Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Cold War Frigates of South Africa, Rothesay Class Frigate, Loch Class Frigate, Sas President Kruger, D'estienne D'orves Class. Excerpt: Radar Type 293Q target indication Radar Type 277Q height finding Radar Type 275 fire control on director Mark 6MRadar Type 974 navigation Type 1010 Cossor Mark 10 IFFSonar Type 174 search Sonar Type 162 target classification Sonar Type 170 attack The Rothesay class, or Type 12M frigates were a class of frigates serving with the Royal Navy, South African Navy (where they were called President class frigates) and the New Zealand Navy. The original Type 12 frigates, the Whitby class, were designed as first rate ocean-going convoy escorts in light of experience gained during World War II. However, such were the capabilities and potential of the design that it was deemed suitable for use as a fast fleet anti-submarine warfare (A/S) escort. As such, a repeat and improved Type 12 design was prepared, known as the Type 12M (Modified), named after the lead ship HMS Rothesay. A total of twelve vessels were constructed, with the lead ship being laid down in 1956, two years after the last Whitby. The design was successful and popular, serving the Royal Navy and South African Navy well into the 1980s and serving with distinction in the Falklands war. The Type 12M retained the excellent hull design of the Type 12, that allowed high cruising speed to be maintained in heavy seas, critical to the success of A/S warfare in the era of the threat of the high-speed Soviet submarine. Armament and the propulsion plant remained largely unchanged. The main external differences were an enlarged raked and streamlined funnel (retroactively fitted to the Whitbys) and a modified after deckhouse, enlarged to carry the Sea Cat anti-aircraft mi. More:
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