Blackwood class frigate
Encyclopedia
The Type 14, Blackwood, class were a twelve ship class
of "second rate" anti-submarine warfare
(A/S) frigates of the Royal Navy
, designed and built during the increasing threat from the Soviet Union
's large fleet of submarines that roamed the Atlantic Ocean
.
s and had light armament. The class were very specialised for the A/S role and thus had little capability in any other role, though they did perform fishery protection duties during the Cod Wars. One of the ships, HMS Exmouth, was later converted to gas turbine
s in 1966, becoming the first major warship of the Royal Navy to be so powered.
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After experience with these frigates, the admiralty decided to ensure that quality was the top priority of all ships, even though it meant having a smaller fleet.
In the late 1950s, during their time on patrols around Iceland
to ensure that Iceland did not interfere with British fishermen's attempts to fish, problems were found with the hulls of the Type 14s in such heavy waters, such that their hulls had to be strengthened to cope with these patrols. However, they proved to be good seaboats throughout the dispute, which continued into the mid-1970s.
in the late 1950s
Ship class
A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship-type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, the is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class....
of "second rate" anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
(A/S) frigates of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, designed and built during the increasing threat from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
's large fleet of submarines that roamed the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
Design
They were designed to be cheaper and smaller to complement the expensive Type 12 frigateType 12 frigate
Type 12 frigate can refer to several ship classes. It most commonly describes the common design of three ship classes of the Royal Navy designed during the 1950s and constructed during the 1960s....
s and had light armament. The class were very specialised for the A/S role and thus had little capability in any other role, though they did perform fishery protection duties during the Cod Wars. One of the ships, HMS Exmouth, was later converted to gas turbine
Gas turbine
A gas turbine, also called a combustion turbine, is a type of internal combustion engine. It has an upstream rotating compressor coupled to a downstream turbine, and a combustion chamber in-between....
s in 1966, becoming the first major warship of the Royal Navy to be so powered.
In the late 1950s, during their time on patrols around Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
to ensure that Iceland did not interfere with British fishermen's attempts to fish, problems were found with the hulls of the Type 14s in such heavy waters, such that their hulls had to be strengthened to cope with these patrols. However, they proved to be good seaboats throughout the dispute, which continued into the mid-1970s.
Service
The Type 14s' limited size, at just 310 ft (94 m), restricted them from continuing past the 1970s and continuing the work as anti-submarine ships. Their small hull limited the extent of modifications and upgrades possible, preventing the Type 14s from being modernised with more effective weapons, effectively rendering them obsolete. All were decommissioned in the 1970s.Royal Navy
The Royal Navy ships were all named after British captains. Many had been in the Napoleonic wars and some were present at the Battle of TrafalgarBattle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
- BlackwoodHMS Blackwood (F78)HMS Blackwood was a Blackwood or Type 14 class second-rate anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy....
- Henry BlackwoodHenry BlackwoodVice-Admiral Sir Henry Blackwood, 1st Baronet, GCH, KCB , whose memorial is in the St. John's Church, Killyleagh, was a British sailor.... - DuncanHMS Duncan (F80)HMS Duncan was the fifth RN ship named after Admiral Adam Duncan. She was a of the Royal Navy that served in the Cod Wars.She was involved in the First Cod War between United Kingdom and Iceland over fishing rights, intervening between the Icelandic coastguard and British trawlers.She was an...
- Adam Duncan - DundasHMS Dundas (F48)HMS Dundas, Pennant number F48, was an anti-submarine warfare frigate of the Blackwood class....
- James Whitley Deans DundasJames Whitley Deans DundasAdmiral Sir James Whitley Deans Dundas GCB was a Royal Navy officer and a First Sea Lord.-Naval career:... - ExmouthHMS Exmouth (F84)HMS Exmouth, pennant number F84, was a Royal Navy anti-submarine warfare frigate of the Blackwood or Type 14 class.Exmouth became the first major warship to be powered by gas turbine engines alone when, in 1966, she was taken in hand and was refitted with a combined gas or gas arrangement...
- Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount ExmouthEdward Pellew, 1st Viscount ExmouthAdmiral Sir Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth, GCB was a British naval officer. He fought during the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary, and the Napoleonic Wars... - GraftonHMS Grafton (F51)HMS Grafton was a Blackwood or Type 14 class second-rate anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy....
- Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of GraftonHenry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of GraftonHenry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton KG was the illegitimate son of King Charles II by Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine.... - HardyHMS Hardy (F54)HMS Hardy, Pennant number F54, was an anti-submarine warfare frigate of the Blackwood class or Type 14.She was named, as were the other HMS Hardys, after Thomas Masterman Hardy Captain of at Trafalgar....
- Vice Admiral Thomas Hardy - KeppelHMS Keppel (F85)HMS Keppel was a Blackwood or Type 14 class second-rate anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy.She was scrapped at Sittingbourne in 1979...
- Augustus KeppelAugustus Keppel, 1st Viscount KeppelAdmiral Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel PC was an officer of the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the War of American Independence... - MalcolmHMS Malcolm (F88)HMS Malcolm was a Blackwood-class anti-submarine frigate of the Royal Navy, commissioned on 12 December 1957 and decommissioned in 1978. She the second ship to be borne Malcolm and was named after Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm and was, as of 2008, the final ship of that name.-The Cod Wars:Just...
- Pulteney MalcolmPulteney MalcolmAdmiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm GCB GCMG was a British naval officer. He was born at Douglan, near Langholm, Scotland, on 20 February 1768, the third son of George Malcolm of Burnfoot, Langholm, in Dumfriesshire, and his wife Margaret, the sister of Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley... - MurrayHMS Murray (F91)HMS Murray was a Blackwood or Type 14 class second-rate anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy....
- George MurrayGeorge Murray (Royal Navy officer)Vice-Admiral Sir George Murray KCB was an officer in the Royal Navy who saw service in a wide range of theatres and campaigns. His active naval career spanned the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars... - PalliserHMS Palliser (F94)HMS Palliser was a Blackwood or Type 14 class second-rate anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy.AA.AS Frigate Along with , ,and used for fishery protection off Iceland in 1962....
- Hugh PalliserHugh PalliserAdmiral Sir Hugh Palliser, 1st Baronet was an officer of the British Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War... - PellewHMS Pellew (F62)HMS Pellew was a Blackwood or Type 14 class second-rate anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy....
- Israel PellewIsrael PellewAdmiral Sir Israel Pellew, KCB, RN , was an English naval officer who spent his career under the shadow of his more successful older brother Edward Pellew.-Early naval service:... - RussellHMS Russell (F97)HMS Russell was a Blackwood or Type 14 class second-rate anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy.She saw service in the Cod Wars defending British trawlers from the Icelandic Coast Guard....
- Thomas McNamara RussellThomas McNamara RussellVice-Admiral Thomas McNamara Russell was an admiral in the Royal Navy. Russell's naval career spanned the American Revolutionary War, French Revolutionary War and Napoleonic War....
Indian Navy
Three ships were built for the Indian NavyIndian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
in the late 1950s
- INS Khukri, sunk by the Pakistani submarine PNS HangorPNS HangorPNS Hangor was a Daphné class submarine that served in the Pakistan Navy from 1970 to 2006. She was built by France, and was a type of diesel-electric submarine class. She earned renown, when during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, she sank the Indian Navy's ASW frigate INS Khukri with two Homing...
on 8 December 1971 during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971Indo-Pakistani War of 1971The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases... - INS KirpanINS KirpanThe following ships of the Indian Navy have been named INS Kirpan: was a Type 14, Blackwood class frigate commissioned in 1959 is a Khukri class corvette, currently in active service with the Indian Navy...
- INS KutharINS KutharThe following ships of the Indian Navy have been named INS Kuthar: was a Type 14, Blackwood class frigate commissioned in 1959 is a Khukri class corvette, currently in active service with the Indian Navy...
Construction Programme
| Pennant Pennant number In the modern Royal Navy, and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth, ships are identified by pennant numbers... |
Name | (a) Hull builder (b) Main machinery manufacturers |
Laid down | Launched | Accepted into service | Commissioned | Estimated building cost | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Navy | ||||||||
| F54 | Hardy HMS Hardy (F54) HMS Hardy, Pennant number F54, was an anti-submarine warfare frigate of the Blackwood class or Type 14.She was named, as were the other HMS Hardys, after Thomas Masterman Hardy Captain of at Trafalgar.... |
(a) & (b) Yarrow and Co Ltd, Scotstoun, Glasgow | 4 February 1953 | 25 November 1953 | 8 December 1955 | 15 December 1955 | £1,449,000 | Harbour service 1971, sunk as target 1983. |
| F48 | Dundas HMS Dundas (F48) HMS Dundas, Pennant number F48, was an anti-submarine warfare frigate of the Blackwood class.... |
(a) & (b) JS White and Co Ltd, Cowes, Isle of White | 17 October 1952 | 25 September 1953 | March 1956 | 16 March 1956 | £1,434,000 | Broken up 1983. |
| F91 | Murray HMS Murray (F91) HMS Murray was a Blackwood or Type 14 class second-rate anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy.... |
(a) & (b) Alex Stephen and Co Ltd, Glasgow | 30 November 1957 | 22 February 1955 | 5 June 1956 | 5 June 1956 | £1,625,000 | Broken up 1970. |
| F85 | Keppel HMS Keppel (F85) HMS Keppel was a Blackwood or Type 14 class second-rate anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy.She was scrapped at Sittingbourne in 1979... |
(a) & (b) Yarrow and Co Ltd, Scotstoun, Glasgow | 27 March 1953 | 31 August 1954 | 6 July 1956 | 6 July 1956 | £1,506,000 | Broken up 1979. |
| F62 | Pellew HMS Pellew (F62) HMS Pellew was a Blackwood or Type 14 class second-rate anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy.... |
(a) Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne Wallsend Wallsend is an area in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. Wallsend derives its name as the location of the end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 42,842.-Romans:... (b) The Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Co Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne |
5 November 1953 | 29 September 1954 | 26 July 1956 | 26 July 1956 | £1,548,000 | Broken up 1971. |
| F51 | Grafton HMS Grafton (F51) HMS Grafton was a Blackwood or Type 14 class second-rate anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy.... |
(a) & (b) JS White and Co Ltd, Cowes, Isle of White | 25 February 1953 | 13 February 1954 | 8 January 1957 | 8 January 1957 | £1,411,000 | Broken up 1971. |
| F97 | Russell HMS Russell (F97) HMS Russell was a Blackwood or Type 14 class second-rate anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy.She saw service in the Cod Wars defending British trawlers from the Icelandic Coast Guard.... |
(a) Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne Wallsend Wallsend is an area in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. Wallsend derives its name as the location of the end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 42,842.-Romans:... (b) The Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Co Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne |
11 November 1953 | 10 December 1954 | 7 February 1957 | 7 February 1957 | £1,581,000 | Broken up 1985. |
| F78 | Blackwood HMS Blackwood (F78) HMS Blackwood was a Blackwood or Type 14 class second-rate anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy.... |
(a) & (b) JI Thornycroft and Co Ltd, Woolston, Southampton | 14 September 1953 | 4 October 1955 | August 1957 | 22 August 1957 | £1,769,000 | Broken up 1976. |
| F88 | Malcolm HMS Malcolm (F88) HMS Malcolm was a Blackwood-class anti-submarine frigate of the Royal Navy, commissioned on 12 December 1957 and decommissioned in 1978. She the second ship to be borne Malcolm and was named after Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm and was, as of 2008, the final ship of that name.-The Cod Wars:Just... |
(a) Yarrow and Co Ltd, Scotstoun, Glasgow (b) Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Co, Wallsend-on-Tyne |
1 February 1954 | 18 October 1955 | December 1957 | 12 December 1957 | £1,582,000 | Broken up 1978. |
| F94 | Palliser HMS Palliser (F94) HMS Palliser was a Blackwood or Type 14 class second-rate anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy.AA.AS Frigate Along with , ,and used for fishery protection off Iceland in 1962.... |
(a) & (b) Alex Stephen and Co Ltd, Glasgow | 15 March 1955 | 10 May 1956 | December 1957 | 13 December 1957 | £1,620,000 | Broken up 1983. |
| F84 | Exmouth HMS Exmouth (F84) HMS Exmouth, pennant number F84, was a Royal Navy anti-submarine warfare frigate of the Blackwood or Type 14 class.Exmouth became the first major warship to be powered by gas turbine engines alone when, in 1966, she was taken in hand and was refitted with a combined gas or gas arrangement... |
(a) & (b) JS White and Co Ltd, Cowes, Isle of White | 24 March 1954 | 16 November 1955 | December 1957 | 20 December 1957 | £1,422,000 | Broken up 1979. |
| F80 | Duncan HMS Duncan (F80) HMS Duncan was the fifth RN ship named after Admiral Adam Duncan. She was a of the Royal Navy that served in the Cod Wars.She was involved in the First Cod War between United Kingdom and Iceland over fishing rights, intervening between the Icelandic coastguard and British trawlers.She was an... |
(a) & (b) JI Thornycroft and Co Ltd, Woolston, Southampton | 17 December 1953 | 30 May 1957 | October 1958 | 21 October 1958 | £1,960,000 | Broken up 1985. |
| Indian Navy | ||||||||
| F149 | Khukri INS Khukri INS Khukri was a British Type 14 frigate of the Indian Navy. She was sunk off the coast of Diu, Gujarat, India by the Pakistan Navy Daphne class submarine Hangor on 9 December 1971 during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. This was the first warship sunk in action by a submarine since World War II... |
(a) & (b) JS White and Co Ltd, Cowes, Isle of White | 29 December 1955 | 20 November 1956 | 16 July 1958 | Torpedoed and sunk by the Pakistan submarine Hangor 9 December 1971. | ||
| F144 | Kirpan INS Kirpan The following ships of the Indian Navy have been named INS Kirpan: was a Type 14, Blackwood class frigate commissioned in 1959 is a Khukri class corvette, currently in active service with the Indian Navy... |
(a) & (b) Alex Stephen and Co Ltd, Glasgow | 5 November 1956 | 19 August 1958 | July 1959 | Transferred to Coast Guard Service 1978. | ||
| F146 | Kuthar INS Kuthar The following ships of the Indian Navy have been named INS Kuthar: was a Type 14, Blackwood class frigate commissioned in 1959 is a Khukri class corvette, currently in active service with the Indian Navy... |
(a) & (b) JS White and Co Ltd, Cowes, Isle of White | 19 September 1957 | 14 October 1958 | November 1959 | Transferred to Coast Guard Service 1978. | ||