HMS Norfolk (F230)

HMS Norfolk underway off the Southern Californian coast
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Norfolk
Ordered:	29 October 1984
Builder:	Yarrow Shipbuilders
Laid down:	14 December 1985
Launched:	10 July 1987
Sponsored by:	Princess Margaret, the Countess of Snowdon
Commissioned:	1 June 1990
Decommissioned:	15 April 2005
Homeport:	HMNB Devonport
Motto:	Serviens servo ('Serving, I preserve')
Fate:	Sold to Chile
Badge:
Chile
Name:	Almirante Cochrane
Operator:	Chilean Navy
Commissioned:	22 November 2006
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type:	Type 23 frigate
Displacement:	4,900 tonnes
Length:	133 m (436 ft)
Beam:	16.1 m (53 ft)
Draught:	5.5 m (18 ft)
Propulsion:	CODLAG (Combined Diesel-eLectric And Gas) 2 × Rolls-Royce Spey SM1A gas turbines (34,000 hp) 4 × Paxman Valenta diesel engines (7,000 hp) 2 × GEC electric motors (1.5 MW, 4,400 hp)
Speed:	15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) (cruise) 28 kn (52 km/h; 32 mph) (max)
Range:	7,800 nmi (14,400 km; 9,000 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement:	185
Sensors and processing systems:	996 3D Radar 2 911 AAW Radars 1007 Navigation Radar 2050 Sonar Type 2087 Sonar (Installed during year 2014 refit)
Electronic warfare & decoys:	UAF-1 ESM 675 ECM Jammer Seagnat ECCM
Armament:	2 × Quad AGM 84 Harpoon missile launchers 32 × Vertical Launch Sea Wolf Anti-Aircraft & Anti-Missile Missile System 1 × 4.5 inch (114 mm) Mk.8 Mod 1 gun 2 × Oerlikon 30 mm cannons 4 × 324 mm Sting Ray - Side Launch Torpedo System
Aircraft carried:	Lynx or Merlin HM1 helicopter

The sixth HMS Norfolk, a Type 23 frigate, was laid down in 1985 by Yarrow Shipbuilders. She was launched on the Clyde by Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon in July 1987 and named for the Dukedom of Norfolk. She was commissioned on 1 June 1990. Norfolk was the 'first of class', as well as being the first of a new generation of 'lean manned' ships. She was commissioned into the Chilean Navy in 2006 as Almirante Cochrane.

Following commissioning in 1990, HMS Norfolk completed a year on first of class trials culminating in BOST in November/December 1991. 1992 started with JMC following by a brief defect rectification period in early March. On 11th May, Norfolk deployed as part of the Orient 92 Task Group with HMS Invincible (Flag), HMS Boxer & HMS Newcastle. During her deployment she completed visits to the Eastern Med (Soudha in Crete, Alexandria in Egypt, Haifa in Israel), Mauritius & Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, Malaysia (Lumut, Penang, Pulau Tioman), Thailand (Bangkok), South Korea (Pusan) and Hong Kong in the Far East and Oman in the Middle East. She returned end November 1992. In January 93, Norfolk continued with first of class shock trials in Portsmouth before completing accommodation changes being the first Type 23 to host Wren ratings at sea. This was completed in June 1993 followed by a brief trip to Amsterdam, BOST and preparation for her Southlant deployment in 1994. In 1994, Norfolk became the first Royal Navy warship to visit South Africa in over 20 years, a visit designed to show that the commonwealth was ready to accept South Africa as an ally resulting from the abolition of apartheid. Since then, she has conducted many operations, including a deployment to Sierra Leone in 2000 as part of a Royal Navy task force to assist in restoration of peace and stability to the war-torn West African nation. 2000 was a busy year for Norfolk with a deployment under Commander Bruce Williams to the United States. Amongst the places visited were Savannah, Wilmington, Port Canaveral and Nassau. She has also served in the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf, as well as being involved in Standing Naval Force Atlantic. Other duties included acting as guardship for the Falkland Islands, as well as the Caribbean.