UK Defence Forum

(ships, planes and gaming) 12 August 2019

HMS Kent on her way out to the Gulf to relieve HMS Duncan.

(Forces TV) 13th August 2019

HMS Kent has set sail for the Gulf to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions with Iran. HMS Kent is expected to replace HMS Montrose, which is due for routine maintenance. The UK, working with the US, currently has two Royal Navy vessels escorting tankers, following Iran’s seizure of the Stena Impero. Also leaving Portsmouth was HMS Defender, deploying to the Asia Pacific region.

T23 HMS Northumberland (F238) left Plymouth on 27th August to escort QE group on Westlant 19.
Forces TV report and video: https://www.forces.net/news/services/na ... operations

HMS Kent passes through the Suez Canal on her way to the Gulf
Via Intrepid_Sailor

Interestingly, "mush room heads" are all taken off from her CAMM launchers.

Presumably "ready to fire", or simply Mediterranean environment is friendly to CAMM launchers and not requiring any cover? (HMS Argil, when visiting Malta, was also without "mush room heads" on her CAMM launchers). Not sure.

donald_of_tokyo wrote:
HMS Kent passes through the Suez Canal on her way to the Gulf
Via Intrepid_Sailor

Interestingly, "mush room heads" are all taken off from her CAMM launchers.

Presumably "ready to fire", or simply Mediterranean environment is friendly to CAMM launchers and not requiring any cover? (HMS Argil, when visiting Malta, was also without "mush room heads" on her CAMM launchers). Not sure.

Wasn't so long ago the Houthis were lobbing ASMs at ships in the Red Sea. Doesn't hurt to be prepared.

HMS Northumberland (F238)

(@NavyLookout/@jason_photos) 8th September 2019

HMS Argyll (F231) arrives in London this morning, on her way to DSEI2019 at the ExCeL centre at Royal Victoria Dock, London.
HMS Medway (P223) is already there.

Possible PoW escort?

Day 2 at DSEI 2019, the defense exhibition held in London, UK.
In this video we cover naval platforms & new ship designs:

=====================

0:42 - MBDA Sea Ceptor (CAMM) and Royal Navy Type 23 Frigate upgrade.
2:32 - Update on the Global Combat Ship programs (Type 26, Hunter-class and CSC) with BAE Systems.
4:41 Navantia's FSS ship and F-110 frigate.
7:57 BMT new ELLIDA amphibious / tanker / multi-role auxiliary vessel.
10:18 Steller Systems & Thales new TX ship concept.

HMS Argyll at DSEI in London today.

HMS Sutherland deployed to Norway. I'm afraid she carries no missile at all...

No Harpoon, apparently.



No SeaWolf, apparently. She looks like carrying SeaWolf in March 2019 (see "" ). But, not now.



By the way, she is very beautiful ship....

Agree very much with that last thought. Hull lines are a delight to the eye.

The t23 had turned out to be Def on par with the the best of them in the rest of the world as a asw frigate ,not too bad as a general purpose ship as well for an old class

Best looking ships in the fleet at the moment in my opinion.

donald_of_tokyo wrote:HMS Sutherland deployed to Norway. I'm afraid she carries no missile at all...

No Harpoon, apparently.

As a side note Northumberland & Dargon had no Harpoon fitted on Westlant 19

Tempest414 wrote:

donald_of_tokyo wrote:HMS Sutherland deployed to Norway. I'm afraid she carries no missile at all...

No Harpoon, apparently.

As a side note Northumberland & Dargon had no Harpoon fitted on Westlant 19

Naval-technology.com details the frigate's role in the broader UK-contributed force:
"Over 2,000 British personnel have been deployed to Norway to participate in a major Arctic warfare exercise called Cold Response 2020.

The personnel will join the Green Berets, while the Royal Marines and the HMS Albion, HMS Sutherland, HMS Echo and RFA Lyme Bay ships and an air group have set sail to participate in the exercise.

The RAF CH-47 Chinooks and Army AH64 Apaches will also join the exercise.

Out of the 2,000 deployed UK personnel, 1,250 are from the Lead Commando Group. The rest will support the Naval task group led by HMS Albion and the Joint Helicopter Command air group.

HMS Sutherland will take over anti-submarine warfare duties. It will conduct a variety of operations, including gunnery and boarding operations, maintaining the vessels’ readiness.

Commanding officer lieutenant of 45 Commando colonel Innes Catton said: “During Exercise Cold Response, we will be working alongside our Nato allies to give our adversaries hell from the sea.

“On Cold Response, commandos will continue to confront the challenges posed by ever-evolving threats and work on developing small-team tactics [too?] as part of our Future Commando Force evolution.” ["]

May be nothing to surprise, but for me, it is new.

HMS Lancaster, GP T23 frigate operating Merlin helicopter.

These days, even T23 ASW ships sometimes operates Wildcat, and I've not seen Merlin onboard T23-GP hull for 5-6 years (I cannot remember when it was my last seeing it). If this is very common, please let me know.

By the way, she is due to decommission in 2024. Restarting her remaining 4-years life in 2020-2024, after 3 years in refit and not operating a Helo for 4 years... Hmm.

I think this is case of using any asset for a training task on both sides ship and helicopter

(NavyLooutout/PortsmouthProud) 17th March 2020

Devonport-based HMS Sutherland makes a rare visit to Portsmouth this morning.

SKB wrote:

T23 HMS Northumberland (F238) left Plymouth on 27th August to escort QE group on Westlant 19.
Forces TV report and video: https://www.forces.net/news/services/na ... operations

Stunning warship