HMS Somerset (F82)

	HMS Somerset in Indian Ocean, 2011
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Somerset
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	January 1992
Builder	Yarrow Shipbuilders
Laid down	12 October 1992
Launched	25 June 1994
Sponsored by	Lady Layard
Commissioned	20 September 1996
Refit	Major 2012-2013, LIFEX 2019 onwards
Homeport	HMNB Devonport, Plymouth
Identification	IMO number: 8949680; MMSI number: 234635000; Callsign: GDIP;
Motto	Foy pour Devoir; "Faith for Duty";
Status	in active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Type 23 Frigate
Displacement	4,900 t (4,800 long tons; 5,400 short tons)
Length	133 m (436 ft 4 in)
Beam	16.1 m (52 ft 10 in)
Draught	7.3 m (23 ft 11 in)
Propulsion	CODLAG:; Four 1510 kW (2,025 shp) Paxman Valenta 12CM diesel generators; Two GEC electric motors delivering 2980kW (4000 shp); Two Rolls-Royce Spey SM1C delivering 23,190 kW (31,100 shp);
Speed	In excess of 28 kn (52 km/h; 32 mph)
Range	7,500 nautical miles (14,000 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement	185 (accommodation for up to 205)
Electronic warfare ; & decoys	UAF-1 ESM, or, UAT Mod 1; Seagnat; Type 182 towed torpedo decoy; Surface Ship Torpedo Defence;
Armament	Anti-air missiles:; 1 × 32-cell GWS 35 Vertical Launching System (VLS) for:; 32 × Sea Ceptor missiles (1–25+ km); Anti-ship missiles:; 2 × quad Naval Strike Missile; Anti-submarine torpedoes:; 2 × twin 12.75 in (324 mm) Sting Ray torpedo tubes; Guns:; 1 × BAE 4.5 inch Mk 8 naval gun; 2 × 30 mm DS30M Mk2 guns, or, 2 × 30 mm DS30B guns; 2 × Miniguns (retired 2023, replaced by Browing .50 calibre heavy machine guns); 4 × General-purpose machine gun;
Aircraft carried	1 × Wildcat HMA2, armed with:; 4 × Sea Venom anti-ship missiles (full operating capability projected from 2026), or, ; 2 × Sting Ray anti-submarine torpedoes, or; 20 × Martlet multirole air-surface missiles (from 2021); Mk 11 depth charges; or; 1 × Westland Merlin HM2, armed with;; 4 × anti submarine torpedoes;
Aviation facilities	Flight deck; Enclosed hangar;

HMS Somerset is a Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy. She is the eleventh ship of the class to join the fleet since 1989. She was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd on the River Clyde, in Scotland and was launched in June 1994 by Lady Elspeth Layard, wife of then 2nd Sea Lord Admiral and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command Admiral Sir Michael Layard. She entered service in 1996. Lady Layard is the ship's sponsor. She is named after the Dukedom of Somerset.

The fourth Somerset to serve in the Royal Navy, she has inherited four battle honours from previous ships of the name; Vigo Bay (1702), Velez Malaga (1704), Louisburg (1758) and Quebec (1759). The previous ships all served during the 18th century and ensured that the name Somerset played a significant part in that period of naval history.

Somerset's home port is HMNB Devonport. The ship has the Freedom of the City of Wells and is also affiliated with the County of Somerset, the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, the 2nd and 4th Battalions of The Rifles (inherited from affiliation with the Royal Green Jackets), TS Weston and TS Queen Elizabeth Sea Cadet Units, Downside, Baytree and Helles Schools, Bridgwater College and the Somerset Legion House of The Royal British Legion. The 19th Duke of Somerset takes a keen interest in the ship and is a regular visitor, and the ship also hosted Harry Patch, Simon Weston (in place of Johnson Beharry) and Marcus Trescothick whilst docked at Avonmouth for a remembrance service to launch the 2008 British Legion Poppy Appeal.

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