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Versatile vessels

The Royal Navy commissioned the first completely new design of warships since the Falklands War, the Type 23 Frigate, in 1989. Also known as the Duke Class, the last of the class, HMS St Albans entered the service in June 2002.

Prior to 1982, the Royal Navy was equipped as a Cold War fleet with emphasis on anti-submarine warfare (ASW). The Royal Navy originally intended the Type 23s for anti-submarine warfare to replace the Leander Class Frigates.

After the Falklands, however, it was important that all Royal Naval warships were equipped to be versatile vessels capable of performing ASW, Surface Warfare and Anti-Aircraft (AA) roles and the design of Type 23s included many of the lessons learned from the Conflict.

HMS Norfolk, the first Type 23 Frigate. (RNM)

Article highlights

• Versatile vessels

• Anti-submarine warfare

• Weapons systems

Follow the links to find out more about -

• Lessons from the Falklands

• The Type 23 Frigate

• New technology between the Falklands and the Gulf War

• The Gulf War

• Into the new millennium