It’s nearly five years since visitors to the now well established biennial and internationally renowned DSEi Exhibition had the privilege to explore above and below decks on HMS Iron Duke who was moored in the Royal Victoria Dock alongside London’s ExCeL Exhibition Centre where the show was taking place.
Yarrow Shipbuilders built the British Navy’s Type 23 Frigate F234 and launched it on 2nd March 1991. As the third ship to bear its name, it carries a rich naval history—the original was a Dreadnought Class Battleship and Admiral Sir John Jellicoe’s flagship in the 1916 Battle of Jutland. The ship features extensive McGeoch Weatherdeck and Gangway Lighting and electrical systems, which, like the vessel itself, have stood the test of time. Over 30 years, crews may have replaced some internal components, such as lamp holders and glass lenses, but the original castings bearing the name ‘McGEOCH’ remain firm and strong, continuing to illuminate a safe path for sailors on the ship’s main decks and gangways. Their long, almost trouble-free service life is testament to the availability of ‘off-the-shelf’ spares from the company.
Iron Duke escorted the new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, during her first sea trials on 28th June 2017. McGeoch supplied over 12,000 lighting units for the new ship. They also provided 300 control and instrumental panels and 300 electrical distribution panels.
A few days before her escort duties, Iron Duke participated in the National Armed Forces Day exhibition in Liverpool from 24th to 25th June. The then Prime Minister, Theresa May, visited the ship during the event. Iron Duke was also open to the public.
HMS Iron Duke is 190m long and 9m at its widest point. She carries a number of weapons and sensors which make her a multi- purpose combat vessel. Like all Type 23s, designers originally intended her for anti-submarine warfare, but crews can employ her for various other tasks. She carries a Lynx helicopter, which crews can use for anti-submarine and anti-surface roles, as well as humanitarian and search-and-rescue missions.
In 2014, the Royal Navy equipped Iron Duke as the First of Class for the Type 997 Artisan 3D radar. She successfully fired her missile system in the English Channel using the radar and updated ‘SWMLU’ Seawolf targeting system. She served as a training ship in Portsmouth from mid-2017. Crews towed her to Devonport, Portsmouth, in January 2019 for a major ‘LIFEX’ refit. The refit added Sea Ceptor, Artisan radar, and new diesel generator sets.
Above left: An aerial view of HMS Queen Elizabeth, HMS Iron Duke (centre) and HMS Sutherland (right).. The aircraft carrier is shown conducting vital system tests off the coast of Scotland. HMS Queen Elizabeth left Rosyth, where she has been under construction since 2014, to conduct sea trials. Type 23 frigates Sutherland and Iron Duke joined the 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier. Merlin MK2 helicopters from the Fleet Air Arm also participated, guarding the seas as the trials began. Crown copyright 2017.
Above right: McGeoch Weatherdeck and Gangway Lighting continue to illuminate a safe path for sailors on the main decks and gangways of HMS Iron Duke.