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Hmm where do we start!!
The origins of the Type 14 betray its worth as they were classified as SECOND Rate Utility frigates, and were to prove second rate indeed!
Well there is already the comment regarding the poor sea keeping qualities of these vessels which were designed as sub hunters yet rolled badly. The ships themselves required hull strengthening and developed cracks in the area of the aft 40mm mount resulting in its removal.
The ships were under armed and over specialized, designed with AS in mind they were armed with two Limbo mortars, 2 twin torpedo tubes, and 3 x 40 mm guns. The Limbo was the most effective instant reaction weapon available but had only a short range meaning that they had to be virtually on top of the submarine to attack it. This is where another problem occurred as the Type 14s had a speed of 27 knots which was no were near sufficient to keep up with the rapidly improving Russian submarines.
In other areas the ship was left wide open to surface attack from anything above a patrol boat in size. The radar fit was a very basic navigation set with limited surface surveillance so not allowing for any surface contact warning and again the speed of the ships would have proved in adequate from running away from an enemy vessel!
The same of course was true of enemy aircraft that they could barely detect and barely fight! No lessons learned from the last war??? Basically the Type 14s were cannon fodder .
The ships only had one screw resulting in little insurance from mechanical breakdown.
The type 14 was too small to have any effective modernization carried out and this effectively ended their careers with the Murray and Pellew being paid off as early as 1969! Murray herself suffered the ignominious distinction of being the first post war built frigate to be disposed, surely this comment in itself ensures the title of worst post war frigate?
Just as a foot note, it is interesting to note that much of the Type 14s peace time work was fishery protection, a role today carried out by a patrol boat ..
Sources: British warship Designs GM Stephen
Royal Navy frigates since 1945 L Marriott
British Warships Since 1945 (P5) M Critchley
The origins of the Type 14 betray its worth as they were classified as SECOND Rate Utility frigates, and were to prove second rate indeed!
Well there is already the comment regarding the poor sea keeping qualities of these vessels which were designed as sub hunters yet rolled badly. The ships themselves required hull strengthening and developed cracks in the area of the aft 40mm mount resulting in its removal.
The ships were under armed and over specialized, designed with AS in mind they were armed with two Limbo mortars, 2 twin torpedo tubes, and 3 x 40 mm guns. The Limbo was the most effective instant reaction weapon available but had only a short range meaning that they had to be virtually on top of the submarine to attack it. This is where another problem occurred as the Type 14s had a speed of 27 knots which was no were near sufficient to keep up with the rapidly improving Russian submarines.
In other areas the ship was left wide open to surface attack from anything above a patrol boat in size. The radar fit was a very basic navigation set with limited surface surveillance so not allowing for any surface contact warning and again the speed of the ships would have proved in adequate from running away from an enemy vessel!
The same of course was true of enemy aircraft that they could barely detect and barely fight! No lessons learned from the last war??? Basically the Type 14s were cannon fodder .
The ships only had one screw resulting in little insurance from mechanical breakdown.
The type 14 was too small to have any effective modernization carried out and this effectively ended their careers with the Murray and Pellew being paid off as early as 1969! Murray herself suffered the ignominious distinction of being the first post war built frigate to be disposed, surely this comment in itself ensures the title of worst post war frigate?
Just as a foot note, it is interesting to note that much of the Type 14s peace time work was fishery protection, a role today carried out by a patrol boat ..
Sources: British warship Designs GM Stephen
Royal Navy frigates since 1945 L Marriott
British Warships Since 1945 (P5) M Critchley
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As a junior seaman towards the end of 61 I was sent on loan draft to Grafton for a couple of months from Vernon. We were running from Portland. That was the first time I asked myself, "What on Earth am I doing here"The violent motion of that ship took some getting accustomed to. I remember, one day we took some German Naval officers out and fired a salvo of the Mortar Mark Ten, Very impressive.
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totally agree Stevo, these vessels should not have left the design board. \they were designed in total desperation to counter the perceived Soviet sub threat. Hidesight is a wonderful thing, however if the true potential of the helicopter had been realised earlier then these ships would have remained on the drawing board with the type 17 and 18. although i think they were of some use as the Portland training squadron!
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