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| F235 Monmouth, Type 23 class frigate of the Royal Navy |
This
is the seventh photo gallery (see previous posts) from my visit to Kiel,
on the first weekend of the 136th Kiel Week. The Kiel Week (German:
Kieler Woche) or Kiel Regatta is an annual sailing event in Kiel, the
capital of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The first weekend of the Kiel
Week, the famous Naval Base of Kiel, opens its gates for just four hours
per day, for thousands of tourists who are eager to visit the German
Navy warships and dozens of foreign warships which visit the city of
Kiel, to honor the Kiel Week. Τhe Royal Navy was represented
by a number of ships and craft, including the F235 Monmouth, the sixth vessel in the Type 23 class of frigates. The ships are named after British Dukes, thus leading to the class being commonly known as the Duke-class. The first Type 23, HMS Norfolk, was commissioned in 1989, and the sixteenth, HMS St Albans was commissioned in June 2002. They form the core of the Royal Navy's destroyer and frigate fleet and serve alongside the Type 45 destroyers. Originally designed for anti-submarine warfare in the North Atlantic,
the Type 23 evolved into a more complex and balanced vessel
optimised for general warfare, which introduced a host of new
technologies and concepts to the Royal Navy. These included extensive radar cross-section reduction design measures, automation to substantially reduce crew size, a combined diesel-electric and gas
(CODLAG) propulsion system providing very quiet running for
anti-submarine operations along with excellent range, vertical launch
missile technology and a fully distributed combat management system. Thirteen Type 23 frigates remain in service with the Royal Navy, with three vessels having been sold to Chile and handed over to the Chilean Navy. Affectionately known as "The Black Duke", Monmouth is the only ship in service with the Royal Navy that has its name painted in black and flies a plain black flag in addition to the ensign. This is due to the dissolution of the title and the blacking out of the Coat of Arms of the Duke of Monmouth in 1685 following the Monmouth Rebellion against James II of England. As of 2018, Monmouth carries the most battle honours of any ship name currently serving in the Royal Navy. Enjoy my photos from my visit aboard the mighty HMS Monmouth!
