1976 HMS BROADSWORD. Lead ship in a class of four large anti-submarine frigates, the original Type 22s, which went into service with the Royal Navy at the start of the 1980s.
THE TYPE 22 FRIGATES
Originally conceived as the successors to the original Leander-class ships of the 1960s, by the time the Type 22 design had been finalised, they had grown by very nearly 100 per cent in terms of displacement. However, some of that was an allowance for future needs; while classed as frigates, they were actually bigger than existing guided-missile destroyers. All were built by Yarrow, it having been recognised that single-sourcing led to economies of scale. HMS Broadsword was laid down on 7 February 1975, launched on 12 May 1976 and commissioned on 3 May 1979. She was damaged during the Falklands War, but gave a very good account of herself. She was sold to Brazil in 1995.
ARMAMENT
While they were ostensibly anti-submarine ships, the Broadswords were actually equipped for any eventuality, with MM38 Exocets for use against surface targets, Sea Wolf SAMs (which had the capacity to intercept missiles) and Stingray wire-guided anti-submarine torpedoes. They were equipped to operate two Lynx helicopters, armed with both missiles and torpedoes. Gun armament was minimal two 30mm or 40mm cannon only.
TECHNICAL DATA
Type: Guided-missile frigate
Machinery: 2-shaft, twin Olympus gas turbines producing 54,600shp plus twin Tyne gas turbines producing 9700shp
Dimensions (overall): Length, 131.2m (430(t); beam, 14.8m (48.5(t)
Displacement: 4000t standard; 4400t deep load
Draught: 6.lm (19.8(t) deep load
Complement 239
Speed: 30 knots (55.5km/h)
