Themes

Article highlights

• Versatile vessels

• Anti-submarine warfare

• Weapons systems

Weapons systems

The Vertical Launch (VL) Sea Wolf surface-to-air missile (SAM) system

The Royal Navy had already ordered the new system for the new frigates prior to the Falklands, but they were not operational until after the conflict.

The Type 23s were the first to be fitted with the new VL Sea Wolf SAM, which had an improved arc of fire to the original Sea Wolf and with increased the interception range in order to defeat saturation air and missile attacks more effectively.

HMS St Albans' first weapon firing of a Sea Wolf missile, taken in June 2003. The Sea Wolf missile was first used operationally in the Falklands Conflict, where it proved so successful that all frigates designed since then carry it. (RN FPU)

Ordnance

The new design included many new weapons systems introduced in the light of deficiencies in the Task Force ships in the Falklands. Following the Falklands, the Royal Navy armed most surface combat ships with additional guns.

The original design of the Type 23s carried a Vickers 114 mm Mark 8 gun for the purposes of naval gunfire support.

These guns had been in service since 1971, but their remote-control firing performed from the ship’s operations room had obvious benefits for a crew subjected to air attacks.

The gun’s versatility meant that the Navy could use it effectively for air, surface and land firing. The ship also carried the 30mm Oerlikon gun in order to provide the ship with a ‘last ditch’ attempt of combating an air strike.

The ship also carries quadruple Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers. The design was developed from a United States air-launched missile in the late 1970.

The British version includes its own advanced guidance system allowing the missile to surface skim at lower altitudes than before in order to avoid detection and improve effectiveness.