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HMS Sutherland is a Type 23 Frigate – and the fastest in our fleet. She deploys all over the globe, and specialises in submarine hunting.
HMS Sutherland (F81) is currently on deployment
Alongside
Plymouth
This unit is currently on deployment, find out how that might affect you.
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HMS Sutherland is the thirteenth of the Type 23 frigates. She was built on the Clyde by Yarrow Shipbuilders and launched by Lady Christina Walmsley in 1996. Royal Navy ships are usually launched with the ceremonial breaking of a bottle of champagne against the ship’s hull, but when Sutherland was launched, Lady Walmsley broke with tradition and used a bottle of Macallan Scottish whisky.
Versatile and adaptable, Sutherland’s missions vary from finding and striking enemy warships through to evacuating citizens from disaster zones. She is also our fastest recorded frigate, achieving over 34 knots (39mph) during time trials in 2004.
The Ship’s Company – a crew of around 200 – is split into Warfare, Marine Engineering, Weapon Engineering, Logistics, Flight and Executive. They’re specialists in their own areas, though all members of the crew are also trained in ‘wholeship duties’ including damage control, fire fighting and first aid. Sutherland also welcomes specialists including as linguists, intelligence analysts and a Royal Marines boarding team depending on the operation.
In 5 weeks from UK to Australia
Endurance without resupply
Top speed
HMS Sutherland’s primary role in a task group is to provide an anti-submarine screen for the main force. Because of this, she has some unique specialities:
Global
British ships and units, which include the Royal Marines, are committed to operations around the world.
Preparing our team to survive and thrive in the world’s most inhospitable environments.
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Commander joined the Royal Navy in 2001, he is now in command of HMS Sutherland.
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Submarine hunter, UK protector and humanitarian helper
HMS Sutherland is able to adapt to a range of missions at a moment’s notice. She has regularly acted as Towed Array Patrol Ship and Fleet Ready Escort, ready and able to respond to urgent challenges in UK waters: counter terrorism; prevention of smuggling and people trafficking; maritime patrol; surveillance; and anti-submarine operations.
She was chosen to escort HMS Queen Elizabeth out of Rosyth in Scotland on the aircraft carrier’s maiden voyage for sea trials in 2017, and was the first warship to take a Royal Navy Wildcat maritime attack helicopter to the Asia Pacific region.
Launched in 1704 as HMS Reserve in Deptford.
She was renamed Sutherland in 1716, and served as a hospital ship in the Mediterranean in the later years of a career lasting half a century.
This 50-gun fourth rate launched in 1741. She earned four battle honours during a blistering four-year period.
HMS Sutherland besieged the French-Canadian fortress of Louisburg over six weeks in the summer of 1758. When it fell, she joined the Fleet sent to capture Quebec.
Quebec 1759.
The ship participated in the capture of Dominica in 1761 then Martinique and Havana the following year during Britain’s brief occupation of the Cuban capital.
Martinique 1762 and Havana 1762.
The second Sutherland was sold out of the navy in 1770. It would be more than 200 years before another ship would be named HMS Sutherland.
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Mine hunter ships, frigates, destroyers and assault ships, among others, form the backbone of our naval prowess.
A vital element of the Royal Navy's role is keeping the peace, preventing conflict and containing situations before they develop.
The UK has a responsibility to its citizens and its allies to endeavour to safeguard the high seas. This is why the Royal Navy protects home and international waters.
