_______________________________________________Little h wrote: ↑Sat Nov 10, 2018 2:17 am A bit dated now (2013), but the info might help those who would like ready reference to the ships in the class that are Towed Array equipped.
Final UK Navy Type 23 Frigate Outfitted with Thales Sonar 2087
Following an extensive refit, HMS Portland has become the final Royal Navy Type 23 frigate to be fitted with Thales UK’s Sonar 2087, a towed array sonar system that enables warships to hunt submarines at considerable distances and locate them beyond the range from which they can launch an attack. Portland has now returned to service, with a re-dedication ceremony on 21st March.
The 12-month multi-million pound refit in Rosyth Royal Dockyard of Portland’s sensors, weapons and systems completes a successful joint programme between industry and the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) to ensure the upgraded ships are now the most advanced of their kind in service.
The Royal Navy has described how the combination of a Type 23 frigate fitted with Thales’s Sonar 2087 and a Merlin helicopter equipped with the Thales FLASH dipping sonar makes the class the “most potent anti-submarine warfare platform of any navy at sea today”.
Eight of the Royal Navy’s fleet of Type 23 frigates have now been upgraded for use as submarine hunters. The other seven upgraded ships are Westminster, Northumberland, Richmond, Somerset, Sutherland, Kent and St Albans.
Sonar 2087 is a low-frequency sonar with both active and passive sonar arrays. The system is manufactured at Thales sites in the UK (Cheadle Heath in Manchester and Templecombe in Somerset) and France (Brest).
Source; navaltoday.com April 12, 2013
Again, for ease of reference; the Type 2087 towed array sonar system is/was fitted to the following 8 x Type 23 Duke Class Frigates:-
HMS Kent (F78)
HMS Westminster (F237)
HMS Northumberland (F238) **
HMS Richmond (F239)
HMS Somerset (F82)
HMS Sutherland (F81)
HMS Portland (F79)
HMS St Albans (F83)
5 Nov 2018 NavyLookout on Twitter - Save the Royal Navy.org
** HMS Northumberland deploys her Type 2087 Towed Array Sonar during exercise #TridentJuncture Yellow body is the Low Frequency Active Sonar (LFAS) transducer
, DrPyMTvX4AA2hlf StRN twitter HMS Nort Type 2087 Yellow body Low Freq Active Sonar (LFAS) transducer.jpg
Further to the above; this schematic shows the layout associated with Type 23 Frigate 2087 towed array arrangements.
The Type 2087 sonar system on a Type 23 frigate. The ‘wet end’ comprises the LFA (yellow towed body) and a passive array. It is likely that the Type 23s can also upload sonar data via satellite in real time to contribute to the big picture of the IUSS network. This equipment will be transferred to the Type 26 frigate as they enter service. Its open architecture will allow the software to be upgraded continually. (Based on original image from Thales)
Source;
An article dated December 22, 2017; titled Listening to the ocean – the secretive enablers in the underwater battle carried in SAVE THE ROYAL NAVY website.
I hope it is found to be informative