HMS Sutherland (F81)

HMS Sutherland is a Type 23 frigate of the British Royal Navy. She is the thirteenth ship in the Duke class of frigates and is the third ship to bear the name, more than 200 years since the name was last used.

She was launched in 1996 by Lady Christina Walmsley, wife of Sir Robert Walmsley KCB. Before this occasion, Royal Navy ships had always been launched with a bottle of champagne, but Lady Walmsley broke with tradition and used a bottle of Macallan Whiskey.

There is a keen golfing community on-board, and the crew sometimes use the facilities of their affiliate golf course in the Royal Burgh of Dornoch.

Operational history
She was deployed to the Falkland Islands in the winter 1998/1999. In 2000, she was part of the task forceG2000, the first time Royal Navy ships have circumnavigated the globe since 1986. In December 2007, major upgrades worth ₤35 million were announced making Sutherland the "most powerful frigate in the fleet". The upgrades included Sonar 2087, an upgrade to Seawolf, an improvement to the 4.5 inch gun to allow it to fire long-range ammunition, and a reshaped stern to cut fuel use.

She was due to be given the freedom of the county of Sutherland but had her visit cut short, with "operational commitments" as the given reason. This was eventually revealed as her deployment as part of the UK Response Force Task Group's (RFTG) first deployment, named COUGAR' 11.

In May 2011, she made a port visit to Patras, Greece following participation in exercises off Crete, after which she became involved in the operations off the Libyan coast.

On 16 June 2011, Sutherland visited Souda Bay in Crete to commemorate the 70th anniversay of the Battle of Crete, before sailing to Kalamata in Greece to conduct further World War II memorials.

On 24 July 2011 HMS Sutherland returned to the coast of Libya as part of Operation Ellamy.

On 18 October 2011 HMS Sutherland passed through Tower Bridge in London and docked next to HMS Belfast, returning through the bridge on 22 October 2011.

In 2012, she was part of the COUGAR 12 task group.

She is due to participate in Exercise Joint Warrior 2013.

Affiliations

 * The Highlanders, 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland
 * County of Sutherland
 * Honourable Company of Master Mariners, Livery
 * Sherborne School, CCF
 * Clifton College, Bristol CCF's
 * TS Grenville, Paisley (Sea Cadets)
 * TS Duchess, Biggleswade (Sea Cadets)
 * The Royal Dornoch Golf Club