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HMS Iron Duke (F234)

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For other ships with the same name, see HMS Iron Duke.

HMS Iron Duke, 2013
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Iron Duke
OperatorRoyal Navy
OrderedJuly 1988
BuilderYarrow Shipbuilders
Laid down12 December 1988
Launched2 March 1991
Commissioned20 May 1993
RefitMajor 2012–2014, LIFEX 2019-2022
HomeportHMNB Portsmouth[1]
Identification
Motto
  • Virtutis Fortuna Comes
  • ("Fortune is the companion of valour")
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeType 23 frigate
Displacement4,900 t (4,800 long tons; 5,400 short tons)[2]
Length133 m (436 ft 4 in)
Beam16.1 m (52 ft 10 in)
Draught7.3 m (23 ft 11 in)
Propulsion
SpeedIn excess of 28 kn (52 km/h; 32 mph)
Range7,500 nautical miles (14,000 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement185 (accommodation for up to 205)
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried
  • 1 × Wildcat HMA2, armed with:
    • 4 × Sea Venom anti-ship missiles (full operating capability projected from 2026),[11] or,
    • 2 × Sting Ray anti-submarine torpedoes, or
    • 20 × Martlet multirole missiles (from 2021)
    • Mk 11 depth charges
  • or
  • 1 × Westland Merlin HM2, armed with;
  • 4 × anti submarine torpedoes
Aviation facilities

HMS Iron Duke is a Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy, and the third ship to bear the name.

Iron Duke has intercepted several large consignments of illegal drugs being sent from the Caribbean to Europe.

In her only combat mission, she was in action off Libya in 2011, destroying a gun battery outside the besieged town of Misrata. She also fired star shells through the night to illuminate pro-Gaddafi positions for NATO aircraft to destroy rocket launchers, fuel dumps, ammo stores, artillery batteries and command and control centres, whilst also confirming that no civilians were in the area.[12]

Commissioning and construction

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Iron Duke was launched on 2 March 1991 by Lady Jane King in the presence of the Duke and Duchess of Wellington.[13] Her affiliated town is Kingston upon Hull, and she is named after Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington (the "Iron Duke"). She was the fifth Duke-class Type 23 frigate to be launched for the Royal Navy, at a cost of £140 million.

The motto of Iron Duke is Virtutis Fortuna Comes (Latin: "Fortune is the companion of valour") – inherited from the 33rd (The Duke of Wellington's) Regiment of Foot.

Iron Duke carries a number of weapons and sensors which make her a multi-purpose combat vessel. Like all T23s, her original design role was anti-submarine warfare, but she can be employed in a variety of roles. She carries a Wildcat Helicopter which can be used in an anti-submarine and anti-surface role as well as for humanitarian and search and rescue purposes.[14] The ship, like her sisters HMS Monmouth, HMS Montrose, HMS Lancaster and HMS Argyll, did not receive the new Sonar 2087 upgrade that other frigates of the class subsequently received. Therefore she has been regarded as a "general purpose" frigate without the more specialized anti-submarine capability of the other eight ships in the Type 23 fleet.[15] However, on the retirement of HMS Westminster in 2024, it was reported that the S2087 towed array from that ship would now be fit to Iron Duke instead.[16]

Iron Duke was the First of Class fit for the Royal Navy's new Type 997 Artisan 3D, successfully firing her missile system, using the new radar combined with the updated 'SWMLU' Seawolf missile targeting system, in the English Channel.

Operational history

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1993–2000

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Iron Duke intercepting a suspected smuggling vessel in the Caribbean.
Leaving Portsmouth post refit, July 2014. The new radar is very obvious.
Iron Duke in Cape Town, August 2014.
Iron Duke fires her naval gun in the South Atlantic Ocean in 2014.

In 2000, under the command of Commander Ben Key for Atlantic Patrol Tasking (South), Iron Duke was part of the Royal Navy task force—comprising Illustrious, Ocean, Argyll, Chatham, and four RFA ships—that deployed to Sierra Leone during the civil war there. Iron Duke relieved Argyll of her duties in September.[17] During this incident Argyll, assisted by Ocean, laid the foundation for the Iron Duke Community School;a school for orphans in Freetown. President Kabbah of Sierra Leone decreed the school be named after the Iron Duke in honour of their crew completing the construction of the six classrooms.[18]

During this deployment Iron Duke also visited the Falkland Islands, Brazil, Ghana, Senegal and attended Exponaval 2000 when she made a good will visit to Valparaiso, Chile, to help improve relations with the UK's traditional ally. This was the RN's first visit since the General Pinochet affair.[19]

2001–2010

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In May 2002 Iron Duke re-entered service after a refit, armed with a new 4.5 inch Mod 1 gun. Under the command of Commander Phil Warwick, Iron Duke sailed into Portsmouth for her re-dedication. Amongst those in attendance were the present Duke of Wellington and Earl Jellicoe, both related to figures associated with the ship's name and career.[20] The following January Iron Duke deployed to the Caribbean for counter-drugs operations, hurricane season disaster relief standby, and visiting UK Overseas Territories for diplomatic purposes. This was the frigate's first operation since completing her refit at the end of 2001 and comprehensive training including multi-national exercises off Scotland.[21]

In February 2006 Iron Duke conducted trials in Loch Goil and Loch Fyne.[22]

In September 2006 Iron Duke, under Commander Andy Jordan, was providing a presence for UK overseas territories in the Caribbean and providing the UK contribution to the war on drugs. She returned to the UK in December 2006. During her six-month deployment, Iron Duke steamed over 31,000 nautical miles (57,000 km), and made 22 port visits to 18 different locations.[23]

In 2007 Iron Duke, now under the command of Commander Andy Gurr, was dry-docked for ten months at HMNB Portsmouth. Various systems were upgraded including the anti-submarine warfare equipment, and the ability to operate the Merlin helicopter was added. The first installation of a NATO Radial Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, Nuclear filter system was made; this filter was undergoing trials prior to installation across the fleet, if successful.[24][25]

After 18 months of refit and upgrading, by March 2008 Iron Duke was halfway through her Operational Sea Training, in readiness for deployment to the North Atlantic at the end of May. All aspects of warfare were included in the training, including the infamous 'Thursday War' training exercise.[26]

On 18 April 2008 Iron Duke deployed to Avonmouth to train in sea and harbour safety. Avon and Somerset Police assisted in training in the co-operation between the Royal Navy and uniformed police in the event of harbour security being breached. Civic dignitaries also viewed the ship.[27] Later in April the Iron Duke's Operational Sea Training increased in difficulty with a simulation of tension between Brownian and Ginger forces with negotiations in neutral Freeport (Devonport) and a high risk of terrorist attacks. This exercise tested the defensive capabilities of the ship and the flexibility of proportional response to threats. Later in the series of exercises a hurricane hit the simulated island of Bullpoint, allowing Iron Duke to test her disaster relief capabilities including first aid, providing food and shelter to the survivors and helping to rebuild basic amenities.[28]

Iron Duke visited her home town, Kingston upon Hull, over the weekend of 26 to 29 April 2008 and was open to the public for six hours.[29][30]

By Friday 13 June Iron Duke arrived in Lisbon, Portugal after two operational stand-offs to determine that she was ready to deploy operationally. Iron Duke was briefed by the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre-Narcotics, a pan-European counter-narcotics agency, about intelligence on criminal matters such as cannabis and cocaine smuggling on the high seas. She then moved to Gibraltar for re-supply and the infamous Rock Run. Iron Duke was now on Maritime Security Patrol in the North Atlantic.[31]

As of 31 August 2008 Iron Duke was dispatched to assist relief efforts for the Atlantic Hurricane Gustav.[32]

Iron Duke has intercepted illegal drugs being shipped from the Caribbean to Europe on several occasions, sometimes aided by embarked United States Coast Guard personnel. Large shipments were intercepted on 25 June 2003 (3.7 tonnes of cocaine on MV Yalta),[33] 2 June 2008 (900 kilograms of cocaine in a speedboat which later sank),[34] late July 2009 (drugs with a street value of £33 million on a speedboat later sunk by gunfire).[35] and September 2009 (5.5 tonnes of cocaine).[36]

2011–present

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Iron Duke (upper right) in front of Sutherland and behind Queen Elizabeth during the latter's first sea trials

Iron Duke spent the first half of 2011 in the Persian Gulf before relieving HMS Liverpool off the coast Libya where she took part in combat operations for the first time in her 20-year history. She entered the Joint Operating Area on 16 July 2011 and over the course of the next five days, she went to Action Stations several times to support operations ashore. She was responsible for the destruction of a gun battery outside the besieged town of Misrata, while the frigate’s 4.5-inch gun fired many illuminating starshells to light up targets for NATO planes.[12] She returned to Portsmouth in late July, in a joint homecoming with her sister ship Richmond[37]

The Royal Navy's next generation helicopter, Wildcat, completed 20 days of demanding trials aboard Iron Duke, her first frigate, in January 2012.[38]

In March 2012 Iron Duke began a major refit in HM Naval Base, Portsmouth. Some major parts of the work package took place for the first time on a Type 23 class of ship, as the MOD looks to extend the life of the Type 23 frigates beyond the original time frame to coincide with the introduction of the Type 26 class of ships, the first which is currently expected to enter service as soon as possible after 2020. Also included in the refit was the installation of BAE Systems Artisan medium-range 3D surveillance radar[39][40] and in June 2013 she was put back at sea.[41] She test fired 7.62mm rounds from her General Purpose Machine Guns and Mini-Guns, 3lb ceremonial guns and the torpedo system.[42] In early 2014, she successfully fired her new 'SWMLU' Seawolf missile system against towed targets, destroying two simulated hostile aircraft skimming the surface of the sea, targeting from the brand new 3D radar system.

On 20 June 2014, Iron Duke deployed on operations for the first time since her refit. The frigate will sail down the Atlantic, gradually working its way down south via the west coast of Africa to the British Overseas Territories in the region. It is a routine deployment known as Atlantic Patrol Tasking (South).[43] On 20 August 2014, Iron Duke received a 21 gun salute as she approached Robben Island to dock at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa.[44]

In January 2016, Iron Duke sailed on a six-month deployment including being tasked to Standing NATO Maritime Group 1. She took part in Exercise Dynamic Guard,[45][46] and Exercise BALTOPS 16.

In June 2017, Iron Duke was assigned to maritime security operations and training around the United Kingdom but deployed at short notice to represent the Royal Navy in the BALTOPS exercise in the Baltic.[47] Upon completion of the exercise she took part in Kiel Week 2017.

HMS Iron Duke, Liverpool, 2017

Iron Duke was exhibited at the National Armed Forces day in Liverpool which ran from 24–25 June 2017 where the prime minister Theresa May visited the ship. Iron Duke was also open to the public. On 28 June, in company with HMS Sutherland, Iron Duke provided escort for the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth during her first days of sea trials. It was reported in 2018 that Iron Duke was laid up alongside in Portsmouth as a training ship since mid-2017, owing to a lack of manpower to fully crew the ship. In January 2019, the ship was towed out of Portsmouth for a major refit at Devonport, Plymouth. This 'LIFEX' refit would add Sea Ceptor, Artisan radar and new diesel generator sets. The ship's nearly five-year refit involved nearly 1.7 million hours of labour and was completed in 2023. She returned to sea for post-refit sea trials in May 2023.[48]

In November 2024, HMS Iron Duke, along with tanker RFA Tideforce, monitored a trio of Russian vessels: the Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate Admiral Golovko, oceanographic research vessel Yantar and Kaliningradneft-class tanker Vyazma as they passed through the North Sea and English Channel en route to the Atlantic. All three had been tracked by the Royal Norwegian Navy before the Royal Navy took over. HMS Iron Duke and RFA Tideforce both followed the trio through the Dover Strait and Channel before handing over monitoring duties to the French Navy. The Yantar, however, continued to remain in the UK’s area of interest, heading north into the Irish Sea, with minehunter HMS Cattistock monitoring the survey vessel. As the Golovko and Vyazma continued their journey past France, Iron Duke took over shadowing duties of a second Russian group: frigate Neustrashimy and the replenishment oiler Akademik Pashin, which were making for their home port in the Baltic. The British ships remained in contact with the pair back through the Channel and into the North Sea before handing over to Dutch warship, HNLMS De Ruyter to finish escorting them back into the Baltic. Throughout the week-long operation, Iron Duke made use of both her own Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron, plus a Merlin of 814 Naval Air Squadron based at Culdrose, an RAF P8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and aerial assets of other allies to ensure the Russian vessels were closely monitored throughout.[49][50][51][52]

Notable billeting

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Prince William served on Iron Duke in the Caribbean for 5 weeks from late June 2008 with the rank of sub-lieutenant.[53]

Affiliations

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References

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  1. ^ "FOI(A) regarding the Royal Navy" (PDF). What do they know?. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Type 23 Frigate". Royal Navy. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Royal Navy unveiled Sea Ceptor and launched first user group at DSEI 2017".
  4. ^ Scott, Richard (19 December 2023). "First NSM fit on RN Type 23 frigate". Janes. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Contenders for the Royal Navy's interim anti-ship missile requirement". navylookout.com. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  6. ^ Navy Lookout [@NavyLookout] (18 December 2023). "@NavyLookout First view of Royal Navy warship equipped with the Naval Strike Missile" (Tweet). Retrieved 18 December 2023 – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "Royal Navy ships to be fitted with advanced new missile system". gov.uk. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  8. ^ Scott, Richard (16 February 2022). "UK confirms cancellation of I-SSGW programme". Janes Information Services. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  9. ^ "In focus: the Fleet Solid Support ship design". Navy Lookout. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  10. ^ @NavyLookout (17 September 2023). "@NavyLookout .50 cal Heavy Machine Gun replacing Mk44 Mini Gun in RN service" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 September 2023 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ "Royal Navy's Sea Venom light anti-ship missile full operating capability delayed until 2026". Navy Lookout. 21 June 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Iron Duke heads for home". Navy News. 27 July 2011. [dead link]
  13. ^ Watton, Ross. "HMS Iron Duke". Ship Paintings by Ross Watton. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  14. ^ "HMS Iron Duke: History". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 23 May 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2008.
  15. ^ Allison, George (25 March 2019). "What is the purpose of the Towed Array Patrol Ship?". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Rounding up a week of news following the Royal Navy's Sea Power Conference". Navy Lookout. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Summer 2000: Duties in Sierra Leone". The Worshipful Company of Paviors. 28 November 2000. Archived from the original on 13 March 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  18. ^ "Iron Duke's name given to school". Navy News. March 2001. p. 2. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  19. ^ "Iron Duke meets up with global racers". Navy News. January 2001. p. 4. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  20. ^ "HMS Iron Duke Re-enters Service". Royal Navy. 22 May 2002. Archived from the original on 4 June 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  21. ^ "Frigate Sails For Counter-Drugs Operations". Royal Navy. 21 January 2003. Archived from the original on 4 June 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  22. ^ "Scottish Trials for Iron Duke". Royal Navy. 28 February 2006. Archived from the original on 4 June 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  23. ^ "Six Ships Return To Portsmouth in Three Days". Royal Navy. 11 December 2006. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  24. ^ "Refit Period for Iron Duke". Royal Navy. 6 July 2007. Archived from the original on 21 May 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
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  27. ^ "Pressure Is on As Royal Navy Warship Is Put Through Its Paces in Avonmouth". Royal Navy. 16 April 2008. Archived from the original on 21 May 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  28. ^ "Operational Sea Training – Disaster in the Caribbean!". Royal Navy. 22 April 2008. Archived from the original on 9 June 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  29. ^ "Hull Welcomes Its Very Own Duke". Royal Navy. 23 April 2008. Archived from the original on 9 June 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
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  33. ^ "Iron Duke in £250 Million Drug Swoop". Royal Navy. 30 June 2003. Archived from the original on 4 June 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  34. ^ "William's ship seizes drugs haul". BBC News. 2 July 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  35. ^ "Navy blasts drugs speedboat". BBC News. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  36. ^ "Navy seizes cocaine 'worth £240m'". BBC News. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  37. ^ "Portsmouth Frigates return home from operations". Navy News. 29 July 2011. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
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  39. ^ "HMS Iron Duke equipped with Artisan surveillance radar". Naval-Technology.com. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
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  41. ^ "Iron Duke back at sea after major upgrade". Royal Navy. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
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  44. ^ "SA to welcome HMS Iron Duke in style". Eyewitness News. 19 August 2014. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
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  48. ^ "HMS Iron Duke Completes Five Year Refit". Sea Waves Magazine. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  49. ^ Allison, George (16 November 2024). "British forces keep watch Russian warships close to UK". Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  50. ^ "Concerted Royal Navy effort keeps constant watch on Russian task groups". Royal Navy. 14 November 2024.
  51. ^ "Royal Navy escorts new Russian warship through the English Channel | Navy Lookout". www.navylookout.com. 9 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  52. ^ O'Carroll, Lisa (16 November 2024). "Russian spy ship escorted away from area with critical cables in Irish Sea". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  53. ^ Stone, Mark (31 May 2008). "Prince To Tackle Smugglers in Caribbean". Sky News. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
  54. ^ "Jersey's warship HMS Iron Duke visits island". BBC News. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
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