Description
The Type 23 frigate is a class of frigate serving with the British Royal Navy. All the ships are named after British Dukes, thus the class is also known as the Duke class. The first Type 23 was commissioned in 1989, and the sixteenth, HMS St Albans was launched in May 2000 and commissioned in June 2002. The combination of Merlin helicopters with their advanced anti submarine equipment, and Sonar 2087, has according to the Royal Navy, re-affirmed its reputation as a leader in anti-submarine warfare. HMS Kent (F78) was commissioned on 8 June 2000 and was the first ship to enter Royal Navy service in the 21st Century, and is still serving until eventually being replaced by the new Type 26 and 31 frigates currently under construction.
