HMS Montrose is a Duke-class Type 23 destroyer of the Royal Navy, commissioned on the 26th of May 1994. The ship served on a number of missions including anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, supporting NATO-led maritime security operations in the Mediterranean and patrols the Falkland Islands.
The ship is 133m long, has a displacement of 4,950 tons and can reach a speed of 28 knots. It is armed with a 4.5-inch Mark 8 naval gun, a Sea Wolf missile system and two Mark 44 torpedo tubes. It can carry an AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat helicopter and a crew of up to 185 people and has covered over 420,377 miles since commissioning. It is powered by a combined diesel-electric and gas turbine (CODLAG) system, which allows the ship to achieve a top speed of 28 knots. The ship is armed with a range of advanced weapons systems, including Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Sea Wolf surface-to-air missiles, and Sting Ray torpedoes. The ship’s sensors include a Type 997 Artisan 3D search radar, a Type 2082 towed-array sonar, and a Type 2050 active/passive sonar.
One of HMS Montrose’s most notable missions was during Operation Kipion, where she was stationed in Bahrain as part of the Royal Navy’s presence in the Persian Gulf. During this mission, the ship conducted a variety of operations, including boarding operations, escorting merchant ships, and patrolling the Gulf.
In 2018, HMS Montrose was deployed to the Gulf of Aden as part of Operation Agenor, a multinational anti-piracy effort in the region. During this deployment, the ship performed a number of successful missions, including seizing a large amount of weapons and ammunition intended for the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
HMS Montrose has also participated in numerous exercises and training missions, including exercise Joint Warriors in Scotland and the British-led multinational exercise in the Baltic Sea. The ship maintains close ties to the island of Malta, with the crew frequently visiting Malta when deployed. In 2019, HMS Montrose participated in an international exercise with the Armed Forces of Malta, aimed at enhancing interoperability and cooperation between the two sides.
In 2020, HMS Montrose made headlines after engaging in a confrontation with Iranian forces in the Persian Gulf. The ship was escorting a British-flagged oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz when Iranian ships approached and tried to block the way. HMS Montrose intervened and warned the Iranian ships to withdraw, preventing the situation from escalating. Overall, HMS Montrose has a long history of service in the Royal Navy, participating in numerous missions and exercises around the world. Her crew has been praised for her professionalism and fortitude in difficult and dangerous situations, and the ship’s close relationship with Malta demonstrates the importance of international cooperation in maintaining global security.
During our visit on board, we were also greeted by Commander Claire Thompson on the bridge, where she also told us that this would be HMS Montrose’s last port visit to Valletta Port as the ship would be officially decommissioned in spring 2023.
MAR would like to thank the High Commission of the United Kingdom for the opportunity to visit and tour HMS Montrose. It was an incredibly informative and enjoyable experience, as we learned a lot about the ship’s capabilities and the dedication of its crew.