HMS Norfolk (F230)

HMS Norfolk underway off the Southern Californian coast
Career (UK)
Ordered:	29 October 1984
Builder:	Yarrow Shipbuilders
Laid down:	14 December 1985
Launched:	10 July 1987
Sponsored by:	Princess Margaret, the Countess of Snowdon
Commissioned:	1 June 1990
Decommissioned:	15 April 2005
Homeport:	HMNB Devonport
Motto:	Serviens servo ('Serving, I preserve')
Fate:	Sold to Chile
Badge:
Career (Chile)
Name:	Almirante Cochrane
Operator:	Chilean Navy
Commissioned:	22 November 2006
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type:	Type 23 frigate
Displacement:	4,900 tonnes
Length:	133 m (436 ft 3 in)
Beam:	16.1 m (52 ft 10 in)
Draught:	5.5 m (18 ft)
Propulsion:	CODLAG (Combined Diesel-eLectric And Gas) 2 × Rolls-Royce Spey SM1A gas turbines (34,000 hp) 4 × Paxman Valenta diesel engines (7,000 hp) 2 × GEC electric motors (1.5 MW, 4,400 hp)
Speed:	15 knots (28 km/h) cruise 28 knots (52 km/h) maximum
Range:	7,800 nautical miles (14,400 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement:	185
Sensors and processing systems:	996 3D Radar 2 911 AAW Radars 1007 Navigation Radar 2050 Sonar
Electronic warfare and decoys:	UAF-1 ESM 675 ECM Jammer Seagnat ECCM
Armament:	2 × Quad AGM 84 Harpoon missile launchers 32 × Vertical Launch Sea Wolf Anti-Aircraft & Anti-Missile Missile System 1 × 4.5 inch (114 mm) Mk.8 Mod 1 gun 2 × Oerlikon 30 mm cannons 4 × 324 mm Sting Ray - Side Launch Torpedo System
Aircraft carried:	Lynx or Merlin HM1 helicopter

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Norfolk.

For other ships of the same name, see Chilean ship Cochrane.

The sixth HMS Norfolk was laid down in 1985 by Yarrow Shipbuilders. She was launched on the Clyde by Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon in July 1987. She was commissioned on the 1st of June 1990. Norfolk was the 'first of class', as well as being the first of a new generation of 'lean manned' ships.^[1] She was commissioned into the Chilean Navy in 2006 as Almirante Cochrane.

Royal Navy career

In 1994, Norfolk became the first Royal Navy warship to visit South Africa in over 20 years, a visit designed to show that the commonwealth was ready to accept South Africa as an ally resulting from the abolition of apartheid. Since then, she has conducted many operations, including a deployment to Sierra Leone in 2000 as part of a Royal Navy task force to assist in restoration of peace and stability to the war-torn West African nation. 2000 was a busy year for Norfolk with a deployment under Commander Bruce Williams to the United States. Amongst the places visited were Savannah, Wilmington, Port Canaveral and Nassau.^[2] She has also served in the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf, as well as being involved in Standing Naval Force Atlantic. Other duties included acting as guardship for the Falkland Islands, as well as the Caribbean.

A chance encounter in 2000 attracted a local bottlenose dolphin whilst on exercises. A photograph of the encounter was taken and the dolphin, frequently seen in the area, was named Norfolk in honour of this encounter.^[3]

2002 saw a busy year for Norfolk, commanded by Commander Richard Talbot. She was deployed with vessels from Portugal, Norway, Spain, Germany, Italy and the United States of America as part of her role within the Standing Naval Force Atlantic (SNFL). As part of SNFL she was involved in a simulated volcanic eruption disaster relief exercise. March saw Exercise 'Strong Resolve' off Northern Norway, then in April she was in the Mediterranean as part of Operation Direct Endeavour for NATO. During the Mediterranean deployment there was a visit to Malta, including hosting the Princess Royal. The 30,000-nautical-mile (56,000 km) voyage was also the last for Mr Chick MBE, a laundryman who served for 50 years including the Yangtze Incident, Korea and Suez through to the Falklands Campaign and Gulf War. Norfolk then attended the 2002 Navy days at Devonport.^[4]

2003 saw the crew of Norfolk deployed with 'Green Goddess' fire engines to compensate for the fire service strike. Norfolk spent 169 days alongside the wall at HMP Portsmouth. May 2003 saw Norfolk sail to her home base of Devonport and resume her active role of training ready for deployment. Amongst the simulations were attack runs by small attack craft, similar to the one which attacked the USS Cole.^[5]

Norfolk was the first ship to be armed with the Vertical Launch Seawolf missile system. Norfolk was also the first Royal Navy warship to be re-armed with the new 4.5 inch (114 mm) Mod 1 gun system.^[6] 2004 saw Norfolk involved in the celebrations of the centenary of the Entente Cordiale with France. Norfolk also took part in the 2004 amphibious warfare-themed Devonport Navy days.^[7] In July 2004, it was announced that Norfolk would be one of three Type 23 frigates decommissioned by the end of 2007. Norfolk entered her home port for the last time at then end of November 2004 was decommissioned at Devonport on 15 April 2005, the guest of honour being then Commander-in-Chief Fleet, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, who had been Norfolk's first commanding officer.

Chilean Navy career

In June 2005 it was announced that Norfolk would be sold to the Chilean Navy. ^[8][9] She was commissioned into the Chilean Navy on 22 November 2006 as Almirante Cochrane (named after Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald).

References

1. ^ "Fact Card - HMS Norfolk.". Navy News newspaper. 2003-03-31. http://www.navynews.co.uk/ships/norfolk.asp. 
2. ^ "Fact Card - HMS Norfolk.". Royal Navy. 2000-02-07. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.3245/changeNav/3533. 
3. ^ "A Dolphin Named Norfolk.". Royal Navy. 2001-02-16. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.3463/changeNav/3533. 
4. ^ "HMS Norfolk Returns to UK.". Royal Navy. 2002-02-16. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.3627/changeNav/3533/changeNav/3533. 
5. ^ "HMS Norfolk goes back to the day job.". EDP24. 2003-06-07. http://www.edp24.co.uk/Content/Frontline/2003/030607HMSnorfolk1.asp. 
6. ^ "HMS Norfolk out of Refit with New Gun.". Royal Navy. 2001-02-12. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.3460/changeNav/3533. 
7. ^ "HMS Norfolk celebrates Centenary of the Entente Cordiale in Brest.". Royal Navy. 2004-07-09. http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.3826/changeNav/3533/changeNav/3533. 
8. ^ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3912283.stm "20,000 posts go in defence cuts ."]. BBC. 2004-07-21. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3912283.stm. 
9. ^ "South American future for HMS Norfolk". EDP24. 2005-07-21. http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED20+Jul+2005+20%3A05%3A07%3A110.