HMS Sutherland (F81)

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HMS Sutherland is a Type 23 frigate of the British Royal Navy. She is the thirteenth ship in the Duke class of frigates and is the third ship to bear the name, more than 200 years since the name was last used.

She was launched in 1996 by Lady Christina Walmsley, wife of Sir Robert Walmsley. Before this occasion, Royal Navy ships had always been launched with a bottle of champagne, but Lady Walmsley broke with tradition and used a bottle of Macallan Scotch whisky.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Operational history

1997–2000

Sutherland was deployed to the Falkland Islands in the late 1998/ early 1999. In 2000, she was part of the task force NTG2000, the first time Royal Navy ships have circumnavigated the globe since 1986.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2001–2010

HMS Surtherland was on active operations during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, primarily in the escort role. HMS Sutherland most notably provided a rear-guard naval escort to oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, monitored Iranian forces in south-west Iran and provided support to amphibious landing forces during the Invasion of the Al-Faw peninsula. After berthing at Invergordon, HMS Sutherland was granted the freedom of the county of Sutherland at a ceremony in Dornoch on 18 September 2004.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A subsequent visit to Invergordon in March 2011 was cut short, with "operational commitments" as the given reason.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This was eventually revealed as her deployment as part of the UK Response Force Task Group's (RFTG) first deployment, named COUGAR 11.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She returned to Invergordon in April 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2011–2020

In May 2011, she made a port visit to Patras, Greece, following participation in military exercises off Crete,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> after which she became involved in the operations off the Libyan coast.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 16 June 2011, Sutherland visited Souda Bay in Crete to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Crete, before sailing to Kalamata in Greece to conduct further World War II memorials.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 24 July 2011, Sutherland returned to the coast of Libya as part of Operation Ellamy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 18 October 2011, Sutherland passed through Tower Bridge in London and docked next to Template:HMS, returning through the bridge on 22 October 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2012, she was part of the COUGAR 12 task group.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She took part in Exercise Joint Warrior 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sutherland to part in 2016 Exercise Griffin Strike, a UK-French combined exercise.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sutherland escorted the Template:Ship through the English Channel in May 2016.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In April 2017, Sutherland was again tasked with escorting Russian warships in the English Channel, on this occasion, the Template:Sclasss, Template:Ship and Template:Ship.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sutherland was the first vessel assigned to escort the aircraft carrier Template:HMS when she embarked on sea trials in June 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2018 Sutherland had a deployment to the Pacific Ocean. Part of her mission was "to continue the pressure campaign on North Korea", and on her return traveled through the South China Sea to assert navigation rights against Chinese claims.<ref name=belfasttelegraph-20180213>Template:Cite news</ref>

Early in 2019 she served as a testbed for an integrated mount for the Martlet LMM and 30 mm cannon, successfully engaging in firing operations against a motorboat-sized target at the Aberporth range in Wales.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2021–present

In April 2021, Sutherland entered long-term refit to incorporate Sea Ceptor SAMs as well as other system updates. The frigate was reported to have been removed from dry dock in March 2024, it being anticipated that she would begin post-refit sea trials later in the year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Initial training in advance of post-refit sea trials began in February 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Affiliations

• The Highlanders, 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland
• County of Sutherland
• Honourable Company of Master Mariners
• Sherborne School CCF
• Clifton College, Bristol CCF's
• TS Grenville, Paisley (Sea Cadets)
• TS Duchess, Biggleswade (Sea Cadets)
• Royal Dornoch Golf Club

External links

• Template:Cite web