Definition
The Type 22 frigate, also known as the Broadsword class, was a class of multi‑role warships built for the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy from the late 1970s through the early 1990s. Designed primarily for anti‑submarine warfare (ASW) and later adapted for broader surface‑to‑surface and air‑defence capabilities, the class served until the early 2010s.
Overview
- Development and construction – The programme was initiated in the early 1970s to replace aging Type 12 frigates. A total of 22 vessels were ordered and built in three batches, with construction undertaken by shipyards including Yarrow (later BAE) and Swan Hunter. The first ship, HMS Broadsword, entered service in 1979.
- Operational history – Type 22 frigates participated in various NATO and UK operations, most notably providing air‑defence and ASW support during the 1982 Falklands War. Throughout the 1990s, the class saw deployments to the Persian Gulf, the Adriatic Sea, and counter‑piracy patrols.
- Retirement – Progressive decommissioning began in 2004, with the final vessel, HMS Cardigan Bay, leaving service in 2011. The class was succeeded by the Type 23 and Type 31 frigate programmes.
Etymology/Origin
The “Type 22” designation follows the British Ministry of Defence’s numeric system for warship classes, indicating the 22nd major surface combatant design accepted for construction. The informal name “Broadsword class” derives from the lead ship, HMS Broadsword, which adhered to the Royal Navy tradition of naming frigates after weapons or historic battles.
Characteristics
- Displacement: Approximately 4,800 tonnes (full load) for early batches; later vessels displaced up to about 5,300 tonnes after upgrades.
- Dimensions: Length ≈ 146 m (479 ft); beam ≈ 15.8 m (52 ft).
- Propulsion: Combined gas‑or‑gas (COGOG) arrangement using two Rolls‑Royce Olympus turbines for high‑speed runs and two Rolls‑Royce Tyne turbines for cruising, delivering a top speed of around 30 knots.
- Armament:
- Early batch – 2 × 4.5‑inch (114 mm) Mk 8 naval gun, 4 × MM 38 Exocet anti‑ship missile launchers, Sea Wolf point‑defence missile system, and a twin‑mounted 30 mm gun.
- Subsequent upgrades – Replacement of Sea Wolf with Sea Wolf GD (later Sea Ceptor), addition of Harpoon anti‑ship missiles on some vessels, and installation of Phalanx CIWS on later batch ships.
- Sensors and processing: Air‑search radar (Type 967), surface‑search radar (Type 992), fire‑control radar (Type 910), hull‑mounted sonar (Type 2016), and towed array sonar (Type 2031).
- Crew: Approximately 200 officers and ratings, varying with batch and mission configuration.
- Aviation facilities: Flight deck and hangar capable of operating a single Westland Lynx or later a SH‑60 Seahawk helicopter for ASW and surface‑search tasks.
Related Topics
- Type 23 frigate – Successor class emphasizing anti‑submarine warfare.
- Royal Navy frigate development – Historical evolution of British frigate design.
- Cold War naval strategy – Context for the original ASW focus of the Type 22.
- Falklands War naval operations – Notable engagement of early Type 22 vessels.
- Sea Wolf missile system – Primary short‑range air‑defence weapon originally fitted to the class.
- COGOG propulsion system – Propulsion concept employed by several Royal Navy ships of the era.