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HMS Sutherland in 2012
History
United Kingdom
Name	Sutherland
Ordered	January 1992
Builder	Yarrow Shipbuilders
Laid down	14 October 1993
Launched	9 March 1996
Sponsored by	Lady Christina Walmsley
Commissioned	4 July 1997
Refit	Major 2013–2015, Lifex 2021–onwards
Homeport	HMNB Devonport, Plymouth
Identification	IMO number: 8949707 MMSI number: 232002833 Callsign: GCOZ
Motto	Sans peur ("Without fear")
Status	in active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Type 23 frigate
Displacement	4,900 t (4,800 long tons)
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: Four 1,510 kW (2,020 shp) Paxman Valenta 12CM diesel generators Two GEC electric motors delivering 2,980 kW (4,000 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; 9,000 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
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 Ceptor GWS 35 Vertical Launching System (VLS) canisters for 32 missiles (1–25+ km) (replaced original Sea Wolf SAM) Anti-ship missiles: 2 × quad Harpoon Block 1C (originally fit, retired 2023); being replaced by Naval Strike Missile (fit to F82 as of 2023) 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 (replaced by Browning .50 caliber heavy machine guns as of 2023) 4 × General-purpose machine guns
Aircraft carried	1 × Wildcat HMA2, armed with: 4 × Sea Venom anti-ship missiles (full operating capability projected from 2026) or, 2 × Sting Ray anti-submarine torpedoes, or 20 × Martlet multirole missiles (from 2021) Mk 11 depth charges or 1 × Westland Merlin HM2, armed with; 4 × anti-submarine torpedoes
Aviation facilities	Flight deck Enclosed hangar

HMS Sutherland is a Type 23 frigate of the British Royal Navy. She is the thirteenth ship in the Duke class of frigates and is the third ship to bear the name, more than 200 years since the name was last used.

She was launched in 1996 by Lady Christina Walmsley, wife of Sir Robert Walmsley. Before this occasion, Royal Navy ships had always been launched with a bottle of champagne, but Lady Walmsley broke with tradition and used a bottle of Macallan Scotch whisky.

Operational history

1997–2000

Sutherland was deployed to the Falkland Islands in the late 1998/ early 1999. In 2000, she was part of the task force NTG2000, the first time Royal Navy ships have circumnavigated the globe since 1986.

2001–2010

HMS Surtherland was on active operations during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, primarily in the escort role. HMS Sutherland most notably provided a rear-guard naval escort to oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, monitored Iranian forces in south-west Iran and provided support to amphibious landing forces during the Invasion of the Al-Faw peninsula. After berthing at Invergordon, HMS Sutherland was granted the freedom of the county of Sutherland at a ceremony in Dornoch on 18 September 2004. A subsequent visit to Invergordon in March 2011 was cut short, with "operational commitments" as the given reason. This was eventually revealed as her deployment as part of the UK Response Force Task Group's (RFTG) first deployment, named COUGAR 11. She returned to Invergordon in April 2013.

2011–2020

In May 2011, she made a port visit to Patras, Greece, following participation in military exercises off Crete, after which she became involved in the operations off the Libyan coast. On 16 June 2011, Sutherland visited Souda Bay in Crete to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Crete, before sailing to Kalamata in Greece to conduct further World War II memorials. On 24 July 2011, Sutherland returned to the coast of Libya as part of Operation Ellamy. On 18 October 2011, Sutherland passed through Tower Bridge in London and docked next to HMS Belfast, returning through the bridge on 22 October 2011.

In 2012, she was part of the COUGAR 12 task group. She took part in Exercise Joint Warrior 2013.

Sutherland to part in 2016 Exercise Griffin Strike, a UK-French combined exercise. Sutherland escorted the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich through the English Channel in May 2016. In April 2017, Sutherland was again tasked with escorting Russian warships in the English Channel, on this occasion, the Steregushchiy-class corvettes, Soobrazitelnyy and Boikiy.

Sutherland was the first vessel assigned to escort the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth when she embarked on sea trials in June 2017.

In 2018 Sutherland had a deployment to the Pacific Ocean. Part of her mission was "to continue the pressure campaign on North Korea", and on her return traveled through the South China Sea to assert navigation rights against Chinese claims.

Early in 2019 she served as a testbed for an integrated mount for the Martlet LMM and 30 mm cannon, successfully engaging in firing operations against a motorboat-sized target at the Aberporth range in Wales.

2021–present

In April 2021, Sutherland entered long-term refit to incorporate Sea Ceptor SAMs as well as other system updates. The frigate was reported to have been removed from dry dock in March 2024, it being anticipated that she will begin post-refit sea trials later in the year.

Affiliations

• The Highlanders, 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland
• County of Sutherland
• Honourable Company of Master Mariners
• Sherborne School CCF
• Clifton College, Bristol CCF's
• TS Grenville, Paisley (Sea Cadets)
• TS Duchess, Biggleswade (Sea Cadets)
• Royal Dornoch Golf Club

Notes

1. HMS Sutherland achieved 34.4 knots (63.7 km/h; 39.6 mph) during high-speed trials in November 2008

References

1. "Type 23 Frigate". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
2. Peruzzi, Luca. "Royal Navy unveiled Sea Ceptor and launched first user group at DSEI 2017". European Defence Review. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
3. Scott, Richard (19 December 2023). "First NSM fit on RN Type 23 frigate". Janes. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
4. "Contenders for the Royal Navy's interim anti-ship missile requirement". navylookout.com. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
5. Navy Lookout (18 December 2023). "@NavyLookout First view of Royal Navy warship equipped with the Naval Strike Missile" (Tweet). Retrieved 18 December 2023 – via Twitter.
6. "Royal Navy ships to be fitted with advanced new missile system". gov.uk. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
7. Scott, Richard (16 February 2022). "UK confirms cancellation of I-SSGW programme". Janes Information Services. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
8. "In focus: the 50 cal heavy machine gun in Royal Navy service". Navy Lookout. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
9. "Royal Navy's Sea Venom light anti-ship missile full operating capability delayed until 2026". Navy Lookout. 21 June 2023.
10. "Background on HMS Sutherland: Ship's Life Began with a Wee Dram". Navy News. December 1998. Archived from the original on 25 March 2008.
11. "HMS Sutherland History". Royal Navy. 2007. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
12. "'Courtship' sealed by Freedom". The Northern Times. Golspie, Sutherland. 24 September 2004. Retrieved 8 May 2014 – via History Links Archive.
13. "Scots honour ship". The Daily Telegraph. 19 September 2004. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
14. "Change of programme for HMS Sutherland's visit to Invergordon". The Highland Council. 23 March 2011. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
15. "HMS Sutherland's visit cut for operational reasons". BBC News. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
16. "UK: Royal Navy Ships Set Sail to Mediterranean and Middle East". NavalToday. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
17. "HMS Sutherland returns to Invergordon". BBC News. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
18. "HMS Sutherland Visits Greece". Royal Navy. 6 May 2011. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
19. "Task force sent to Libya to ratchet up the pressure on Gaddafi". Navy News. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012.
20. "Sutherland Pays Tribute To The Fallen Of Crete And Greece". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2013 – via Noodls.
21. Ministry of Defence (27 July 2011). "HMS Sutherland begins boarding operations off Libya". Gov.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
22. "Royal Navy fighting clan returns from Libya for Capital Engagement". Royal Navy. 17 October 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
23. "HMS Sutherland". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 5 December 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
24. "Scotland set to host Exercise Joint Warrior". Royal Navy. 2 October 2013. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
25. "UK and French forces launch Exercise Griffin strike in the Solent". Royal Navy. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
26. Whitehead, Tom (11 May 2016). "Navy shadow Russian frigate through UK waters". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
27. "HMS Sutherland escorts two Russian warships past UK coastline". Royal Navy. 15 April 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
28. Allison, George (27 June 2017). "HMS Sutherland, HMS Iron Duke escorting HMS Queen Elizabeth on sea trials". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
29. "Royal Navy warship to sail through disputed sea off China - Defence Secretary". Belfast Telegraph. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
30. "Navy's new anti-ship missile bang on target". Royal Navy. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
31. "Final frigate revamp passes key milestone as HMS Sutherland returns to the water". Royal Navy. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.

External links

• "HMS Sutherland". Royal Navy.

v t e Type 23 frigates
Royal Navy	Norfolk Marlborough Argyll† Lancaster† Iron Duke† Monmouth† Westminster# Northumberland# Montrose† Richmond# Somerset# Grafton Sutherland# Kent# Portland# St Albans#
Chilean Navy	Almirante Cochrane (ex-Norfolk) Almirante Condell (ex-Marlborough) Almirante Lynch (ex-Grafton)
Preceded by: Type 22 frigate Followed by: Type 26 frigate (ASW) / Type 31 frigate (GP)
# = Fitted with towed array sonar for ASW operations † = General purpose ship without towed array sonar List of frigate classes of the Royal Navy

v t e Commissioned ships of the Royal Navy
Aircraft carriers	Queen Elizabeth class Queen Elizabeth Prince of Wales
Submarines	Vanguard class Vanguard Victorious Vigilant Vengeance Trafalgar class Triumph Astute class Astute Ambush Artful Audacious Anson
Destroyers	Type 45 Daring Dauntless Diamond Dragon Defender Duncan
Frigates	Type 23 Argyll Lancaster Iron Duke Westminster Richmond Somerset Sutherland Kent Portland St Albans
Amphibious warfare ships	Albion-class LPD Albion Bulwark
Mine counter measures vessels	Sandown class Penzance Pembroke Bangor Hunt class Ledbury Cattistock Brocklesby Middleton Chiddingfold Hurworth
Patrol vessels	Ice patrol vessel Protector River class Severn Tyne Mersey Forth Medway Trent Tamar Spey Archer class Archer Biter Smiter Blazer Puncher Charger Ranger Trumpeter Express Example Explorer Exploit Tracker Raider Pursuer Dasher Cutlass class Cutlass Dagger
Survey vessels	Ocean survey vessel Scott Survey launch Magpie
Miscellaneous	Ship of the line Victory (flagship of the First Sea Lord)

• Frigates of the United Kingdom
• Ships built on the River Clyde
• Sutherland
• 1996 ships
• Type 23 frigates of the Royal Navy