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Guided missile frigate HMS Iron Duke (F234)

Guided missile frigate HMS Iron Duke (F234) 0Guided missile frigate HMS Iron Duke (F234) 1Guided missile frigate HMS Iron Duke (F234) 2Guided missile frigate HMS Iron Duke (F234) 3

Classification

Ship class:
Duke-class frigate (Type 23)
Type:
Frigate

Basic information

Namesake:
Duke of Wellington (The Iron Duke)
Operator:
Royal NavyRoyal Navy
Country of build:
Builder:
Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd
Laid down:
Launched:
Commissioned (service):
Status:
Active
IMO number:
8949628
MMSI number:
234604000

Ship measurements

Displacement:
4,900 t
Length:
133 m
Beam:
16.1 m
Draft:
7.3 m

Machine

Propulsion system:
CODLAG (CODELAG)
Propulsion:
  • 2 * Rolls-Royce Spey SM1A gas turbines, 34,000 hp (25,000 kW)
  • 4 * Paxman Valenta 12CM diesel engines, (4 * 1510 KW / 2025 shp)
  • 2 * GEC electric motors (1.5 MW, 4,400 hp)
Speed:
28 knots
Range:
7,500 nmi (13,900 km; 8,600 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Personnel

Complement:
185

Combat assets

Electronics:
  • UAF-1 ESM, or, UAT Mod 1
  • Seagnat
  • Type 182 towed torpedo decoy
  • Surface Ship Torpedo Defence
Armament:
  • 1 * 32-cell GWS 35 Vertical Launching System (VLS) for:
  • 32 * Sea Ceptor missiles (1–25+ km) (being fitted in refit as of 2021)
  • Up to 2 * quad Harpoon launchers (8 * missiles)
  • 2 * twin 12.75 in (324 mm) Sting Ray torpedo tubes
  • 1 * BAE 4.5 inch Mk 8 naval gun
  • 2 * 30 mm DS30M Mk2 guns, or, 2 * 30 mm DS30B guns
  • 2 * Miniguns
  • 4 * General-purpose machine gun
Aircraft:
  • 1 * Westland Wildcat HMA2, armed with;
  • 2 * anti-submarine torpedoes or
  • 1 * Westland Merlin HM2, armed with;
  • 4 * anti submarine torpedoes

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-Gadaffi 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.

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