Royal Navy Type 23 Frigate HMS Somerset MOD 45153155.jpg
HMSSomersetin Indian Ocean, 2011
History
United Kingdom
NameHMSSomerset
OperatorRoyal Navy
OrderedJanuary 1992
BuilderYarrow Shipbuilders
Laid down12 October 1992
Launched25 June 1994
Sponsored byLady Layard
Commissioned20 September 1996
RefitMajor 2012-2013, LIFEX 2019 onwards
HomeportHMNB Devonport, Plymouth
Identification
  • IMO number: 8949680
  • MMSI number: 234635000
  • Callsign: GDIP
Motto
  • Foy pour Devoir
  • "Faith for Duty"
Statusin active service
BadgeHms Somerset badge.gif
General characteristics
Class and typeType 23 Frigate
Displacement4,900 t (4,800 long tons; 5,400 short tons)
Length133 m (436 ft 4 in)
Beam16.1 m (52 ft 10 in)
Draught7.3 m (23 ft 11 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)
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
  • UAF-1 ESM,or, UAT Mod 1
  • Seagnat
  • Type 182 towed torpedo decoy
  • Surface Ship Torpedo Defence
Armament
  • Anti-air missiles:
    • 1 × 32-cell GWS 35 Vertical Launching System (VLS) for:
    • 32 × Sea Ceptor missiles (1–25+ km)
  • Anti-ship missiles:
    • Up to 2 × quad Harpoon launchers (8 × missiles)
  • 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 gun
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