HMS Somerset (F82)
HMS Somerset in Indian Ocean, 2011
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History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name | HMS Somerset |
Operator | Royal Navy |
Ordered | January 1992 |
Builder | Yarrow Shipbuilders |
Laid down | 12 October 1992 |
Launched | 25 June 1994 |
Sponsored by | Lady Layard |
Commissioned | 20 September 1996 |
Refit | Major 2012-2013, LIFEX 2019 onwards |
Homeport | HMNB Devonport, Plymouth |
Identification |
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Motto |
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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)[1] |
Length | 133 m (436 ft 4 in) |
Beam | 16.1 m (52 ft 10 in) |
Draught | 7.3 m (23 ft 11 in) |
Propulsion |
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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 |
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Armament |
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Aircraft carried |
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Aviation facilities |
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HMS Somerset is a
The fourth Somerset to serve in the Royal Navy, she has inherited four battle honours from previous ships of the name; Vigo Bay (1702), Velez Malaga (1704), Louisburg (1758) and Quebec (1759). The previous ships all served during the 18th century and ensured that the name Somerset played a significant part in that period of naval history.
Somerset's home port is
Operational history
1996–2000
On 2 November 1999, Somerset returned briefly to Sierra Leone to stand by for a possible evacuation of British nationals during a breakdown in the peace talks, though after several days of the talks resumed and Somerset was withdrawn.[9]
2001–2010
In 2007, the first at-sea firing trials of the UK Royal Navy's new 30mm DS30M Mark 2 Automated Small Calibre Gun system were completed by Somerset.[10]
On 18 February 2009, Somerset sailed from Devonport as part of the Taurus 09 deployment under Commander UK Amphibious Task Group, Commodore Peter Hudson. She was joined on this deployment by landing platform dock Bulwark as Hudson's flagship, landing platform helicopter Ocean, Type 23 frigate Argyll and four ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.[11] In June 2009, she took part in exercise Bersama Shield with Ocean and RFA Wave Ruler off the Malay Peninsula.[12]
In May 2010 she sailed for
2011–2021
On 3 May 2012, she began a refit at the
On 23 April 2015, with the
In March 2016, as the Russian destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov, a tanker and a tug entered the United Kingdom's exclusive economic zone, they were intercepted and escorted by Somerset.[20] Somerset was again tasked with escorting a Russian vessel in May 2017 when she monitored the Kilo-class submarine Krasnodar as it transited the English Channel.[21] Somerset was awarded the 'Fleet Frigate Effectiveness Trophy' for 2017. A Royal Navy press release said; "HMS Somerset has been awarded the accolade for being the most successful and versatile of all of the Royal Navy’s frigates, which are widely considered to be the workhorses of the fleet."[22]
Somerset began a major upgrade in November 2018 and officially returned to service in March 2022.[23]
2022–present
In August 2022, it was reported that the ship had suffered a "major systems failure" and had to be tied up in Rosyth for investigation and potential repair.[24] However, pursuant to repairs, the frigate was then reported to have returned to sea later the same evening.[25]
In 2022, Somerset spent 52 days at sea.[26]
In January 2023, work began on installing Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) on Somerset to replace the Harpoon anti-ship missiles.[27][28] Somerset was to be the first Royal Navy ship to be fitted with Naval Strike Missiles and the removal of the obsolete Harpoon racks and blast deflectors was completed in January 2023.[29] However, reported "persistent defects" in the ship since she emerged from refit in 2022 forced her back into dry dock on three occasions. As of September 2023, she was again in dry dock with the planned fitting of NSM and the testing of other key systems delayed. [30] The ship was reported to have returned to sea in October.[31] In December, HMS Somerset became the first Royal Navy warship to go to sea with NSM.[32] She reportedely suffered a further breakdown in February 2024 delaying both her return to active operations as well as the testing of NSM for deployment with the Royal Navy.[33]
Affiliations
- Duchy of Somerset
- The Rifles
- Wells, Somerset
- Worshipful Society of Apothecaries
- Somerset County Council
- Downside School CCF, Somerset
References
- ^ "Type 23 Frigate". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "Royal Navy's Sea Venom light anti-ship missile full operating capability delayed until 2026". Navy Lookout. 21 June 2023.
- ^ "Royal Navy unveiled Sea Ceptor and launched first user group at DSEI 2017".
- ^ Navy Lookout [@NavyLookout] (18 December 2023). "@NavyLookout First view of Royal Navy warship equipped with the Naval Strike Missile" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 October 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Navy Lookout [@NavyLookout] (14 October 2023). "@NavyLookout Good to see @HMSSomerset returning to sea today following a series of issues that have plagued the ship post-refit" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 October 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Ozberk, Tayfun (31 January 2023). "Royal Navy Begins NSM Anti-Ship Missile Upgrade On Type 23 Frigate". Naval News. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ "In focus: the Fleet Solid Support ship design". Navy Lookout. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ Scott, Aleisha (30 October 2008). "Ypres veteran Harry Patch, 110, launches poppy appeal". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 October 2008.
- ISBN 978-1591148128.
- ^ Scott, Richard (30 October 2007). "ASCG enhances Type 23 close-in defence". Jane's International Defence Review. Archived from the original on 1 November 2007. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "TAURUS 09". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "HMS Ocean (LPH01) Helicopter Carrier". Naval Technology. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ^ "Babcock's Devonport Yard Begins Refit of HMS Somerset". Shipbuilding Tribune. 3 May 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
- ^ "Scotland set to host Exercise Joint Warrior". Royal Navy. 2 October 2013. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "Missing crew search suspended". The Orcadian. 4 January 2015. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- ^ "£500m drugs bust 'UK's biggest ever'". BBC News. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ Dalli, Miriam (26 November 2015). "Suspension of Schengen borders to remain in place until end of year". Malta Today. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "HMS Somerset returns from Mediterranean action". Royal Navy. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "HMS Somerset escorts Russian task group". Royal Navy. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ "Royal Navy escorts Russian submarine through English Channel". Royal Navy. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ Allison, George (18 January 2018). "HMS Somerset wins Fleet Frigate Effectiveness Trophy". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "Frigate HMS Somerset returns to sea after four years following massive revamp".
- ^ Allison, George (22 August 2022). "HMS Somerset suffers major systems failure after leak". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
- ^ Navy Lookout [@NavyLookout] (22 August 2022). "@HMSSomerset sails from Crombie heading back to sea this evening after completing repairs to serious defect that emerged after LIFEX refit" (Tweet). Retrieved 16 September 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Allison, George (1 June 2023). "Data reveals number of days warships spent at sea last year". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ Ozberk, Tayfun (31 January 2023). "Royal Navy Begins NSM Anti-Ship Missile Upgrade On Type 23 Frigate". Naval News. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ "@HMSSOMERSET Work begins to upgrade our anti surface warfare capability with our new Naval Strike Missile". HMS Somerset. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Snapshot: The Royal Navy escort fleet in March 2023". navylookout.com. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "The struggle to get HMS Somerset back to sea". Navy Lookout. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ Navy Lookout [@NavyLookout] (14 October 2023). "@NavyLookout Good to see @HMSSomerset returning to sea today following a series of issues that have plagued the ship post-refit" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 October 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Navy Lookout [@NavyLookout] (18 December 2023). "@NavyLookout First view of Royal Navy warship equipped with the Naval Strike Missile" (Tweet). Retrieved 18 December 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Snapshot: The Royal Navy escort fleet in April 2024". Navy Lookout. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
External links
- "HMS Somerset". Royal Navy.