This HMS Iron Duke was launched in March 1991 and commissioned in May 1991. The ship is the third vessel in the Royal Navy to bear the name. There are some wonderful images in this selection, perhaps you can spot yourself or a relative?
HMS Iron Duke intercepted several huge consignments of illegal drugs being sent from the Caribbean to Europe.
Her only combat mission was action off Libya in 2011, destroying a gun battery outside the besieged town of Misrata. She also fired star shells through the night to illuminate pro-Gadaffi positions for NATO aircraft to destroy rocket launchers, fuel dumps, ammo stores, artillery batteries and command and control centres, whilst also confirming that no civilians were in the area.
Hundreds of families welcomed back their loved ones for Christmas as HMS Iron Duke returned to Portsmouth in December 2019 from a successful South Atlantic patrol conducting maritime security operations and providing support to British Overseas Territories in the region. The Type 23 frigate and her 180 crew covered 27,442 miles and visited 11 countries during the six-month deployment. The ship left the UK in June and travelled down the west coast of Africa, across the South Atlantic to the Falkland Islands, up the west coast of South America and through the Panama Canal back to Portsmouth. She paid goodwill port visits in the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria, Namibia, South Africa, Panama, Haiti, Barbados and the Azores and also visited the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Iron Dukes Commanding Officer, Commander Thomas Tredray, said: This has been a very successful deployment for HMS Iron Duke. We have represented the Royal Navy and the UK around the world, on the high seas and during a wide variety of port visits. Throughout this, the ships company have achieved everything that has been asked of them and I am very proud of how well they have performed. Defence engagement during the deployment included exercising with forces from Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria and France and hosting a UK Trade and Industry event in Lagos, Nigeria, on behalf of the Home Office. On patrol around the Falkland Islands the vessel visited several outlying settlements and conducted training with other British forces. Photo: LA(Phot) Iggy Roberts
In February 2015, the command of HMS Iron Duke was handed over to Commander Ben Aldous. Following her extended maintenance period alongside Portsmouth Dockyard, the Ship spent a week at sea undergoing a series of equipment trails and training evolutions preparing for her future programme. At the end of the highly successful week Iron Duke can now be considered ready to continue with her future programme, which includes a much anticipated visit to Jersey, exercising with NATO partners in the Baltic and a Seawolf Missile Firing. HMS Iron Duke has been put through her paces when the ship recently undertook her regeneration programme. Under the watchful eye of staff from Maritime Commissioning, Trials and Assessment (MCTA) the frigate spent a week in the South Coast exercise area undertaking a series of dynamic trials aimed at assessing the performance of on-board equipment. The week was divided into slots for the Marine Engineers to test the propulsion, power generation and auxiliary machinery while the Weapon Engineers also tested the sensors, weapons and communication systems. Photo: LA(Phot) Iggy Roberts
Portsmouth-based HMS Iron Duke has returned to sea after a 16-month upgrade and now boasts one of the most advanced radars in the world.
The Type 23 frigate is the first Royal Navy ship to be fitted with Artisan – a 3D radar which is five times better than the old version it replaces.
She left the Naval Base today (Sunday) to begin an intensive few months of sea trials.
As part of a £100m programme Artisan will be fitted to all the Navy’s 13 Type 23s as well as the two future aircraft carriers.
Artisan could also be the principal air radar of the Type 26 combat ship, successor to the 23s, which enter service next decade.
The radar boasts some impressive statistics. It can spot something as small as a cricket or tennis ball travelling at three times the speed of sound more than 25 kilometres (15 miles) away.
It’s built out of the same lightweight carbon glass fibre materials found on a Formula 1 car and weighs just 700kg (1,540lb).
It can track up to 800 targets simultaneously if they’re 200 metres from Iron Duke or 200 kilometres (125 miles) away. Photo: LA(Phot) Maxine Davies
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.