DSEI 2021: Royal Navy showcases Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll.

During Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) which takes place 14-17 September at London, the Royal Navy displays HMS Argyll after two years of new operations. ARGYLL was deployed to the Arabian Gulf in 2020 and recently conducted duties as the UK’s Fleet Ready Escort where she remained at very high readiness.

Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll at DSEI (Picture source: Navy Recognition)

The third and current HMS Argyll is a Type 23 'Duke' class frigate. She is currently the oldest serving Type 23 frigate in the Royal Navy. Like all of her class, she is named after a British dukedom, in this case that of Argyll. HMS Argyll was laid down in March 1987 by Yarrow Shipbuilders at Glasgow and launched in 1989 by Lady Wendy Levene, sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Paviors. She was commissioned in May 1991. Argyll is currently based at Devonport Dockyard.

The Type 23 frigate or Duke-class is a class of frigates built for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. Originally designed for anti-submarine warfare in the North Atlantic, the Royal Navy's Type 23 frigates have proven their versatility in warfighting, peacekeeping and maritime security operations around the globe. Thirteen Type 23 frigates remain in service with the Royal Navy, with three vessels having been sold to the Chilean Navy.

The HMS Argyll is armed with 32-cell Sea Wolf GWS.26 VLS canisters for 32 Sea Wolf (range 1–10 km) or Sea Ceptor missiles, two quad Harpoon launchers anti-ship missiles, two twins 12.75 in (324 mm) Sting Ray torpedo tubes, one BAE 4.5 inch Mk 8 naval gun, two 30 mm DS30M Mk2 automatic cannons, two miniguns and four General-purpose machine guns.