HMS Grafton, the 12th Type 23 Frigate to enter service in the Royal Navy, was built by Yarrows Shipbuilders, now part of BAE Marine, on the River Clyde in Scotland and was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 5 November 1994. She formally entered service in 1996 as the eighth ship to bear the name. She belongs to the Portsmouth Flotilla and is based at Portsmouth Naval Base on the south coast of England..
The name HMS Grafton has had a long and distinguished record of Royal Naval service and this is reflected in the ship's battle honours, which include the Dardanelles and Dunkirk, where the sixth HMS Grafton was sunk whilst evacuating survivors.
The first ship was named after the Duke of Grafton and the link with the Duke is continued in this present ship. Her affiliated town is Ipswich and further affiliations have been developed with local businesses, 4 Regiment Army Air Corps and the TS Orwell Sea Cadet unit.
