Hansard 5 Mar 2003: Column 1031W Question to the
116,200,000				Secretary of State for Defence about HMS
F82				Montrose's refit, 5 March 2003.
Somerset				^ Out-turn cost data are not required for completed
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.				contracts as the price is agreed as part of the
January 1992				contract negotiations.
12 October 1992				^ a b c d e f g h 25 Nov 2008 : Column WA280
25 June 1994				^ a b c d Saunders, Stephen Jane's Fighting Ships
20 September 1996				2008-2009, pub Jane's Information Group, 2008, ISBN
114,140,000				978-0-7106-2845-9 page 111.
F80				^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Hansard 3 Mar 2009 :
Grafton				Column 1446Wontinued Question to the Secretary of
Yarrow Shipbuilder Ltd.				State for Defence what the (a) in-service dates and
January 1992				(b) current out-of-service dates are for each (i)
13 May 1993				submarine, (ii) frigate and (iii) destroyer in the Royal
5 November 1994				Navy, 3 March 2009.
29 May 1997				^ 3 Mar 2009 : Column 1445W Question to the
115,560,000				Secretary of State for Defence what the (a)
79,000,000				in-service dates and (b) current out-of-service dates
F81				are for each (i) submarine, (ii) frigate and (iii) destroyer
Sutherland				in the Royal Navy, 3 March 2009.

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Type 23 frigate

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