Duke Class

Small calibre guns

All warships carry small-calibre such as SA80, General Purpose Machine Gun and 9mm guns for use against both surface and airborne targets.

Unlike the majority of the ships weapons systems, these guns are not radar and computer controlled, but aimed and fired by the upper deck gun crews. The weapons range in calibre and complexity.

Long-range anti-ship missile

Harpoon is the long-range lance of the Type 23 Frigate, capable of destroying enemy ships far beyond the horizon.

Fitted to all Type 23 Frigates the Harpoon is a sophisticated anti-ship missile capable of striking targets more than 80 miles away. Harpoon uses a combination of inertial guidance and active radar homing to attack its prey.

Cruising at Mach 0.9 and carrying a large high explosive warhead it is powered by a lightweight turbojet but is accelerated at launch by a booster rocket.

4.5in medium gun

The 4.5in main gun, found on the forecastle of all the Royal Navy's frigates and destroyers, is the most obvious provider of punch and firepower. The gun can fire up to two dozen high explosive shells, per minute, weighing more than 40kg (80lbs) at targets more than a dozen miles away - and nearly 18 miles if special extended-range shells are used.

The main purpose of the gun is Naval Gunfire Support – artillery bombardment of shore targets. In this role, the gun is capable of firing the equivalent of a six-gun shore battery.

Guided missile

Sea Ceptor is the shield of Britain's frigate fleet against air attack. In service across all thirteen Type 23 frigates, it has the capability to protect an area the size of Greater Manchester, (500 square miles / 1,300 square kilometres), and engage multiple targets simultaneously, from its launch silo - dubbed “the mushroom farm” due to the black caps on each missile launcher.

Reaching speeds of up to three times the speed of sound, Sea Ceptor can effectively destroy airborne targets - such as incoming missiles and aircraft, as well as take-out small surface targets - such as fast attack craft.

Lt Jenkins, 25

Warfare officer

The job may be intense, but it’s incredibly rewarding. I also get to work on some of the most advanced warships on the planet.

Bridge Watch

Part of my job is ‘watching on the bridge’, acting as a helmsman. It means I’m actually in charge of steering the ship, a billion-pound Type 45 Destroyer.

Comms

When we’re on operation, the information I gather is crucial to the overall mission, so I’m sending key data to other vessels for their Commanding Officers to make decisions.

Downtime

We get time off every day, so if the operation allows it, I’ll spend time relaxing in the mess or going ashore with my crewmates.

PT

The job gets pretty physical, so keeping up a good level of fitness is really important. When time allows, I’ll hit the treadmill or rowing machine in the gym we have on board.

Radar

I work in the ops rooms a lot, using our Early Warning Radar system. I pass information to my Warfare Officer so they can make decisions about the mission.

Training

Training’s happening all the time, so I’m constantly honing my skills – whether in the classroom or on board a vessel.

Click on a location to explore our operations

Middle East

Kipion

Units of the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary have been on patrol in the Gulf since October 1980, after the Iran/Iraq conflict of that year, and more recently operations have extended further south with the increase in piracy off the Somalia coast.

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Bay of Biscay

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 is a multinational, integrated maritime force - made up of vessels from various allied nations, training and operating together as a single team - that is permanently available to NATO to perform a wide range of tasks, from participating in exercises to crisis response and real world operational missions.

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Middle East

Kipion MCMV

In support of wider British efforts in the region, minehunters are providing the capability to conduct route survey, sea-bed clearance, and mine clearance operations all over the Gulf. The operation provides a visible naval presence in a region where stability and good relations with local nations is vital. Much of the UK’s oil and gas, as well as other products, come from the Gulf region and as such these efforts are paramount to our economy.

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Arctic

Nato MCMV Force

The RN has always supplied an MCMV to one of the two NATO Mine Counter-Measures Squadrons. These are six-month deployments as part of the NATO Standing MCM Groups and will generally be around the coasts of Northern Europe or the Mediterranean depending upon the squadron in which the RN ship is working.

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North Sea

Standing Nato Maritime Group 1

Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 is a multinational, integrated maritime force - made up of vessels from various allied nations, training and operating together as a single team - that is permanently available to NATO to perform a wide range of tasks, from participating in exercises to crisis response and real world operational missions.

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United Kingdom

Fishery Protection

Protecting the British fishing industry and safeguarding the nation's fishing stocks.

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Gibraltar

Gibraltar Squadron

Conducting security patrols within British Gibraltar territorial waters, and providing protection to warships.

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Antarctic

Antarctic patrol

To provide a UK sovereign presence in the British Antarctic Territory, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and their surrounding maritime areas, to underpin their security and good governance; and meet the UK treaty obligations and exercise rights under the Antarctic Treaty System through inspections, hydrographic charting and support to scientific research.

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