HMS Somerset (F82)
{{short description|1996 Type 23 or Duke-class frigate of the Royal Navy}}
{{other ships|HMS Somerset}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=Royal Navy Type 23 Frigate HMS Somerset MOD 45153155.jpg |Ship caption=HMS Somerset in Indian Ocean, 2011 }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=United Kingdom |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}} |Ship name=HMS Somerset |Ship operator=Royal Navy |Ship ordered=January 1992 |Ship awarded= |Ship builder= Yarrow Shipbuilders |Ship yard number= |Ship laid down=12 October 1992 |Ship launched=25 June 1994 |Ship sponsor=Lady Layard |Ship christened= |Ship completed= |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned=20 September 1996 |Ship recommissioned= |Ship decommissioned= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship renamed= |Ship reclassified= |Ship refit= Major 2012-2013, LIFEX 2019 onwards |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship homeport=HMNB Devonport, Plymouth |Ship identification=*{{IMO Number|8949680}}
|Ship motto=*Foy pour Devoir
|Ship nickname= |Ship honours= |Ship captured= |Ship fate= |Ship status={{Ship in active service}} |Ship notes= |Ship badge=100px }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= Type 23 Frigate |Ship type= |Ship tonnage= |Ship displacement={{convert|4900|t|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Frigates |title=Type 23 Frigate |website=Royal Navy |access-date=6 April 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119000502/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Frigates |archive-date=19 January 2014}} |Ship length={{convert|133|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|16.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship height= |Ship draught={{convert|7.3|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship draft= |Ship depth= |Ship hold depth= |Ship decks= |Ship deck clearance= |Ship ramps= |Ship ice class= |Ship power= |Ship propulsion=*CODLAG:
|Ship sail plan= |Ship speed=In excess of {{convert|28|kn|abbr=on|lk=in}} |Ship range={{convert|7500|nmi|km|lk=in |
| 3}} at {{convert|15|kn|km/h|abbr=on}}
|Ship endurance= |Ship test depth= |Ship boats= |Ship capacity= |Ship troops= |Ship complement=185 (accommodation for up to 205) |Ship crew= |Ship time to activate= |Ship sensors= |Ship EW=* UAF-1 ESM, or, UAT Mod 1
|Ship armament=
|Ship armour= |Ship aircraft=* 1 × Wildcat HMA2, armed with:
|Ship aircraft facilities=* Flight deck
|Ship notes= }} |
HMS Somerset is a Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy. She is the eleventh ship of the class to join the fleet since 1989. She was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd on the River Clyde, in Scotland and was launched in June 1994 by Lady Elspeth Layard, wife of then 2nd Sea Lord Admiral and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command Admiral Sir Michael Layard. She entered service in 1996. Lady Layard is the ship's sponsor. She is named after the Dukedom of Somerset.
The fourth Somerset to serve in the Royal Navy, she has inherited four battle honours from previous ships of the name; Vigo Bay (1702), Velez Malaga (1704), Louisburg (1758) and Quebec (1759). The previous ships all served during the 18th century and ensured that the name Somerset played a significant part in that period of naval history.
Somerset{{'}}s home port is HMNB Devonport. The ship has the Freedom of the City of Wells and is also affiliated with the County of Somerset, the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, the 2nd and 4th Battalions of The Rifles (inherited from affiliation with the Royal Green Jackets), TS Weston and TS Queen Elizabeth Sea Cadet Units, Downside, Baytree and Helles Schools, Bridgwater College and the Somerset Legion House of The Royal British Legion. The 19th Duke of Somerset takes a keen interest in the ship and is a regular visitor, and the ship also hosted Harry Patch, Simon Weston (in place of Johnson Beharry) and Marcus Trescothick whilst docked at Avonmouth for a remembrance service to launch the 2008 British Legion Poppy Appeal.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2008/oct/30/voluntarysector-military |title=Ypres veteran Harry Patch, 110, launches poppy appeal |first=Aleisha |last=Scott |date=30 October 2008 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=30 October 2008}}
Operational history
=1996–2000=
On 2 November 1999, Somerset returned briefly to Sierra Leone to stand by for a possible evacuation of British nationals during a breakdown in the peace talks, though after several days of the talks resumed and Somerset was withdrawn.{{cite book|last1=Roberts|first1=John|title=Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=2009|isbn=978-1591148128}}
=2001–2010=
In 2007, the first at-sea firing trials of the UK Royal Navy's new 30mm DS30M Mark 2 Automated Small Calibre Gun system were completed by Somerset.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.janes.com/news/defence/idr/idr071030_1_n.shtml |title=ASCG enhances Type 23 close-in defence |last=Scott |first=Richard |date=30 October 2007 |magazine=Jane's International Defence Review |access-date=6 April 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101060041/http://www.janes.com/news/defence/idr/idr071030_1_n.shtml |archive-date=1 November 2007}}
On 18 February 2009, Somerset sailed from Devonport as part of the Taurus 09 deployment under Commander UK Amphibious Task Group, Commodore Peter Hudson. She was joined on this deployment by landing platform dock {{HMS|Bulwark|L15|2}} as Hudson's flagship, landing platform helicopter {{HMS|Ocean|L12|2}}, Type 23 frigate {{HMS|Argyll|F231|2}} and four ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.7202 |title=TAURUS 09 |website=Royal Navy |access-date=6 April 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221134914/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.7202 |archive-date=21 February 2009}} In June 2009, she took part in exercise Bersama Shield with Ocean and {{RFAux|Wave Ruler|A390|6}} off the Malay Peninsula.{{cite web |url=https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/ocean/ |title=HMS Ocean (LPH01) Helicopter Carrier |website=Naval Technology |access-date=17 July 2018}}
In May 2010 she sailed for Operation Telic, conducting boarding operations and oil platform protection operations in the Persian Gulf.
=2011–2021=
On 3 May 2012, she began a refit at the Devonport Royal Dockyard operated by the Babcock International Group. The refit was expected to take nine months.{{cite web |url=http://shipbuildingtribune.com/2012/05/03/uk-babcocks-devonport-yard-begins-refit-of-hms-somerset/ | title=Babcock's Devonport Yard Begins Refit of HMS Somerset |date=3 May 2012 |website=Shipbuilding Tribune |access-date=4 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505225018/http://shipbuildingtribune.com/2012/05/03/uk-babcocks-devonport-yard-begins-refit-of-hms-somerset/ |archive-date=5 May 2012}} She took part in Exercise Joint Warrior 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/October/02/131002-joint-warrior |title=Scotland set to host Exercise Joint Warrior |date=2 October 2013 |website=Royal Navy |access-date=6 April 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009035739/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/October/02/131002-joint-warrior |archive-date=9 October 2013}} In January 2015, Somerset took part in the search for the crew of the Cyprus-registered cement carrier {{MV|Cemfjord||2}}, which had capsized in the Pentland Firth.{{cite news |url=http://www.orcadian.co.uk/2015/01/missing-crew-search-suspended/ |title=Missing crew search suspended |date=4 January 2015 |newspaper=The Orcadian |access-date=4 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104203706/http://www.orcadian.co.uk/2015/01/missing-crew-search-suspended/ |archive-date=4 January 2015 }}
File:HMS Somerset (F82) & HMS Belfast (C35).jpg in London]]
On 23 April 2015, with the Border Force cutter {{ship|HMC|Valiant||2}}, she intercepted the Tanzanian-registered tug Hamal in the North Sea about {{convert|100|mi}} off Aberdeen, leading to the seizure of more than three tons of cocaine, believed to be at the time the single largest seizure of a Class A drug in the UK.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-32533478 |title=£500m drugs bust 'UK's biggest ever' |date=30 April 2015 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=6 April 2019}} In Autumn 2015, she carried out security patrols in support of the European Heads of Government meeting in Malta.{{cite news |url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/59675/maltas_border_controls_to_remain_in_place_until_end_of_year |title=Suspension of Schengen borders to remain in place until end of year |first=Miriam |last=Dalli |date=26 November 2015 |newspaper=Malta Today |access-date=6 April 2019}} In November 2015, Somerset visited Valencia - the first Royal Navy ship to do so in a number of years.{{Cite news |url=https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/13735 |title=Spanish eyes on Somerset |newspaper=Navy News |access-date=15 December 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222135901/https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/13735 |archive-date=22 December 2015}} While there, she met a delegation led by Juan Carlos Valderrama Zurián, the Central Government Representative for the Valencia region, and hosted a lunch to thank representatives of various Armed Forces charities for their work. In December 2015, she returned to port after performing guard duties at the 2015 CHOGM.{{cite web |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/december/11/151211-hms-somerset-returns-from-mediterranean-action |title=HMS Somerset returns from Mediterranean action |date=11 December 2015 |website=Royal Navy |access-date=6 April 2019}}
In March 2016, as the {{ship|Russian destroyer|Vice-Admiral Kulakov|up=yes}}, a tanker and a tug entered the United Kingdom's exclusive economic zone, they were intercepted and escorted by Somerset.{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2016/march/30/160330-hms-somerset-escorts-russian-task-group |title=HMS Somerset escorts Russian task group |date=30 March 2016 |website=Royal Navy |access-date=30 March 2016}} Somerset was again tasked with escorting a Russian vessel in May 2017 when she monitored the {{sclass2|Kilo|submarine|1}} Krasnodar as it transited the English Channel.{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2017/may/08/170508-royal-navy-escorts-russian-submarine-through-english-channel |title=Royal Navy escorts Russian submarine through English Channel |date=8 May 2017 |website=Royal Navy |access-date=10 May 2017}} Somerset was awarded the 'Fleet Frigate Effectiveness Trophy' for 2017. A Royal Navy press release said; "HMS Somerset has been awarded the accolade for being the most successful and versatile of all of the Royal Navy’s frigates, which are widely considered to be the workhorses of the fleet."{{cite web |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/hms-somerset-wins-fleet-frigate-effectiveness-trophy/ |title=HMS Somerset wins Fleet Frigate Effectiveness Trophy |first=George |last=Allison |date=18 January 2018 |website=UK Defence Journal |access-date=6 April 2019}}
Somerset began a major upgrade in November 2018 and officially returned to service in March 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2022/march/25/20220325-frigate-hms-somerset-returns-to-sea-after-four-years-following-massive-revamp|title=Frigate HMS Somerset returns to sea after four years following massive revamp}}
=2022–present=
In August 2022, it was reported that the ship had suffered a "major systems failure" and had to be docked in Rosyth for investigation and potential repair.{{cite web | url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/hms-somerset-suffers-major-systems-failure-after-leak/ | title=HMS Somerset suffers major systems failure after leak |work=UK Defence Journal |last=Allison |first=George | date=22 August 2022 |access-date=16 September 2022}} However, pursuant to repairs, the frigate was then reported to have returned to sea later the same evening.{{cite tweet |url=https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1561780275817988096 |title=@HMSSomerset sails from Crombie heading back to sea this evening after completing repairs to serious defect that emerged after LIFEX refit. |number=1561780275817988096 |user=NavyLookout |author=Navy Lookout |date=22 August 2022 |access-date=16 September 2022}} In total, Somerset spent 52 days at sea that year..{{cite news |last1=Allison |first1=George |title=Data reveals number of days warships spent at sea last year |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/data-reveals-number-of-days-warships-spent-at-sea-last-year/ |access-date=13 July 2023 |publisher=UK Defence Journal |date=1 June 2023}}
In January 2023, work began on installing Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) on Somerset to replace the Harpoon anti-ship missiles.{{cite news |last=Ozberk |first=Tayfun |date=31 January 2023 |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/01/royal-navy-begins-nsm-anti-ship-missile-upgrade-on-type-23-frigate/ |title=Royal Navy Begins NSM Anti-Ship Missile Upgrade On Type 23 Frigate |work=Naval News |access-date=4 February 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/HMSSomerset/status/1620007204584845312/photo/1 |title=@HMSSOMERSET Work begins to upgrade our anti surface warfare capability with our new Naval Strike Missile |publisher=HMS Somerset |via=Twitter |date=30 January 2023 |access-date=3 February 2023}} Somerset was to be the first Royal Navy ship to be fitted with Naval Strike Missiles and the removal of the obsolete Harpoon racks and blast deflectors was completed in January 2023.{{cite news |date=March 7, 2023 |url=https://www.navylookout.com/snapshot-the-royal-navy-escort-fleet-in-march-2023/ |title=Snapshot: The Royal Navy escort fleet in March 2023 |work=navylookout.com |access-date=March 27, 2023}} However, reported "persistent defects" in the ship since she emerged from refit in 2022 forced her back into dry dock on three occasions. As of September 2023, she was again in dry dock with the planned fitting of NSM and the testing of other key systems delayed. {{cite web | url=https://www.navylookout.com/the-struggle-to-get-hms-somerset-back-to-sea/ | title=The struggle to get HMS Somerset back to sea |work=Navy Lookout | date=7 September 2023 |access-date=7 September 2023}} The ship was reported to have returned to sea in October.{{cite tweet |url=https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1713226229183131769?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet|title=@NavyLookout Good to see @HMSSomerset returning to sea today following a series of issues that have plagued the ship post-refit. |number=1713226229183131769 |user=NavyLookout |author=Navy Lookout |date=14 October 2023 |access-date=14 October 2023}} In December, HMS Somerset became the first Royal Navy warship to go to sea with NSM.{{cite tweet |url=https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1736708119323893959?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet|title=@NavyLookout First view of Royal Navy warship equipped with the Naval Strike Missile. |number=1736708119323893959 |user=NavyLookout |author=Navy Lookout |date=18 December 2023 |access-date=18 December 2023}} She reportedly suffered a further breakdown in February 2024 delaying both her return to active operations as well as the testing of NSM for deployment with the Royal Navy.{{cite web | url=https://www.navylookout.com/snapshot-the-royal-navy-escort-fleet-in-april-2024/ | title=Snapshot: The Royal Navy escort fleet in April 2024 |work=Navy Lookout | date=20 April 2024 |access-date=21 April 2024}}
In September 2024, it was reported that the ship's post-refit defects had been "finally resolved" and that in July she had returned to sea for a series of trials.{{cite web | url=https://www.navylookout.com/hms-somerset-returns-to-action-after-post-refit-defects-finally-resolved/ | title=HMS Somerset returns to action after post-refit defects finally resolved |work=Navy Lookout | date=14 September 2024 |access-date=15 September 2024}}
On the 22nd January 2025 the UK Defence Secretary, John Healey, announced that Somerset had been deployed to monitor Russian undersea reconnaissance ship Yantar following her passing through British waters in the North Sea.{{Cite news |last=Sparrow |first=Andrew |date=2025-01-22 |title=Royal Navy ships mobilised to respond to Russian spy ship in North Sea, defence secretary tells MPs – UK politics live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/jan/22/keir-starmer-kemi-badenoch-knives-online-pmqs-uk-politics-live-news |access-date=2025-01-22 |work=the Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
Affiliations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{cite web |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/surface-fleet/frigates/type-23/hms-somerset |title=HMS Somerset |website=Royal Navy}}
{{Type 23 frigate}}
{{Royal Navy ships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Somerset}}
Category:Frigates of the United Kingdom
Category:Military history of Somerset