HMS Montrose (F236)

The second and current HMS "Montrose" (F236) is the eighth of a sixteen ship class of frigates, known as Type 23 or the "Duke" class, of the Royal Navy. She was laid down in November 1989 by Yarrow Shipbuilders on the Clyde. She was launched by Mrs M L Rifkind, wife of the then Secretary of State for Defence Sir Malcolm Rifkind on 31 July 1992 and commissioned in June 1994 at Devonport Dockyard.

ervice

The ship was under the command of the husband of The Princess Royal, Captain Timothy Laurence from 27 August 1996. Laurence was appointed to command of "Montrose", and as captain of Plymouth-based F6, a squadron of five frigates. Until October 1996 the ship was in the South Atlantic, on Falkland Islands patrol.

"Montrose" has visited the City of Dundee on many occasions. Her visits include Easter 1997 and November 6th - 9th 1998 (for a Dundee navy day and Armistice Day commemorations) when she was accompanied by various warships from European countries including: Norwegian minesweeper, N 52 KNM Vidar, Norwegian minesweeper, KNM "Maloy", Dutch minesweeper, M 860 Hr. Ms. Schiedam, Belgian minesweeper, M 917 BNS Crocus, the Sandown class minehunter HMS "Cromer" (M103) and the German minesweeper, F45 FGS Volkingen [cite web|url=http://www.uss-sheffield.co.uk/dundeedock.html |title=Dundee Docks naval visitors page.] .

HMS "Montrose" attended the August Bank Holiday 28th - 30th 1999 Navy Days at HMNB Devonport, moored along with "Sutherland", "Somerset", "Monmouth", "Sheffield", "Manchester", "Illustrious", "Campbeltown", "Trafalgar", "Triumph" and "Argus".

In early 2002, while on Atlantic Patrol (South), divers from "Montrose" replaced the White Ensign on "Antelope", which was sunk during the Falklands War. "Montrose" was later relieved by the destroyer "Newcastle", and once the frigate returned to Britain from the deployment, she was placed in extended refit, which was completed in early January 2004 and undertook a diverse array of extensive training. In July "Montrose" arrived in Zeebrugge, Belgium to take part in the Belgian Navy Days. The following month "Montrose" took part in the Navy Days at Devonport Dockyard.

In October 2004, "Montrose" was one of a number of a ships that was dispatched to the rescue of the stricken Canadian submarine "Chicoutimi" which had suffered a number of fires onboard, causing casualties and the loss of power in the submarine. She had only been handed over to the Canadians a week prior to the incident and was the last of the four ex-RN "Upholder" class submarines to be transferred to Canadian service and was on her way from Faslane Naval Base to Canada. "Montrose" was the first RN vessel to make contact with the boat and assisted the submarine [cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.3843/changeNav/3533 |title=HELP ON HAND FOR CANADIAN SUBMARINE.|publisher=Royal Navy |date=2004-10-08] [cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.3845/changeNav/3533 |title=HMCS CHICOUTIMI SUMMARY.|publisher=Royal Navy |date=2004-10-14] .

9 October 2004 saw HMS "Montrose" visit Dundee for a wreath-laying ceremony commemorating the 200th anniversary of Admiral Adam Duncan [cite web|url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2004/10/08/newsstory6410211t0.asp |title=Naval hero Admiral Duncan celebrated.|publisher=Dundee Courier |date=2005-06-26 |accessdate=2004-10-08] . The event had been postponed by defence cuts and the rescue (see above) would also have meant "Montrose" could not have attended earlier.

4th and 5 June 2005 saw "Montrose" visit Dundee again, at the end of a 16-month period testing an equipment trial with new weapons and sensor systems [cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.2486/changeNav/3533 |title=Non stop action for Montrose.|publisher=Royal Navy |date=2005-06] . During the visit the ship was opened up for the public [cite web|url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2005/06/04/newsstory7199521t0.asp |title=Chance to see warship up close.|publisher=Dundee Courier |date=2005-06-26] .

2006 saw HMS Montrose in the Arabian Gulf, assisting in Operation 'Telic' [cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.4861/changeNav/3533 |title=HMS Montrose In The Gulf.|publisher=Royal Navy |date=2006-02-20] . 9 November 2006 saw HMS "Montrose" visit Dundee, Scotland for 4 days, covering the Remembrance Sunday memorial service. During the visit the crew fielded teams to play football, hockey and rugby against various teams, including some from Morgan Academy, Dundee [cite web|url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2006/11/10/newsstory8950839t0.asp |title=Chance to step aboard Royal Navy frigate.|publisher=Dundee Courier |date=2006-11-10] .

January 8 2007 saw "Montrose" deploy for 7 months to the Mediterranean [cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.7699/changeNav/3533|title=South West Royal Navy Warship Leaves for Meditteranean.|publisher=Royal Navy |date=2007-01-10 ] . During this time she was the UK's addition to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2). As part of this group, she was a part of NATO’s Operation Active Endeavour (OPAE), countering terrorist activity in the Med and preventing smuggling of illegal immigrants and other illegal activity [cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.5295/changeNav/3533 |title=Montrose starts the long journey home.|publisher=Royal Navy |date=2006-04-10] [cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.5364/changeNav/3533 |title=HMS Montrose Home From Gulf Patrol.|publisher=Royal Navy |date=2006-04-25] . During this deployment, "Montrose" rescued 11 Turkish seamen from their small boats after their own ship had sunk [cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.8800/changeNav/3533 |title=Royal Navy Warship Rescues Turkish Sailors.|publisher=Royal Navy |date=2007-04-24] . "Montrose" returned home to HMNB Devonport on July 27th 2007 [cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.9894/changeNav/3533 |title=Emotional Welcome Home for HMS Montrose.|publisher=Royal Navy |date=2007-07-27] .

Prince Michael of Kent, the Honorary Rear Admiral (Royal Naval Reserve), visited HMS "Montrose" on September 24 2007 as part of the Prince's visit to Scotland to observe the Exercise "Neptune Warrior". During the exercise, the ship was acting as Hibernian Naval Ship "Montrose". The task was to defend the territorial waters of "Hibernia" from the forces of "Albinistan" [cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.10358/changeNav/3533 |title=Royal Visitor for Exercise Neptune Warrior.|publisher=Royal Navy |date=2007-09-28] .

Wednesday 12 March 2008 saw HMS "Montrose", under Commander Andy Hogben, deploy to the Middle East from HMP Devonport. "Montrose" had been tested shortly beforehand by the Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) team to ensure the crew of "Montrose" were up for active deployment. Scenarios included in the testing were: Protecting oil platforms from insurgents, rescuing asylum seekers, boarding Dhows, fighting off attacks from aircraft, ships and small, fast boats and providing humanitarian aid following a ‘typhoon’ which hit the exercise mock village at Devonport. [cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.10358/changeNav/3533 |title=HMS Montrose Sails on Middle East Deployment.|publisher=Royal Navy |date=2008-03-06]

After the delayed deployment, originally scheduled for Friday 7 March, "Montrose" was forced to endure sea state of 6/7 on her voyage to Gibraltar. Once the weather improved an improvised game of deck hockey was played using a ball made from black masking tape and rags. The delay in arrival meant that the crew were unable to undergo the 'Rock Race', however this was planned for later on in the deployment. Flag Officer Sea Training re-embarked for further testing before HMS Argyll (F231) handed over duties to the "Montrose" near to Malta. next the ship visited Soudha Bay, Crete for a refuelling stop before the Lynx helicopter performed live fire depth charge drops. [cite web|url=http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.12071|title=Montrose Heads For the Middle East and Warmer Weather.|publisher=Royal Navy |date=2008-03-25]

By April 2008, HMS "Montrose" was firmly a part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, in the Gulf of Aden. The Royal Marines and Lynx helicopter (nicknamed 'Rattler') have been busy during this time. "Montrose" also underwent a logistics replenishment at Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. [cite web|url=http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.12548|title=Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150).|publisher=Royal Navy |date=2008-04-22]

Whilst HMS "Montrose" was operating with HMS|Chatham|F87|6, HMS|Edinburgh|D97|6 and RFA "Argus" in the region known as the 'Hash Highway', over 23 tonnes of drugs including cocaine, hashish, amphetamines and opiates were seized by fast-rope helicopter boardings. [cite web|url=http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.13239|title=South West Royal Navy Ships Seize 23 Tonnes of Drugs in Gulf).|publisher=Royal Navy |date=2008-07-13]

"Montrose" is attached to the Devonport Flotilla, based in Plymouth.Fact|date=July 2008

Affiliations

*The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland
*29 Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery
*Angus District Council
*No. 13 Squadron RAF
*Worshipful Company of Distillers
*Dundee Sea Cadets

Gallery

References

* "HMS Montrose Type 23 Frigate" guide. Directorate of Public Relations (Royal Navy). Printed in UK for HMSO by Roman Press Ltd, Bournemouth. Crown Copyright 1995, London.
* "Devonport Navy Days" guide 1999

External links

*Dundee Courier Newspaper - [http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2006/11/10/newsstory8950839t0.asp Chance to step aboard Royal Navy frigate.]
*Dundee Courier Newspaper - [http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2005/06/04/newsstory7199521t0.asp Chance to see warship up close.]
*Dundee Courier Newspaper - [http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2004/10/08/newsstory6410211t0.asp Naval hero Admiral Duncan celebrated.|publisher=Dundee Courier]