HMS Monmouth (F235)

HMS Monmouth, 2011
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Monmouth
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	July 1988
Builder	Yarrow Shipbuilders
Laid down	1 June 1989
Launched	23 November 1991
Commissioned	24 September 1993
Decommissioned	30 June 2021
Refit	2014–2015, major
Homeport	HMNB Devonport, Plymouth
Identification	IMO number: 8949630 MMSI number: 234617000 Callsign: GCOC
Motto	"Fear Nothing But God"
Nickname(s)	"The Black Duke"[1]
Status	Awaiting disposal
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Type 23 frigate
Displacement	4,900 t (4,800 long tons; 5,400 short tons)[2]
Length	133 m (436 ft 4 in)
Beam	16.1 m (52 ft 10 in)
Draught	7.3 m (23 ft 11 in)
Propulsion	CODLAG: 4 × 1,510 kW (2,025 shp) Paxman Valenta 12CM diesel generators 2 × GEC electric motors delivering 2,980 kW (4,000 shp) 2 × Rolls-Royce Spey SM1C delivering 23,190 kW (31,100 shp)
Speed	In excess of 28 kn (52 km/h; 32 mph)
Range	7,500 nautical miles (14,000 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement	185 (accommodates 205)
Electronic warfare & decoys	UAF-1 ESM, or, UAT Mod 1 Seagnat Type 182 towed torpedo decoy Surface Ship Torpedo Defence
Armament	Anti-air missiles: 1 × 32-cell Sea Wolf SAM Anti-ship missiles: 2 × quad Harpoon launchers Anti-submarine torpedoes: 2 × twin 12.75 in (324 mm) Sting Ray torpedo tubes Guns: 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 guns
Aircraft carried	1 × Westland Wildcat HMA2, armed with; 2 × anti submarine torpedoes or 1 × Westland Merlin HM2, armed with; 4 × anti submarine torpedoes
Aviation facilities	Flight deck Enclosed hangar

HMS Monmouth was the sixth Duke-class Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy. She was the seventh ship to bear the name and was launched by Lady Eaton in 1991, being commissioned two years later.

Affectionately known as "The Black Duke", Monmouth was the only ship in service with the Royal Navy that has its name painted in black (all other RN vessels have their name in red) and flew a plain black flag in addition to the ensign. This is due to the dissolution of the title and the blacking out of the coat of arms of the Duke of Monmouth in 1685 following the Monmouth Rebellion against James II of England.^{[clarification needed]} Until her decommissioning, Monmouth carried the most battle honours of any ship name that was serving in the Royal Navy.^[3] HMS Monmouth was decommissioned on the 30 June 2021 and is now awaiting disposal in Fareham creek under the care of the disposal and reserve ships organisation.