Brontekst bekijken van HMS Montrose (F236)

{{Other ships|HMS Montrose}}
{{short description|Type 23 frigate of the Royal Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMS Montrose, a Type 23 Frigate, performed a series of tight turns, during Marstrike 05. MOD 45145955.jpg
|Ship caption=HMS ''Montrose'' in 2005
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[United Kingdom]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name=''Montrose''
|Ship ordered=July 1988
|Ship awarded=
|Ship builder=[[Yarrow Shipbuilders]]
|Ship yard number=
|Ship laid down=1 November 1989
|Ship launched=31 July 1992
|Ship sponsor=Lady Rifkind
|Ship christened=
|Ship completed=
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=2 June 1994
|Ship recommissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=17 April 2023
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship renamed=
|Ship reclassified=
|Ship refit= LIFEX 2014–2017
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=[[HMNB Portsmouth]]
|Ship identification=*{{IMO Number|8949642}}
*{{MMSI Number|234618000}}
*[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: GCOD
|Ship motto=*''Mare ditat rosa decorat''
*Latin: "The sea enriches and the rose adorns"
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=
|Ship captured=
|Ship fate=
|Ship status=Decommissioned
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=[[File:HMS MONTROSE ship's crest.jpg|100px]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class= [[Type 23 frigate|Type 23]] [[frigate]]
|Ship displacement={{convert|4900|t|LT|lk=on|abbr=on}}
|Ship length={{convert|133|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|16.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship height={{convert|28.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|7.3|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=*[[Combined diesel-electric and gas|CODLAG]]:
*Four {{convert|1510|kW|shp|abbr=on|lk=on}} [[Paxman Valenta]] 12CM diesel generators
*Two [[General Electric Company plc|GEC]] [[electric motor]]s delivering {{convert|2980|kW|shp|abbr=on}}
*Two [[Rolls-Royce Spey]] SM1C delivering {{convert|23190|kW|shp|abbr=on}}
|Ship speed=In excess of {{convert|28|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range={{convert|7500|nmi|lk=in|-3|abbr=on}} at {{convert|15|kn|abbr=on}}
|Ship endurance=
|Ship complement=185 (accommodation for up to 205)
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=* UAT Mod 1 ESM
* [[Seagnat]]
* Type 2170 [[SSTD|Surface Ship Torpedo Defence]]
|Ship armament=
*''Anti-air missiles:''
**1 × 32-cell [[vertical launching system|GWS 35 Vertical Launching System (VLS)]] for:
**32 × [[Sea Ceptor]] missiles (1–25+&nbsp;km)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.edrmagazine.eu/royal-navy-unveiled-sea-ceptor-and-launched-first-user-group-at-dsei-2017|title = Royal Navy unveiled Sea Ceptor and launched first user group at DSEI 2017}}</ref>
*''Anti-ship missiles:''
**2 × quad [[Harpoon (missile)|Harpoon]] launchers (8 × missiles)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.navylookout.com/contenders-for-the-royal-navys-interim-anti-ship-missile-requirement/|title = Contenders for the Royal Navy's interim anti-ship missile requirement &#124; Navy Lookout| date=26 August 2021 }}</ref>
*''Anti-submarine torpedoes:''
**2 × twin 12.75{{nbsp}}in (324{{nbsp}}mm) [[Sting Ray (torpedo)|Sting Ray torpedo]] tubes
*''Guns:''
**1 × [[BAE Systems|BAE]] [[4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun|4.5-inch Mk{{nbsp}}8 naval gun]]
**2 × [[30mm DS30M Mark 2 Automated Small Calibre Gun|30{{nbsp}}mm DS30M Mk2 guns]], ''or'', 2 × 30{{nbsp}}mm DS30B guns
**2 × [[Minigun]]s
**4 × [[FN MAG|General-purpose machine gun]]
|Ship armour=
|Ship aircraft=*1 × [[AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat|Westland Wildcat HMA2]], armed with;
* 2 × anti-submarine torpedoes
*''or''
*1 × [[AgustaWestland AW101|Westland Merlin HM2]], armed with;
* 4 × anti-submarine torpedoes
|Ship aircraft facilities=* Flight deck
* Enclosed [[hangar]]
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''HMS ''Montrose''''' was the eighth of the sixteen-ship [[Type 23 frigate|Type 23]] or Duke class of [[frigate]]s, of the [[Royal Navy]], named after the [[Duke of Montrose]]. She was laid down in November 1989 by [[Yarrow Shipbuilders]] on the [[River Clyde|Clyde]], and was launched on 31 July 1992 by Edith Rifkind (later Lady Rifkind), wife of (later Sir) [[Malcolm Rifkind]], [[Secretary of State for Defence]]. She was commissioned into service in June 1994.

Having once been the flagship of the [[6th Frigate Squadron (United Kingdom)|6th Frigate Squadron]], ''Montrose'' became part of the [[Devonport Flotilla]], based in [[HMNB Devonport|Devonport Dockyard]] in [[Plymouth]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Naval-Bases/Devonport |title=HMNB Devonport |website=Royal Navy |access-date=27 March 2019}}</ref> In 2018, it was announced that ''Montrose'' would become the first Royal Navy frigate to be forward-deployed to the [[HMS Jufair|UK Naval Support Facility]] in [[Bahrain]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2018/october/26/181026-montrose-deploys |title=HMS ''Montrose'' to become first forward-deployed frigate in the Middle East |date=26 October 2018 |website=Royal Navy |access-date=26 October 2018}}</ref> The 2021 defence review announced that the ship would now be retired early, likely after her return to the U.K. from the Persian Gulf. She was deployed on maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf up to November 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.naval-technology.com/features/royal-navy-to-lose-two-type-23s-setting-stage-for-future-fleet/ |title=Royal Navy to lose two Type 23s setting stage for future fleet |last=Lye |first=Harry |website=Naval-technology.com |date=23 March 2021 |access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref>
On 5 January 2022 the frigate passed the 1,000-day milestone of days at sea<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2022/january/05/20220105-hms-montrose-1000-days |title=UK warship passes 1,000-day milestone keeping Middle East sea lanes open |publisher=Royal Navy |date=5 January 2022 |access-date=9 January 2022}}</ref> and in November of that year departed the Persian Gulf to return to the U.K. ahead of her planned decommissioning, expected in spring 2023.<ref>{{cite tweet |url=https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1592476197732196352 |title=@HMSMontrose sails from Bahrain for the last time after 4 years forward-deployed on operations in the Gulf. |number=1592476197732196352 |user=NavyLookout |date=15 November 2022 |access-date=15 November 2022}}</ref> She was subsequently decommissioned on 17 April 2023.

==Operational history==

===1994–2000===
Deployments in the 1990s include her first trip to the [[South Atlantic]], as [[Falkland Islands]] guardship, which ended in October 1996. Her first visit to the City of [[Dundee]] was in 1993. Several [[NATO]] deployments followed.

===2001–2010===
In early 2002, ''Montrose'' returned to the Falklands on the now-renamed Atlantic Patrol Task (South) deployment, during which divers from ''Montrose'' replaced the [[White Ensign]] on {{HMS|Antelope|F170|2}}, which was sunk during the [[Falklands War]]. On her return from this deployment, she conducted her first refit period (RP1), which was completed in early January 2004.

In October 2004, ''Montrose'' was one of a number of ships dispatched to the rescue of the stricken Canadian submarine {{HMCS|Chicoutimi|SSK 879|2}} (an ex-Royal Navy [[Upholder/Victoria-class submarine|''Upholder''-class]] submarine) which had suffered a number of fires on board, causing casualties and the loss of power in the submarine. ''Montrose'' was the first Royal Navy vessel to make contact with the boat and assisted the submarine.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mapleleafweb.com/old/education/spotlight/issue_58/events.htm |title=Fire on the HMCS ''Chicoutimi'' Timetable of Events |website=Mapleleafweb.com}} {{dead link|date=October 2013}}</ref>

''Montrose'' deployed in 2006 to the [[Persian Gulf]] on [[Operation Telic]] in the first half of 2006. After returning to the UK for personnel changes and maintenance, from 8 January to 27 July 2007, ''Montrose'' then deployed for seven months to the [[Mediterranean Sea]] as the UK contribution to the [[Standing NATO Maritime Group 2|Standing NATO Maritime Group Two]] (SNMG2). As part of this group, she participated in NATO's [[Operation Active Endeavour]] (OAE), countering [[terrorist]] activity in the Mediterranean and preventing [[smuggling]] and other illegal activity. After Summer Leave, the ship headed to Scotland to take part in [[Exercise Joint Warrior|Exercise Neptune Warrior]], and was visited there by [[Prince Michael of Kent]], Honorary Rear Admiral of the Royal Naval Reserve, on 24 September 2007.

Following Operational Sea Training, ''Montrose'' deployed again to the Middle East on 12 March 2008 to join Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, operating in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. Activity in this deployment included Exercise Khunjar Haad, a multi-national exercise held in the [[Gulf of Oman]] in May,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=37643 |title=USS ''Russell'' Participates in Exercise Khunjar Haad |last=Scheimer |first=Elizabeth |date=7 June 2008 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=27 March 2019 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327222351/https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=37643 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and working with {{HMS|Chatham|F87|2}}, {{HMS|Edinburgh|D97|2}} and {{ship|RFA|Argus|A135|6}} the seizure of over 23 tonnes of illegal drugs including [[cocaine]], [[hashish]], [[amphetamines]] and [[opiates]].<ref>{{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 |website=Royal Navy |date=13 July 2008 |access-date=27 March 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025074024/http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.13239 |archive-date=25 October 2008}}</ref> She returned home on 3 October 2008, and after operating in UK waters, commenced a £15,000,000 upkeep package at [[Rosyth Dockyard|Rosyth]] in early 2009.

This second refit package (RP2) included a number of major capability upgrades for the ship, including the first fitting of the Royal Navy's newest command system, DNA(2), and the replacement of the two old manually-operated 30&nbsp;mm guns with two [[30mm DS30M Mark 2 Automated Small Calibre Gun|30 mm DS30M Mark 2 Guns]].<ref name=ASCG>{{cite web |url=http://www.janes.com/news/defence/idr/idr071030_1_n.shtml |title=ASCG enhances Type 23 close-in defence |first=Richard |last=Scott |date=30 October 2007 |website=Janes.com |access-date=7 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704102808/http://www.janes.com/news/defence/idr/idr071030_1_n.shtml |archive-date=4 July 2009}}</ref> Having rejoined the ship on 20 July 2009, the crew conducted [[Sea trials|post-refits trials]] until January 2010, and ''Montrose'' was formally accepted back into the fleet on 11 February 2010.

After operational sea training ''Montrose'' deployed to the Arabian Sea in Summer 2010 to conduct anti-piracy operations, highlights of which included the November 2010 destruction of a Somalian pirate ship by the ship's [[Lynx helicopter]] while on patrol off the coast of Somalia, and the disruption of several pirate attacks on merchant ships.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/National/article/8030/marines-on-hms-montrose-destroy-somali-pirate-boat.html |title=Marines on HMS ''Montrose'' destroy Somali pirate boat |newspaper=[[The Courier (Dundee)|The Courier]] |date=26 November 2010 |access-date=27 March 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315020722/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/National/article/8030/marines-on-hms-montrose-destroy-somali-pirate-boat.html |archive-date=15 March 2011}}</ref>

===2011–2023===
In October 2011, ''Montrose'' deployed again to the South Atlantic,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2011/October/25/111025-HW-Montrose-Deploys |title=''Montrose'' begins six-month stint in the South Atlantic |website=Royal Navy |date=25 October 2011 |access-date=27 March 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131005812/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2011/October/25/111025-HW-Montrose-Deploys |archive-date=31 January 2012}}</ref> during which she was due to visit [[Callao]], Peru in March 2012, but the Peruvian government cancelled the visit, according to the Foreign Minister, as a gesture of solidarity with Argentina [[Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute|over the Falklands]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17442215 |title=Peru cancels Royal Navy visit over Falklands |website=BBC News |date=20 March 2012 |access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> After visits to New Orleans and Bermuda in March and April 2012, ''Montrose'' returned to the UK in May 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hms-montrose-welcomed-home-from-south-atlantic |title=HMS ''Montrose'' welcomed home from South Atlantic |author=Ministry of Defence |website=Gov.uk |date=15 May 2012 |access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref> In July 2012, the ship acted as the escort vessel for [[Queen Elizabeth II]] during her [[Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Diamond Jubilee]] visit to [[Cowes]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/5421 |title=A 'rose for Her Majesty: ''Montrose'' honours Queen's Diamond Jubilee with sail-past in Solent |newspaper=[[Navy News]] |date=25 July 2012 |access-date=17 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307003233/http://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/5421 |archive-date=7 March 2016}}</ref>

From September to November 2012, the ship participated in the COUGAR 12 deployment to the Mediterranean. In early 2013, the ship and crew underwent intensive training to return to the front line,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Frigates/HMS-Montrose |title=HMS ''Montrose'' |website=Royal Navy |access-date=7 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007070349/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Frigates/HMS-Montrose |archive-date=7 October 2013}}</ref> and then deployed as part of the COUGAR 13 task group in August 2013.<ref>{{cite web |author=Ministry of Defence |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/royal-navy-set-for-cougar-13 |title=Royal Navy set for Cougar 13 |website=[[Gov.uk]] |date=8 August 2013 |access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref> After the remainder of the COUGAR 13 task group returned to the UK, ''Montrose'' remained in the Middle East to act as the UK's frigate in the [[Persian Gulf]] under Operation KIPION, and conducted numerous exercises with allied nations, as well as UK-only training events such as the maintenance exercise with {{ship|RFA|Diligence|A132|6}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/November/08/131108-Montrose-Diligence |title=Engineers from RFA ''Diligence'' and HMS ''Montrose'' work together afloat |website=Royal Navy |date=8 November 2013 |access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref>

In 2014, ''Montrose'' was tasked to join Norwegian and Danish warships in Operation RECSYR – the mission to escort the merchant vessels removing the Syrian chemical weapons stockpile for destruction.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hms-montrose-to-assist-in-removal-of-chemical-stocks-from-syria |title=HMS ''Montrose'' to assist in removal of chemical stocks from Syria |author=Ministry of Defence |date=13 January 2014 |website=Gov.uk |access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref> Having handed over to {{HMS|Diamond|D34|6}}, the ship arrived home in March 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-26541419 |title=HMS ''Montrose'' crew return to Plymouth |date=12 March 2014 |website=BBC News |access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref> Subsequently, and after a high-profile London visit to celebrate 20 years since the ship's commissioning,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Devonport-warship-hosts-Princess-Anne/story-21199924-detail/story.html |title=HMS ''Montrose'' hosts Princess Anne |first=Tristan |last=Nichols |date=6 June 2014 |newspaper=[[The Herald (Plymouth)|The Plymouth]] |access-date=17 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924074648/http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Devonport-warship-hosts-Princess-Anne/story-21199924-detail/story.html |archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref> the ship was sent to the Baltic Sea to participate in BALTOPS 14, a large scale US-led multinational exercise with participation from 30 ships and submarines from 14 nations.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10884457/Royal-Navy-warship-sent-to-Baltic-Seas-amid-Ukraine-tensions.html |title=Royal Navy warship sent to Baltic Seas amid Ukraine tension |agency=Press Association |date=8 June 2014 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref>

The ship entered refit at [[Devonport Naval Base|Devonport]] in October 2014, was due to rejoin the Fleet in 2016, but the incomplete installation of the Sea Ceptor Missile system and a new command system prevented 
it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naval-technology.com/news/newsbabcock-starts-hms-montrose-upgrade-programme-4405189 |title=Babcock starts HMS ''Montrose'' upgrade programme |date=15 October 2014 |website=Naval-Technology.com |access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref> Ship's staff moved back on board in March 2017 to prepare for sea trials and it was announced that ''Montrose'' would escort {{HMS|Queen Elizabeth|R08|6}} on her deployment to the United States for first of class flying trials in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2017/march/28/170328-montrose-crew-back-on-board |title=HMS ''Montrose'' welcomes crew back on board |date=28 March 2017 |website=Royal Navy |access-date=27 March 2019}}</ref> ''Montrose'' returned to sea for the first time in nearly three years on 7 July 2017 to commence a period of trials and testing before undergoing operational sea training later in the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2017/july/11/170711-hms-montrose-sails-for-first-time-in-three-years |title=HMS ''Montrose'' returns to sea |website=Royal Navy |date=11 July 2017 |access-date=11 July 2017}}</ref> Despite the announcement in 2017, ''Montrose'' did not accompany ''Queen Elizabeth'' on her 2018 deployment; escort duties instead fell to sister HMS ''Monmouth''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2018/august/18/180813-hms-queen-elizabeth-sets-off-for-f-35b-fighter-jet-trials |title=HMS ''Queen Elizabeth'' sets off for F-35B fighter jet trials |website=Royal Navy |date=18 August 2018 |access-date=20 August 2018}}</ref> ''Montrose'' instead began working up for a major three-year deployment, which would see the ship become the first frigate to be based at the Royal Navy's new support facility in Bahrain, {{HMS|Juffair}}.

In mid 2018 ''Montrose'' acted as the Fleet Readiness Escort (FRE) in the North Sea and Dover Straits, escorting Russian units as they passed through these areas. This was followed by a mini-deployment to the Baltic where she exercised with the Swedish and Finnish navies and to strengthen ties with these nations with a focus around the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the formation of the Finnish Navy. On return to the UK, ''Montrose'' went through a period of operational sea training before deploying to the South Pacific and Far East to carry out MarSy Operations in conjunction with JIATF(S) and Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPS). During this time she visited Chile, Easter Island, Pitcairn Island, Tahiti, Auckland, Darwin, Singapore and Tokyo.

During a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister [[Shinzō Abe]] on 10 January 2019, it was announced that HMS ''Montrose'' would be deployed to the Pacific region to enforce sanctions against North Korea.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-46826345 |title=Brexit: Japan's PM says 'wish of whole world' to avoid no-deal |date=10 January 2019 |website=BBC News |access-date=11 January 2019}}</ref>

''Montrose'' forward-deployed to Bahrain in April 2019, where she will remain until 2022<ref name="navylookout.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.navylookout.com/progress-report-extending-the-life-of-royal-navys-type-23-frigates/ |title=Progress report – extending the life of Royal Navy's Type 23 frigates |website=Navy Lookout |date=4 November 2020 |access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref> carrying out an array of joint security operations including counter-piracy, counter-narcotics and boarding operations to support allies in the region and to protect the UK's interests.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/hms-montrose-arrives-in-bahrain-for-three-year-deployment/|title=HMS Montrose arrives in Bahrain |date=12 April 2019 |work=UK Defence Journal |last=Allison |first=George |access-date=11 July 2019}}</ref> In early July 2019, amid rising tensions between the United Kingdom and Iran, ''Montrose'' issued radio warnings to boats believed to belong to the [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]] [[Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|Navy]]<ref name="cnn 2019-07-10">{{cite news |last1=Starr |first1=Barbara |last2=Browne |first2=Ryan |date=11 July 2019 |title=Iranian boats attempted to seize a British tanker in the Strait of Hormuz |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/10/politics/iran-attempted-seize-british-tanker/index.html |work=[[CNN]] |access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> which were attempting to impede the passage of the British commercial vessel ''British Heritage''. US officials stated that five Iranian boats were involved, while some UK sources say only three were involved. The incident occurred in the [[Strait of Hormuz]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-48946051|title=Iranian boats tried to seize British tanker|date=11 July 2019 |work=BBC News |access-date=11 July 2019}}</ref> According to some tabloid sources, ''Montrose'' had her 30&nbsp;mm deck guns trained on the Iranian boats.<ref name="cnn 2019-07-10" /> ''Montrose'' was joined by {{HMS|Duncan|D37|6}} which was ordered to the Persian Gulf on 12 July 2019 in response to threats against British shipping by Iran.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iran tanker row: UK to send second warship to the Gulf |work=BBC News|date=12 July 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48958359 |access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> On 19 July ''Montrose'' warned the Islamic Revolutionary Guard by radio against the seizure of the British-flagged {{ship||Stena Impero}} but was not close enough to prevent the seizure.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-49061675 |work=BBC News |title=Iran-UK radio exchanges over tanker emerge|date=2019-07-21|access-date=2019-07-02}}</ref> In September 2019, ''Stena Impero'' was released and HMS ''Duncan'' returned to Portsmouth.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-iran-tanker/british-tanker-docks-in-dubai-after-detention-by-iran-idUSKBN1WD0AZ |title=British tanker docks in Dubai after detention by Iran |work=Reuters |date=28 September 2019 |access-date=28 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://home.bt.com/news/uk-news/royal-navy-destroyer-returns-from-defending-british-shipping-in-hormuz-strait-11364398417702 |title=Royal Navy destroyer returns from defending British shipping in Hormuz Strait |work=BT.com |date=28 September 2019 |access-date=28 September 2019 |archive-date=28 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928191342/https://home.bt.com/news/uk-news/royal-navy-destroyer-returns-from-defending-british-shipping-in-hormuz-strait-11364398417702 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 12 October it was reported that ''Montrose'' along with her French counterpart, {{ship|French frigate|Jean Bart||2}}, were able to capture {{convert|170|kg}} of illegal drugs. These drugs had an estimated worth of $1 million. The ships were able to catch the drug-smuggling [[dhow]] while operating in the [[Arabian Sea]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/news/royal-navy-warship-helps-seize-drugs-worth-1-million|title=Royal Navy Warship Helps Seize Drugs Worth $1m|date=12 October 2019|website=Forces Networkn|access-date=2019-10-15}}</ref>

On 22 March 2021, it was announced that ''Montrose'' as well as sister ship {{HMS|Monmouth|F235|2}} would be decommissioned earlier than planned as part of defence's [[Integrated Review]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/two-frigates-to-be-scrapped-early/ |title=Two frigates to be scrapped early |work=UK Defence Journal |last=Allison |first=George |date=22 March 2021 |access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref> As of 2021, ''Montrose'' remained deployed east of Suez but was scheduled to return to the UK in 2022 following which she was retired, about 4-5 years earlier than previously planned.<ref name="navylookout.com"/>

On 23 January 2022, the Royal Navy seized {{cvt|663|kg}} of [[heroin]], {{cvt|87|kg}} of [[methamphetamine]], {{cvt|291|kg}} of [[hashish]], and [[Cannabis (drug)|marijuana]] during a raid from ''Montrose'', reportedly worth 15 million British pounds ($20 million).<ref>{{Cite news|date=2022-01-23|title=HMS Montrose: Royal Navy seizes drugs in Gulf of Oman |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-60103033| access-date=23 January 2022}}</ref>

As of June 2022, the out of service date for ''Montrose'' was brought forward to early 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Jeremy |date=27 June 2022 |title=Written question UIN 20222 – Type 23 Frigates |url=https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-06-17/20222 |access-date=27 June 2022 |website=UK Parliament}}</ref> On 4 November 2022 ''Montrose'' left [[United Kingdom Naval Support Facility]] where she was permanently based since April 2019. She arrived back in U.K. waters in mid-December 2022<ref>{{cite tweet |url=https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1603344104968036352 |title=@HMSMontrose now at anchor inside Plymouth Breakwater after 1,508 days away from the UK having circumnavigated the globe and spent most of the time based in the Gulf. |number=1603344104968036352 |user=NavyLookout |date=15 December 2022 |access-date=15 December 2022}}</ref> and was decommissioned on 17 April 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal Navy - Montrose Decommissioned |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2023/april/17/20230417-montrose-decommissioned}}</ref>

In 2022, ''Montrose'' spent 212 days at sea.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Allison |first1=George |title=Data reveals number of days warships spent at sea last year |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/data-reveals-number-of-days-warships-spent-at-sea-last-year/ |access-date=13 July 2023 |publisher=UK Defence Journal |date=1 June 2023}}</ref>

==Visits to Dundee and Montrose==
''Montrose'' has visited [[Dundee]] on many occasions, include [[Easter]] 1997, 6–9 November 1998 (Dundee Navy Days), 9 October 2004 (for wreath-laying ceremony commemorating the 200th anniversary of the death of Admiral [[Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan|Adam Duncan]]), 4 June 2005, and 9–13 November 2006 (covering the [[Remembrance Sunday]] memorial service).

The port of [[Montrose, Angus|Montrose]] is smaller than Dundee, but ''Montrose'' has called in six times. The first visit took place in November 1999, followed by five other visits, one in July 2002, when the ship was granted the Freedom of [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]] by the [[Provost (civil)|Provost]] Mrs Frances Duncan, and marched through the town,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.angus.gov.uk/new/releases-archive/2002/2002-07-03.html |title=Montrose celebrates with Nautical Namesake |date=3 July 2002 |website=[[Angus Council]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228050845/http://www.angus.gov.uk/new/releases-archive/2002/2002-07-03.html |archive-date=28 February 2014}}</ref> and six years later in November 2008, when Angus Provost Ruth Melville took the salute during a Remembrance Sunday parade in which this Freedom was exercised.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7729048.stm |title=Warship Returns to 'Freedom' Town |website=BBC News |date=14 November 2008 |access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref> The ship returned to Montrose in July 2014,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-28106303 |title=Royal Navy frigate HMS ''Montrose'' visits Angus namesake |website=BBC News |date=1 July 2014 |access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref> where they exercised the Freedom of Angus in front of Provost Helen Oswald,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/angus-the-mearns/hms-montrose-crew-in-town-for-freedom-parade-1.453141 |title=HMS ''Montrose'' crew in town for freedom parade |last=Watt |first=Richard |date=3 July 2014 |newspaper=The Courier |access-date=17 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111608/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/angus-the-mearns/hms-montrose-crew-in-town-for-freedom-parade-1.453141 |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> and conducted numerous engagements in the local area.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/angus-the-mearns/bon-voyage-hms-montrose-bids-farewell-to-angus-after-six-day-visit-1.459178 |title=Bon voyage – HMS ''Montrose'' bids farewell to Angus after six-day visit |last=Strachan |first=Graeme |date=7 July 2014 |newspaper=The Courier |access-date=17 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050847/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/angus-the-mearns/bon-voyage-hms-montrose-bids-farewell-to-angus-after-six-day-visit-1.459178 |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> The ship visited for a fifth time in July 2018, welcoming members of the public on board for a brief tour of the deck.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/angus-mearns/692040/locals-to-be-given-tours-inside-hms-montrose-warship-in-namesake-town/ |title=Locals to be given tours inside HMS ''Montrose'' warship in namesake town |first=Scott |last=Milne |date=21 July 2018 |newspaper=The Courier |access-date=27 March 2019}}</ref> The last visit took place in March 2023 just before her decommissioning.<ref>{{cite web |title=Following de-ammunitioning at Crombie (note Harpoon missiles removed) @HMSMontrose arrived in her namesake town for final visit yesterday |url=https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1634827948111872000 |website=Navy Lookout |date=12 March 2023 }}</ref> Montrose was decommissioned on 17 April 2023.

==Commanding officers==
As the flagship of the [[6th Frigate Squadron (United Kingdom)|6th Frigate Squadron]] (or F6), many of the first commanding officers of HMS ''Montrose'' were [[Captain (naval)|captains]], rather than [[Commander (Royal Navy)|commander]]s, as they had administrative responsibility over all the [[Type 23 frigate]]s based in Devonport. The equivalent squadron for the Portsmouth-based Type 23s was the 4th Frigate Squadron. With the abolition of the frigate and destroyer squadrons in 2002/3, and their replacement by [[flotilla]]s, command of ''Montrose'' reverted to that of a Commander.

Of this list, three commanding officers were subsequently promoted to vice admiral, including the husband of [[Anne, Princess Royal|the Princess Royal]], [[Timothy Laurence]], who assumed command of the ship (and the 6th Frigate Squadron) on 27 August 1996.
[[File:F236.jpg|thumb|''Montrose'' in Dundee Docks, 1998]]
[[File:F236dusk.jpg|thumb|''Montrose'' at dusk in Dundee Docks, 1998]]
[[File:HMS Montrose 2001.jpg|thumb|HMS ''Montrose'' in Montrose, Scotland]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Date
|-
| Cdr J W Arrow || 1993–95
|-
| Capt [[Niall Kilgour|N S R Kilgour]] || 1995–96
|-
| Capt [[Timothy Laurence|T J H Laurence]] [[Member of the Royal Victorian Order|MVO]] || 1996–97
|-
| Capt A R Nance [[Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|OBE]] || 1997–98
|-
| Capt [[Robert Cooling|R G Cooling]] || 1998–2000
|-
| Capt [[Tony Johnstone-Burt|C A Johnstone-Burt]] [[Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|OBE]] || 2000–01
|-
| Capt [[Matt Parr|M J Parr]] || 2001–02
|-
| Cdr A J Webb || 2003–05
|-
| Cdr A J L Watt [[Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|OBE]] || 2005–07
|-
| Cdr A L Hogben || 2007–08
|-
| Cdr J M Lowther || 2009
|-
| Cdr [[William Warrender|W J Warrender]] || 2009
|-
| Cdr J D Lett || 2009–12
|-
| Cdr J M B Parkin || 2012–14
|-
| Cdr C M O'Neill|| 2017–2019<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/documents/profiles/oneil-conor.pdf |title=Commander C. M. O'Neill, Royal Navy: Commanding Officer HMS ''Montrose'' |website=Royal Navy |access-date=27 March 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Cdr W King (Stbd Crew) || 2019–2019
|-
| Cdr O Hucker (Port Crew) || 2019–2021
|-
| Cdr C Collins (Stbd Crew) || 2019–2021
|-
|Cdr P Irving (Port Crew)
|2021-2022
|-
|Cdr C Thompson (Stbd Crew)
|2021-2023
|}
<small>''(decorations and ranks detailed at the time of being in Command, and do not reflect subsequent promotions, or honours and awards)''</small>

Ten of the former Commanding Officers were reunited on board ''Montrose'' on 30 May 2014 at a lunch held to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ship's commissioning, when they were invited on board while the ship was in [[London]]; the ship's sponsor, Lady Rifkind, also attended.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://navaltoday.com/2014/06/04/hms-montrose-celebrated-two-decades-of-service-uk/ |title=HMS ''Montrose'' Celebrated Two Decades of Service |date=4 June 2014 |website=Navaltoday.com |access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref>

==Decorations==
At the end of 2014, HMS ''Montrose'' was awarded the Fleet Effectiveness Trophy for best frigate in the Royal Navy in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/12165 |title=Navy salutes its Surface Fleet class of 2014 by naming best ships and units |date=23 December 2014 |newspaper=Navy News |access-date=17 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051345/https://www.navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/12165 |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>

==Affiliations==
*[[29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery|29 Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery]]
*[[Angus District Council]]
*[[James Graham, 8th Duke of Montrose]]
*[[No. 24 Squadron RAF]]
*[[Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)|Black Watch]], 3rd Battalion [[Royal Regiment of Scotland]]
*[[Worshipful Company of Distillers]]
* Oxford [[University Royal Naval Unit]]

==References==
{{Refbegin}}
* ''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
{{Refend}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/surface-fleet/frigates/type-23/hms-montrose |title= HMS ''Montrose'' |website=Royal Navy}}

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{{Type 23 frigate}}
{{Royal Navy ships}}

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[[Category:Frigates of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ships built on the River Clyde]]
[[Category:1992 ships]]
[[Category:Type 23 frigates of the Royal Navy]]