HMS Monmouth (F235)

HMS Monmouth, 2011
History
UK
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
Refit:	Major 2014–2015
Homeport:	HMNB Devonport, Plymouth
Motto:	'Fear Nothing But God'
Nickname(s):	"The Black Duke"
Status:	in active service
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type:	Type 23 Frigate
Displacement:	4,900 t (4,800 long tons; 5,400 short tons)
Length:	133 m (436 ft 4 in)
Beam:	16.1 m (52 ft 10 in)
Draught:	7.3 m (23 ft 9 in)
Propulsion:	CODLAG: Four 1510 kW (2,025 shp) Paxman Valenta 12CM diesel generators Two GEC electric motors delivering 2980kW (4000 shp) Two 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 (accommodation for up to 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 GWS.26 VLS canisters for 32: Sea Wolf missiles (range 1-10 km) 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 × 30mm DS30M Mk2 guns, or, 2× 30mm DS30B guns 2 × Miniguns 4 × General purpose machine guns
Aircraft carried:	1 × Lynx HMA8, armed with; 4 × Sea Skua anti ship missiles, or 2 × anti submarine torpedoes or 1 × Westland Merlin HM1, armed with; 4 × anti submarine torpedoes
Aviation facilities:	Flight deck Enclosed hangar

HMS Monmouth is the sixth "Duke"-class Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy. She is 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 is the only ship in service with the Royal Navy that has its name painted in black and flies 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.

Monmouth visited Wellington in June 1995 in company with RFA Brambleleaf, the first UK or US warship to visit New Zealand since the 1985 ANZUS dispute. Another "first" followed in 1999 as Monmouth became the first major Royal Navy vessel to visit Dublin since the 1960s.

In October 1997, Monmouth, in company with RFA Orangeleaf and French ship Surcouf stood by off Pointe Noire in West Africa on Operation Kingfisher - in readiness for evacuation during the deteriorating political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On 11 February 1998, Monmouth was ordered to stand by off Sierra Leone as part of Operation Resilient to provide humanitarian assistance during the Civil War in the region.

In early 2004 the ship was assigned to the Atlantic Patrol Task North. In 2006 Monmouth underwent operational sea training, conducted by Flag Officer Sea Training, in which she spent six weeks fighting off staged attacks by ships and submarines.

Monmouth returned to berth at her home port HMNB Devonport on 3 December 2007 having completed a circumnavigation of the globe, visiting Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii and taking part in a FPDA Exercise.

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Wikipedia