Powerful and versatile with the capability to operate anywhere in the world, the type 23 frigate is the mainstay of the modern surface fleet. The 14 Type 23 frigates form 50% of the total frigate/destroyer force in the Royal Navy. Originally designed for the principal task of anti-submarine warfare, they have evolved into powerful and versatile multi purpose ships with the capability to operate anywhere in the world. The effectiveness of these ships is enhanced by their stealth design, which reduces their radar signature significantly. In addition to the war fighting roles described above, the ship is trained to conduct a wide range of other tasks. These include embargo operations using boarding teams inserted from the ship's boats or helicopter, disaster relief work and surveillance operations.
| Ship Name | Pennant No. | Ship Name | Pennant No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argyll | F231 | Northumberland | F238 |
| Lancaster | F229 | Richmond | F239 |
| Iron Duke | F234 | Somerset | F82 |
| Monmouth | F235 | Grafton | F80 |
| Montrose | F236 | Sutherland | F81 |
| Westminster | F237 | Kent | F78 |
| St Albans | F83 | Portland | F79 |
| Displacement: | 4,900 tonnes |
|---|---|
| Length: | 133m / 436ft |
| Beam: | 16.1m / 52.9ft |
| Complement: | 185 |
| Armament: | 2 x Quad Harpoon Missile launchers Vertical Launch Sea Wolf anti-missile system 4.5in (114mm) MK 8 gun 2 x 30mm Close range guns 2 x Magazine launched anti submarine torpedo tubes NATO Seagnat and DLF3 Decoy Launchers |
| Sensors: | Type 1007 navigation radar Type 996 air/surface surveillance radar 2 x Type 911 Sea Wolf tracking radars UAT Electronic Surveillance System Type 2050 active sonar |
| Aircraft: | MK 8 Lynx helicopters:
Armament: Sea Skua anti-ship missiles Stingray anti-submarine torpedoes Mk 11 depth charges Machine guns |
| Propulsion: |
Turbines: CODLAG (Combined Diesel and Gas) - 2 x Rolls Royce Spey gas boost Diesels: 4 x GEC-Alsthom Paxman Valenta Electric: 2 x GEC motors |