UK Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose decommissions
19 April 2023
by Kate Tringham
The UK Royal Navy's eighth Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose is formally decommissioned from service during a ceremony held at HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, on 17 April 2023. (Royal Navy)
The UK Royal Navy's (RN's) eighth Type 23 Duke-class frigate, HMS Montrose (F 236), has officially retired after 29 years of active service.
The ship was formally decommissioned during a ceremony held at HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, on 17 April.
Montrose was laid down in November 1989, launched on 31 July 1992, and commissioned into service in June 1994.
From October 2014 to July 2017, Montrose underwent a major life-extension (LIFEX) refit that was intended to keep it in service until around 2027. The ship's early retirement, alongside that of sister ship Monmouth, was announced by the UK Ministry of Defence in its Defence Command Paper, Defence in a competitive age, published in March 2021, as part of efforts to free up resources for the RN's recapitalisation programme. The savings accrued will enable the three remaining Type 23 general-purpose frigates – Argyll, Lancaster, and Iron Duke – to run on until later in the decade.
Monmouth
Portugal set to issue tender for unmanned systems mother ship
25 May 2023
by Victor Barreira
The Portuguese Navy is looking to commission the Multifunctional Naval Platform in 2026. (Victor Barreira)
The Portuguese Navy is poised to issue a tender to acquire a helicopter and unmanned systems mother ship for a maximum of EUR132 million (USD142 million) to meet its Pilar I project.
A tender by prior qualification for the design and construction of the Plataforma Naval Multifuncional (Multifunctional Naval Platform) is scheduled to be published in mid-June in the Portuguese Official Gazette and in the Official Journal of the European Union , Captain Jorge Manuel Mestre Domingos, project manager at the Portuguese Navy Ships Directorate, told Janes .
The acquisition of this non-combatant multi-purpose modular ship will be funded by the European Union's (EU's) Recovery and Resilience Plan (also known as NextGenerationEU), he added.
The commissioning of the ship is scheduled to take place in 2026.
The ship is designed to be configured according to the mission set, and will principally undertake offshore surveillance, research and survey, aviation, disaster relief, and humanitarian aid missions.
LIMA 2023: HHI unveils new HDC-2000 LMS and HDL-10000 amphibious vessel
25 May 2023
by Nishant Kumar
Hyundai Heavy Industries displayed this model of the HDC-2000 LMS at the LIMA Exhibition 2023 in Langkawi. (Janes/Nishant Kumar)
Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) unveiled models of its new HDC-2000 Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) and HDL-10000 amphibious vessel at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition 2023 held in Malaysia from 23 to 27 May.
An HHI spokesperson told Janes that the HDC-2000 design will be proposed for the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN's) programme to procure a second batch of LMS vessels. The design of the HDC-2000 is based on the Philippine Navy's2,600-tonne Jose Rizal-class frigates, which were delivered in 2020 and 2021. The HDC-2000 design was completed in 2022, the spokesperson said.
The HDC-2000 has a displacement of 2,000 tonnes,an overall length of 95 m, and a breadth of 13.3 m. Propulsion is provided by four 3,900 kW diesel engines in a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) configuration that enables a top speed of about 25 kt, a range of 4,000 n mile, and an endurance of around 22 days. The ship can carry about 72 personnel.
LIMA 2023: Mitsubishi pitches MRSS to Southeast Asian navies
25 May 2023
by Nishant Kumar
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has displayed a model of a Multi-Role Support Ship that it is proposing to meet requirements within the Royal Malaysian Navy. (Janes/Nishant Kumar)
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) unveiled a model of its new Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition 2023.
An MHI spokesperson told Janes that work on the design of the new MRSS was initiated two to three years ago. However, the spokesperson said the design is not yet finalised and may change based on navies' requirements.
MHI's MRSS is positioned to meet requirements in the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) and other regional navies. MHI said it is interested in participating in the RMN's MRSS programme but is waiting for the release of a request for information (RFI) or tender.
MHI's MRSS is a transport ship that can be used for various purposes including logistical deployment forhumanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).
The MRSS has an overall length of 160 m, a maximum breadth of 24 m, and a draft of 6 m. Propulsion is provided by two sets of diesel engines that enable a top speed of 20 kt.
The UK Royal Navy's (RN's) eighth Type 23 Duke-class frigate, HMS Montrose (F 236), has officially r...
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