HMS Argyll (F231)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Argyll.

HMS Argyll, 2009
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Argyll
OrderedSeptember 1986
BuilderYarrow Shipbuilders
Laid down20 March 1987
Launched8 April 1989
Commissioned31 May 1991
Out of serviceMay 2024
HomeportHMNB Portsmouth[1]
Identification
Motto
  • Ne Obliviscaris
  • ("Lest We Forget")
StatusSold to BAE Systems
BadgeShip's badge
General characteristics
Class and typeType 23 frigate
Displacement4,900 t (4,800 long tons; 5,400 short tons)[3]
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
Aviation facilities

The third HMS Argyll is a Type 23 Duke-class frigate. Commissioned in 1991 and prior to her retirement, Argyll was the oldest serving Type 23 frigate in the Royal Navy. Like all of her class she was named after a British dukedom, in this case that of Argyll. HMS Argyll was laid down in March 1987 by Yarrow Shipbuilders at Glasgow, and launched in 1989 by Lady Wendy Levene, sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Paviors.[8]

Argyll was the first Type 23 to be fitted with the new Sea Ceptor missile system.[9] The ship, like her sisters HMS Monmouth, HMS Montrose, HMS Lancaster and HMS Iron Duke, did not receive the new Sonar 2087 upgrade that other frigates of the class subsequently received. Therefore she was regarded as a "general purpose" frigate without the more specialized anti-submarine capability of the other eight ships in the Type 23 fleet.[10]

Argyll was retired and sold to BAE Systems for apprentice training in 2024.[11][12]

  1. ^ "FOI(A) regarding the Royal Navy" (PDF). What do they know?. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Fleet Bridge Card" (PDF). Royal Navy. 27 February 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  3. ^ "Type 23 Frigate". Royal Navy. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  4. ^ Peruzzi, Luca. "Royal Navy unveiled Sea Ceptor and launched first user group at DSEI 2017". European Defence Review. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  5. ^ Scott, Richard (19 December 2023). "First NSM fit on RN Type 23 frigate". Janes. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Contenders for the Royal Navy's interim anti-ship missile requirement". navylookout.com. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  7. ^ "In focus: the Fleet Solid Support ship design". Navy Lookout. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  8. ^ "HMS Argyll". The Worshipful Company of Paviors. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  9. ^ "HMS Argyll upkeep marks start of Type 23 life extension". ADS Advance. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  10. ^ Allison, George (25 March 2019). "What is the purpose of the Towed Array Patrol Ship?". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  11. ^ Allison, George (14 May 2024). "Two Royal Navy frigates to be retired". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  12. ^ Tringham, Kate (16 May 2024). "UK Royal Navy Type 23 frigates Argyll and Westminster to retire". Janes.com. Retrieved 17 May 2024.