Warships and Auxiliaries: 13 Jan 2010

Type 23 Frigates

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 13 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.

HMS Iron Duke

The current Iron Duke is the third RN Ship to bear the name and 5th of the Duke Class Frigates. Launched on 2 March 1991 by the Ship's Sponsor, Lady Jane King, the wife of the then Secretary of State for Defence, she was commissioned on 30 May 1991. Iron Duke enjoys strong affiliations with her home town of Kingston Upon Hull, the Duke of Wellington's Regiment and the Worshipful Company of Founders. Her motto is "Virtutis Fortuna Comes" (Fortune is the companion of valour).

Seen here departing Rosyth after a refit

Seen here arriving Leith

Alongside the following day

HMS Lancaster

Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders on the Clyde, Lancaster is the fourth of the Type 23 frigates. She was launched by Her Majesty the Queen (Duke of Lancaster) in May 1990 and commissioned 2 years later. The Ship's emblem is the historically famous Lancastrian Red Rose.

The current HMS Lancaster is the sixth to bear the name. She was commissioned in 1992 by Her Majesty the Queen in her official role as Duke of Lancaster who incidentally retains close links as our sponsor. Displacing 4000 tonnes and with a crew of approximately 180, Portsmouth is her home port when not on operational tasking.

Seen here arriving Leith 22nd October 1998

HMS Monmouth

Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders on the Clyde, Monmouth is the sixth of the Type 23 Duke class frigates. She was launched by Lady Eaton in 1991 and commissioned two years later. Affectionately known as the 'Black Duke' (to find out why see the ship's history page), Monmouth is easily recognised by the black flag she flies from the mainmast.

Seen here arriving Leith 29th February 2008

HMS Northumberland

HMS Northumberland was built at Swan Hunters at Wallsend on the Tyne, being launched in April 1992 by the ship's sponsor Lady Kerr. She was accepted into Royal Naval Service in May 1994.

She is affiliated to Northumberland County Council , The Morpeth Pipe Band,The Light Dragoons, TS Tenacity SCC to name but a few. She has and impressive set of battle honours ranging from Barfleur in 1692 to Groix Island in 1812.

Seen here arriving Leith 8th March 1997

HMS Somerset

The present HMS Somerset is the 4th to bear the name and was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd. She was launched on 24 June 1994 on the Clyde by Lady Elspeth Layard, wife of the then Second Sea Lord Admiral Sir Michael Layard, and commissioned on 20 September 1996, at Devonport, in the presence of Lady Elspeth and his Grace the Duke of Somerset. HMS Somerset maintains close links with both the Duke of Somerset and the County of Somerset . The ship's motto, adopted in 2005 to celebrate Trafalgar 200 and the ship's close connection with the Dukes of Somerset, is the family motto of the Dukes of Somerset:

Seen here departing Faslane 2007

HMS Westminster

HMS WESTMINSTER enjoys excellent relations with the City of Westminster, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, the Worshipful Company of Fanmakers and London Underground (Westminster Station of course!). The ship's motto is "For Nation and for Glory",

Seen here arrivng Leith 22nd February 1997

Type 22 Frigates

Originally designed as specialist anti-submarine platform, the Type 22 Frigates have evolved into a powerful surface combatant with substantial anti surface, anti submarine and anti aircraft weapons systems. They also possesses excellent command & control and communication facilities, making them ideal Flagships. On patrol they have an efficient cruising speed of 18 knots, but have a sprint capability of over 30 knots.

HMS Cumberland
The present HMS Cumberland has deployed worldwide continuing a distinguished history. During World War Two, four battle honours were awarded to the previous Cumberland in recognition of operations in North Africa, the Arctic, Sabang and Burma. The ship is affiliated to the County of Cumbria, formerly Cumberland, and is a proud "Ambassador for Cumbria". She maintains successful affiliations with a number of Sea Cadet Units, local Schools and the Cumberland Hotel.

She is currently in a refit in Rosyth Dockyard an d is due to start sea trials in May 2010

Seen here departing Faslane in 2007

HMS Cornwall

HMS Cornwall is a Type 22 frigate, "stretched" approximately 17 m longer than the original Broadsword Class. She was launched in October 1985 and commissioned at Falmouth, Cornwall in 1988 by the Ship's sponsor, Diana Princess of Wales. Following the untimely death of Princess Diana, Lady Mary Holborow, Lord Lieutenant of the County of Cornwall assumed responsibilities.

The Ship is the first of the Batch 3 Type 22 Frigates and is part of Devonport Flotilla. The Commanding Officer is Commander Johnny Ley.

She is seen here arriving Leith 21st February 1997

British Mine Sweepers and Hunters

Hunt Class

The Hunt Class are the largest warships ever constructed out of Glass Reinforced Plastic. Although orginally built as dual purpose Minesweepers and Minehunters, the class are currently configured to function only in the Minehunter role. As Minehunters they 'hunt' for mines with a high definition sonar and then destroy them using explosives placed either by the Mine Clearance Divers or by the Sea Fox Mine Disposal System . In addition they are equiped with: a single 30mm gun, two Miniguns and three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs). This equipment fit enables the Hunt class to function in a Secondary Role as very potent patrol Craft.

HMS Ledbury is the second of the Hunt Class Mine Counter Measures Vessels to be built. The ship was launched by her Sponsor, Lady Elizabeth Berthan in December 1979 and was commissioned into Naval Service on 11th June 1981. She cost £65 Million at time of building, the most expensive cost for a class of ship per metre ever built by the Royal Navy.

The Hunt Class is unique in the Royal Navy for its dual functions of 'Sweeping' and 'Hunting' on the same platform and can be rolled from one function to the other in minutes

HMS Ledbury leaving Leith for a commital at sea 30th July 2007

HMS Middleton
HMS Middleton was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd., Glasgow and launched on 4 July 1984 by Lady Blaker. She has a close affiliation with the town of Middleton in the Borough of Rochdale.

Seen here arriving Leith 26th September 2007

HMS Quorn

HMS Quorn was built by Vosper Thorneycroft Shipbuilders Ltd. at Woolston, Southampton and launched on 23 January 1988 by Lady Rosemary Thompson. She has established links in Leicestershire with the Quorn Hunt, after which the ship is named, the Quorn village and the town of Melton Mowbray.

Seen here arriving Leith 17th February 2006

Sandown Class - Single Role Minehunter

HMS Penzance
Launched by HRH Princess Michael of Kent on the 11th March 1997, the current HMS Penzance was commissioned on 14th May 1998 and is the fourth to bear the name.

Seen here arriving Leith 10th November 2006

RFA Mounts Bay

RFA Mounts Bay is one of four LSD (A) Class, Amphibious Support Platforms. Mounts Bay was constructed by BAE (Naval Ships) at Govan on the River Clyde, Launched by Lady Sarah Band, in April 2004, she became the first ‘Bay’ class vessel to achieve completion and following extensive sea trials was first to be accepted in to service in July of 2006.

A formal service of dedication took place in September of that year to mark the Transfer of Operational Command to Fleet, with the ship honoured by the attendance of the‘Sponsor’ Lady Sarah, and her husband, Admiral Sir Jonathan Band KCB ADC, First Sea Lord.

She is seen here being launched into the Clyde in April 2004

After hitting her stern on the far wall she is seen here being brought on to the fitting out berth

A close up of her damage

As she came on to the fitting out berth she again hit the side, this time she broke a fence and as the rope handler was pulling in the rope his fingers got caught on the bollard and three of his fingers were sliced off.

Finally alongside without and further disaster

She is seen here in Leith 25th August 2007.

The tug Fidra getting a bit to close the bulbous bow - CAREFUL FIDRA!!

During her stay in Leith I was lucky enough to get a guided tour of her, here are the images..

A look down her well deck

A view of the bridge

The Captains table

The Captains seat

The galley

The sleeping areas

The following image shows what was taken from the safe of RFA Sir Tristam after the ship was hit by an Exocet missile during the Falklands War in 1982, it shows (believe it or not!) a lot of coinage that was melted with the heat of the explosion, the ship subsequently sank.