Regele Ferdinand (F221)

History

The Type 22 frigate served with the Royal Navy until the 14-man class frigates built in three batches were replaced by the Type 23 design in 2011. The surviving ships were then sold to the navies of Brazil, Chile and Romania to continue their high seas careers under other flags.

Romania received two ships of the same class, HMS London (F95) and HMS Coventry (F98). Coventry, acquired in 2003, was renamed Regele Ferdinand (F221) and officially opened on 9 September 2004. She remains in service today (2021) as the flagship of the fleet.

The overall length of the warship (from bow to stern) is 486 feet, with a beam of 49 feet and a draft of 21 feet. The ship displaces 5,300 tons and is powered by 4 Rolls-Royce gas turbines that propel the warship to a speed of 30 knots (cruising is usually done at 18 knots).

Range is up to 4,500 nautical miles (5,200 miles) with 250 people on board. Armament includes 1 x 76mm/62 caliber OTO-Melara ultra-fast deck gun and turret.

The vessel carries an IAR-330 Puma Naval naval helicopter which was launched and recovered from the stern helipad. The hangar facility is located at the rear end of the fuselage structure.

Cutaway of the ship showing a stepped hull approach with deck guns and turrets above the forecastle and the bridge section at the stern. Midship has two main masts with flat smoke funnels.

The stern superstructure section is integrated with the main section, providing a completely uninterrupted hull line from the turret stern to the helipad.

Regele Ferdinand (F221) was selected for modernization along with sister ship Regina Maria (F222). In addition, four Gowind-class multi-mission frigates of French origin will join the class - which are already in service with the navies of Egypt, Malaysia and Argentina.

Specification

Principles

Year of Service

2004

Origins

Romania

Status

In service

supplement

250

staff

SHIPBUILDER

Swan Hunter - UK

Class information

Class

Type 22

Class Size

2

ships

Class

Regele Ferdinand (F221); Regina Maria (F222)

Operator

Romania

Characters

Sea Bombing

Maritime bombardment/attack of surface targets/areas primarily through ship-based ballistic weapons.

Land Assault

Littoral attacks against surface targets primarily through ship-based missiles/missile weapons.

Sea Patrol

Active patrolling of critical waterways and sea areas; also serves as a local deterrent against air and maritime threats.

Airspace Denial/Deterrence

Neutralization or deterrence of flying elements by airborne missile weapon ballistics.

Fleet Support

Provide support (fire or materiel) to major surface fleets in blue water environments.

Distinctive Features

Superlevel

The ship is granted over-the-horizon combat capability, usually provided by a launched fixed-wing/rotary-wing aircraft.

Dimensions and Weight

Length

481. 0 feet

146.61m

Ray

49. 0 feet

14.94m

Draft

21. 0 feet

6.40m

Shift

5,300 t

Power and Performance

Installed Power:

COGOG (Combined Gas or Gas): 2 x Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B GT 54,000hp (speed cruise), 2 x Rolls-Royce Tyne RM1C GT 9,700hp (cruise) driving 2 x axles.

Surface Velocity

30.0 nodes

(34.5 km/h)

Area

4,519nm

(5,200 miles | 8,369 kilometers)

Weapons

1 x 76mm/62 caliber OTO-Melara super fast deck gun with turret.

Aircraft

1 x IAR-330 Puma Navy Helicopter launched from the stern heliport, salvaged and repaired.