View source for Rothesay-class frigate

{{short description|Class of frigate of the Royal Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMS Plymouth underway.jpg
|Ship caption=[[HMS Plymouth (F126)|HMS ''Plymouth'']]
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=''Rothesay'' class
|Builders=
|Operators=*{{navy|United Kingdom}}
*{{navy|New Zealand}}
*{{navy|South Africa|1952}}
|Class before= [[Whitby-class frigate|Type 12 ''Whitby'']]
|Class after= [[Leander-class frigate|Type 12I ''Leander'']]
|Subclasses=
|Built range=
|In commission range=
|Total ships building=
|Total ships planned=
|Total ships completed=21<ref>{{Cite book|title=Warships of the British & Commonwealth Navies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UBoEAAAAMAAJ|publisher=Allan|year=1967|author=HT Lenton}}</ref>
|Total ships cancelled=
|Total ships active=
|Total ships laid up=
|Total ships lost=5 (as targets) + 1 (accident)
|Total ships retired=16
|Total ships preserved=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=as built
|Ship type=[[Frigate]]
|Ship displacement=* {{convert|2150|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} standard
* {{convert|2560|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} full load
|Ship length={{convert|370|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[Length overall|o/a]]
|Ship beam={{convert|41|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|17.3|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=Y-100 plant; 2 × [[Babcock & Wilcox]] boilers, 2 [[English Electric]] steam turbines, {{convert|30000|shp|abbr=on}} on 2 shafts
|Ship speed={{convert|30|kn|km/h|0}}
|Ship range=400 tons oil fuel; {{convert|5200|nmi|km|-1}} at {{convert|12|kn|km/h|0}}
|Ship complement=152
|Ship sensors=*Radar [[Type 293 radar|Type 293Q]] target indication
*Radar Type 275 fire control on director Mark 6M
*Radar [[Type 277 radar|Type 277Q]] height finder
*Radar Type 974 navigation
*Type 1010 Cossor Mark 10 IFF
*Type 903 radar ([[MRS-3]] [[fire-control system|system]])
*Sonar Type 174 search
*Sonar Type 162 target classification
*Sonar Type 170 attack
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*1 × twin [[QF 4.5-inch Mk I – V naval gun|4.5in gun Mark 6]]
*1 × 40 mm Bofors gun Mark 7
*2 × [[Limbo (weapon)|Limbo anti-submarine mortar Mark 10]]
*12 × [[British 21-inch torpedo|21-in anti-submarine torpedo tubes]] (removed or never installed)
|Ship armour=
|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft=
|Ship aircraft facilities=
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption= (as modified)
|Ship displacement= *{{convert|2380|LT|t|0|abbr=on}}
* {{convert|2800|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} full load
|Ship complement= 235
|Ship armament=*1 × twin [[QF 4.5-inch Mk I – V naval gun|4.5in gun Mark 6]]
*1 × [[Sea Cat]] GWS-20 SAM
*2 × 20 mm Oerlikon guns
*1 × [[Limbo (weapon)|Limbo anti-submarine mortar Mark 10]]
*2 × 8-barrel 3in Knebworth/Corvus countermeasures launchers
|Ship sensors=*Radar Type 993 target indication
*Radar Type 903 fire control on director MRS3
*Radar Type 978 navigation
*Type 1010 Cossor Mark 10 IFF
*Sonar Type 177 search
*Sonar Type 162 target classification
*Sonar Type 170 attack
|Ship aircraft= 1 × Westland Wasp HAS.1 MATCH helicopter
|Ship notes=  Other characteristics as per above
}}
|}

The '''''Rothesay'' class''', or '''Type 12M frigates''' were a class of [[frigate]]s serving with the [[Royal Navy]], [[South African Navy]] (where they were called '''President-class frigates''') and the [[Royal New Zealand Navy]].<ref name=1974RINApaper>Purvis,M.K.,  'Post War RN Frigate and Guided Missile Destroyer Design 1944–1969', Transactions, Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA), 1974</ref><ref name=Marriott>Marriott,Leo, 'Royal Navy Frigates Since 1945', Second Edition, {{ISBN|0-7110-1915-0}}, Published by Ian Allan Ltd (Surrey, UK), 1990 {{page needed|date=May 2020}}</ref>

The original [[Type 12 frigate]]s, the {{sclass|Whitby|frigate|4}}, were designed as first-rate ocean-going convoy escorts in the 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]] escort. As such, a repeat and improved Type 12 design was prepared, known as the Type 12M (M for "modified") and called the ''Rothesay'' class after the lead ship. 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 class was highly adaptable and further modifications led to the equally successful [[Leander-class frigate|''Leander''-class]] (Type 12I).

==Design==
The Type 12M retained the hull design of the Type 12, that allowed high cruising speed to be maintained in heavy seas, critical to the success of anti-submarine 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 ''Whitby''s) and a modified after deckhouse, enlarged to carry the [[Seacat (missile)|SeaCat anti-aircraft missile]] launcher and its associated GWS-20 director and handling rooms as it became available. This weapon was not available at the time the first ships in class were completed, and either a twin [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors 40 mm gun]] in a "Stabilised Tachymetric Anti-Aircraft Gun" (STAAG) mounting (''Rothesay'') or a single Bofors 40&nbsp;mm gun on a Mk.7 mount was shipped in lieu. The arrangement of the torpedo tubes was also altered in the new design, with four fixed tubes firing aft at 45° on each beam, in front of a trainable twin mounting; the reverse of the arrangement on the ''Whitby''s. A suitable weapon was never developed for these tubes, so they remained unused, or were never fitted. Internally, electrical generation capacity was increased to handle the increasing demands created by improved ship electronics. Accommodation standards were also improved, with partial bunking and air conditioning. Such was the success of the ''Rothesay'' design that it was elaborated into the excellent general purpose {{sclass|Leander|frigate|1}}, the Type 12I.

==Modification==
[[File:HMS Rothesay (F107) MOD 45139938.jpg|thumb|left|''Rothesay'' before her Seacat/helicopter upgrade – note 40&nbsp;mm gun in stern]]
Increasing submarine performance in the 1960s demanded detection and engagement of targets at a greater distance from the fleet. Detection was improved with new sonar designs such as the Type 177 search and Type 199 Variable depth. To attack targets at a greater range, the Royal Navy adopted the MATCH (''Medium-range Anti-submarine Torpedo Carrying Helicopter'') system. MATCH was essentially the [[Westland Wasp]] HAS.1, a lightweight navalised development of the [[Saro P.531]] (and related to the Army's [[Westland Scout]]) helicopter small enough to operate from the small hangar and flight deck that could be fitted to contemporary frigate designs, yet large enough to carry a pair of anti-submarine homing torpedoes (US [[Mark 46 torpedo|Mark 44 or 46]] types), allowing engagement of underwater targets at some distance from the parent vessel, outside the range of the shipboard [[Limbo (weapon)|Limbo]] anti-submarine mortars. To allow MATCH to be carried, all of the Type 12M class were modified and modernised, beginning with ''Rothesay'' from 1966 and finishing in 1972.

The after superstructure was removed, along with the foremost Limbo mortar, with the well being plated over to create a small flight deck. A small hangar was constructed in front of this, on top of which the GWS-20 SeaCat missile and director was (finally) shipped. The mainmast was replaced by an enclosed design, carrying the Type 1010 [[Identification friend or foe|IFF]] antennas, and the funnel height was increased to carry the hot exhaust gasses over the taller superstructure. The electronics fit was also upgraded from the World War II era sets fitted in the ''Whitby''s. A large, enclosed foremast replaced the short lattice one, carrying the distinctive "quarter cheese" antennas associated with the Type 993 target indicator. The Mark 6M director was replaced with the MRS3 Mod 3 system carrying radar Type 903, the later more automated and compact 1967–73 version of MRS3 using transistor electronics and analogue computers allowing the removal of the [[Type 277 radar|Type 277Q]] height finder. Additionally, Knebworth/Corvus 3-inch countermeasures launchers were fitted on either side of the bridge, as were a pair of World War II vintage [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm Oerlikon guns]] for "policing" work (and strictly limited anti-aircraft defence).

The extensive modifications of the ''Rothesay''s brought their armament and anti-submarine capabilities into line with that of the original ''Leander''-class vessels. However the last four ''Leander''s had Doppler full spectrum 184 sonar which gave a clearer faster-read sonar, and all the ''Leander''s originally had long range air warning and AD capabilities and communication decks, while the  ''Rothesay''s remained specialised anti-submarine frigates designed to perform better at that single purpose.  In 1978, ''Rothesay'' went into refit for two years at a cost of £33.4 million<ref>UK Hansard 2/7/81 ; cf table-( Rothesay/ Leander refit cost) R.J. Alrich ''Intelligence, Defence and Diplomacy. British Policy in the Post War World'' Routledge (2013) p 112.</ref> ''Yarmouth'' and ''Plymouth'' completed similar refits in 1981, which included fitting Type 994 short range warning radar and target indicator essentially (Plessy AWS1) in the old antenna, giving faster screen data in the ''Rothesay''s{{'}} [[operations room]]. This recent refit and marginally better radar resulted in their useful despatch for use in the [[Falklands War]].<ref>. Admiral Sandy Woodward. ''One Hundred Days. Memoirs of the Falklands Battle Group''. (3rd ed) Harper (2012) London.{{page needed|date=May 2020}}</ref> It was planned to refit ''Rhyl'', ''Brighton'', ''Berwick'' and ''Falmouth''<ref>N. Friedman. ''British Frigates and Destroyers'' (2006){{page needed|date=May 2020}}</ref> with the very long range 2031 passive towed arrays<ref>N. Freidman. ''British Destroyers and Frigates'' (2006){{page needed|date=May 2020}}</ref> which could listen for Soviet subs at ranges of {{convert|100|mi|km}} plus. In the immediate aftermath of the Falklands War ''Berwick'' and ''Falmouth'' twice deployed south for post-war patrols in 1982–83, probably{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} ending plans to refit them as towed array frigates, as well as sister ship ''Rhyl'' which suffered mechanical failure when ordered south, and ''Brighton'' which was scrapped following the 1981 [[1981 Defence White Paper|Nott Defence Review]] and never transferred to the standby force.

==Service==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2020}}
The ''Rothesay''s served throughout the 1960s and 1970s, with ''Londonderry'' converted into a weapons and electronics trials vessel in 1975. The successful performance of the ''Rothesay''s, and the ability they showed for sustained operation in rough North Atlantic sea conditions during the 1976 [[Cod War]], showed that they were still relevant to the Royal Navy's main role of displaying that it had the ability to restrict Soviet submarine penetration through the Greenland-Iceland-UK Gap during the intensification of the [[Cold War]]. A more generous naval budget in the late 1970s provided by the new Prime Minister, the former RN Clerk [[James Callaghan]], led to a provisional decision to retain the ''Rothesay''s through the 1980s with a second long refit. ''Plymouth'', ''Yarmouth'', and ''Rothesay'' were given full two year refits in 1978–81 with some significant updates of radar.

At the beginning of 1982, many of the class had been relegated to the Standby Squadron, likely to be disposed of following the 1981 defence review, with their sister ships likely to follow suit. However, the outbreak of the Falklands War reprieved the class. ''Plymouth'' and ''Yarmouth'' were despatched with the task force, with ''Plymouth'' playing one of the most active roles of any ship. While the class proved highly seaworthy in the rough South Atlantic, particularly in the winter patrols that followed, the initial favourable assessment of their performance in the war has been revised. It is questionable whether Seacat achieved a single kill, although both ''Yarmouth'' and ''Plymouth'' claim single shared hits on [[Douglas A-4 Skyhawk]]. ''Plymouth''{{'}}s Wasp helicopter guided an [[SS.12/AS.12|AS-12 missile]] onto the elderly surface-running submarine {{ship|ARA|Santa Fe|S-21|6}}, but only after she had been prevented from diving by depth charges from the [[destroyer]] {{HMS|Antrim|D18|6}} and from a [[Westland Wessex|Wessex]] and a [[Westland Lynx|Lynx]] helicopter. On 1 May ''Yarmouth'' and the modern [[Type 22 frigate]] {{HMS|Brilliant|F90|6}} detected submarine {{ship|ARA|San Luis|S-32|6}}, which fired at least one German anti-ship [[SST-4 torpedo]] at them, but they failed to sink the submarine in 20 hours of mortar, torpedo and depth charge attacks.<ref>Lt Cdr S. R Harper. USN. ''Submarine Operations in the Falklands War''. Naval War College, R.I.1994. US</ref> In the following weeks, the limitations of the ''Rothesay''{{'}}s lack of modern sonar or link 10 data link were exposed, although ''Yarmouth'' saw the second firing of the second [[Exocet]] and may have decoyed it successfully with [[chaff]] it fired.

Other than ''Brighton'' the rest of the class were refitted for post war service, allowing the losses and damages suffered by the Royal Navy during the conflict to be rapidly made good. ''Berwick'' and ''Falmouth'' had been retained in a state of high readiness in the standby squadron, in the expectation they would be given a further long refit, possibly as towed array frigates. Their sister ''Lowestoft'' had been tested in this role. ''Berwick'' in particular still proved useful after its short refit, giving another three years' operational service, until mid 1985. The class paid off throughout the 1980s, with ''Rothesay'' finally paying off in 1988. The demise of the class also saw the withdrawal of the Wasp helicopter, the ''Leander''s having been upgraded to carry the Westland Lynx.

==New Zealand ships==
The [[New Zealand Navy]] ordered two Type 12 ships in February 1957. ''Hastings'' was transferred as ''Otago'' while under construction, and ''Taranaki'' was ordered directly from the builders. They introduced bunk rather than traditional hammock bedding and rather different messing arrangements from the RN Type 12s. The ships were fitted with Seacat missiles by 1964. Unlike the Royal Navy ''Rothesay''s, ''Otago'' and ''Taranaki'' actually were armed with the Mk 20 heavyweight anti-submarine torpedoes, but abandoned them in the mid-1960s when it was clear the RN would only develop the weapons for submarines. The official reason for the RNZN abandoning heavyweight torpedoes was the Mk 20 was too slow at {{convert|24|kn}}. Mk 32 tubes to fire Mk 44/46 12.75-inch US lightweight torpedoes were supplied to New Zealand about 1971 as surplus from life-expired, early 1960s USN [[Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization]] destroyers and fitted to all RNZN frigates in 1971 as a matter of policy to replace the Limbo mortars, which were removed at major refits in July 1974. A minority of the RNZN officers and ratings opposed the change, on the grounds the mortars were more effective for cold war warning.<ref>Lt Cmdr Jackson & Ratings. Visit of HMNZS Otago to Timaru 1974 and (2) Lt Cmdr Jackson. TBHS visit 1974 and (3) Lt Cmdr Dick Ryan. Otago University. Talk & discussion 1984).</ref> New Zealand considered modernising ''Taranaki'' with gas turbines but retired the ships after 1981 when two surplus ''Leander''-class frigates were offered for sale by the British.

==South African ships (President class)==
Three Type 12 frigates were ordered as part of the [[Simonstown Naval Agreement]]. They were identical to the Royal Navy vessels when built but were altered during refits. The three ships were named after presidents of the Boer republics:

*{{ship|SAS|President Kruger|F150|2}} – after [[Paul Kruger]]
*{{ship|SAS|President Steyn|F147|2}} – after [[Martinus Theunis Steyn]]
*{{ship|SAS|President Pretorius|F145|2}} – after [[Marthinus Wessel Pretorius]]

The modernisation involved installing a hangar and flight deck for a Westland Wasp helicopter, removing the Limbo mortar to form the flight deck, replacing the air search radar and fire control system and adding two triple {{convert|12.75|in|mm|adj=on}} anti-submarine torpedo tubes.

The ships proved difficult to maintain due to the [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 418|arms embargo]] and ''President Steyn'' was decommissioned in 1980 to provide spare parts.

==Construction programme==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%;"
|-valign=top
! |[[Pennant number|Pennant]]
! |Name
! width="20%" | Builder
! |Ordered
! |Laid Down
! |Launched
! |Accepted into service<ref group=Note>The term used in ''Navy Estimates'' and ''Defence Estimates'' is "accepted into service".  ''Hansard'' has used the term ''acceptance date''.  Leo Marriott in his various books uses the term "completed", as does ''Jane's Fighting Ships''.  These terms all mean the same thing: the date the Navy accepts the vessel from the builder.  This date is important because maintenance cycles, etc. are generally calculated from the acceptance date.</ref>
! |Commissioned
!Estimated building cost<ref group=Note>"Unit cost, i.e. excluding cost of certain items (e.g. aircraft, First Outfits)."<br>Text from ''Defences Estimates''</ref>
! width="20%" | Fate
|-valign=top
! colspan=10 | Royal Navy
|-valign=top
|  | F101
|  | [[HMS Yarmouth (F101)|''Yarmouth'']]
|  | (a) & (b) [[John Brown & Company|John Brown and Co Ltd]], [[Clydebank]].<ref name=NE1960>''Navy Estimates, 1960–61'', pages 226–7, ''List and particulars of new ships which have been accepted or are expected to be accepted into HM service during the Financial Year ended 31 March 1960''</ref>
| 
|  | 29 November 1957 <ref name=Conwaysp519>Gardiner (1995) page 519.</ref>
|  | 23 March 1959 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | March 1960 <ref name=NE1960/>
|  | 26 March 1960 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | £3,505,000 <ref name=NE1960/><br>reconstructed 30 September 1969 <ref name=Chathamsp210>Freidman, Norman "British Destroyers & Frigates", pub Chatham,(London) 2006, p210.</ref>
|  | Paid off April 1986, sunk as target July 1987.<ref name=Conwaysp519/><ref name=Friedmanp337/>
|-valign=top
|  | F107
| [[HMS Rothesay (F107)|''Rothesay'']]
|  | (a) & (b) [[Yarrow Shipbuilders|Yarrow & Co Ltd, Glasgow]].<ref name=NE1961>''Navy Estimates, 1961–62'', pages 222–3, ''List and particulars of new ships which have been accepted or are expected to be accepted into HM service during the Financial Year ended 31 March 1961''</ref>
| 
|  | 6 November 1956 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | 9 December 1957 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | April 1960 <ref name=NE1961/>
|  | 23 April 1960 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | £3,715,000 <ref name=NE1961/><br>reconstructed 5 July 1968 <ref name="Freidman2006p210">Freidman (2006) p.210</ref>
|  | Paid off 30 March 1988,<ref name=Friedmanp337>Friedman (2006) page 337.</ref> sold for scrapping 1988.<ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|-valign=top
| F108
| [[HMS Londonderry (F108)|''Londonderry'']]
| (a) & (b) [[J. Samuel White|JS White & Co Ltd]], [[Cowes|Cowes, Isle of Wight]].<ref name=NE1961/>
|
| 15 November 1956 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
| 20 May 1958 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
| July 1960 <ref name=NE1961/>
| 18 October 1961 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
| £3,570,000 <ref name=NE1961/><br>reconstructed 19 December 1969,<ref name="Freidman2006p210"/>
| Paid off 29 March 1984,<ref name=Friedmanp337/> sunk as target 15 June 1989.<ref name=Conwaysp519/><ref name=Friedmanp337/>
|-valign=top
|  F129
|  [[HMS Rhyl (F129)|''Rhyl'']]
|  (a) [[HMNB Portsmouth|HM Dockyard, Portsmouth]]<br>(b) English Electric Co Ltd, Rugby.<ref name=NE1961/>
| 
|  29 January 1958 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  23 April 1959 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  November 1960 <ref name=NE1961/>
|  31 October 1960 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  £3,625,000 <ref name=NE1961/><br>reconstructed 16 June 1972 <ref name="Freidman2006p210"/>
|  Paid off 1982, sunk as target September 1985.<ref name=Conwaysp519/><ref name=Friedmanp337/>
|-valign=top
|  | F126
|  | [[HMS Plymouth (F126)|''Plymouth'']]
|  | (a) [[HMNB Devonport|HM Dockyard, Devonport]]<br>(b) English Electric Co Ltd, Rugby.<ref name=NE1962/>
|  |
|  | 1 July 1958 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | 20 July 1959 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | June 1961 <ref name=NE1962/>
|  | 11 May 1961 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | £3,510,000 <ref name=NE1962/><br>reconstructed 28 February 1969 <ref>Friedman(2006)p210</ref>
|  | Paid off 26 April 1988,<ref name=Friedmanp337/> transferred to Warship Preservation Trust April 1989.<ref name=Conwaysp519/> Scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey, October 2014.
|-valign=top
|  F115
|  [[HMS Berwick (F115)|''Berwick'']]
|  (a) & (b) [[Harland and Wolff|Harland & Wolff Ltd]], [[Belfast]].<ref name=NE1962>''Navy Estimates, 1962–63'', pages 218–9, ''List and particulars of new ships which have been accepted or are expected to be accepted into HM service during the Financial Year ended 31 March 1962''</ref>
|  |
|  | 16 June 1958 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | 15 December 1959 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | June 1961 <ref name=NE1962/>
|  | 1 June 1961 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | £3,650,000 <ref name=NE1962/><br>reconstructed 13 March 1971<ref>Freidman(2006)p210</ref>
|  | Paid off 1985,<ref name=Friedmanp337/> sunk as target September 1986.<ref name=Conwaysp519/><ref name=Friedmanp337/>
|-valign=top
|  | F113
|  | [[HMS Falmouth (F113)|''Falmouth'']]
|  | (a) [[Swan Hunter|Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd]], [[Wallsend|Wallsend-on-Tyne]] <br>(b) The Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Co Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne<br>(b) Parsons Marine Turbines Co Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne.<ref name=NE1962/>
|  |
|  | 23 November 1957 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | 15 December 1959 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | July 1961 <ref name=NE1962/>
|  | 25 July 1961 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | £3,805,000 <ref name=NE1962/><br>reconstructed  18 December 1970 <ref name="Freidman2006p210"/>
|  | Paid off July 1980,<ref name=Friedmanp337/> to standby. Reactivated 1982 for South Atlantic patrols. Struck 1984. Sold for scrapping 1989.<ref name=Conwaysp519/><ref name=Friedmanp337/>
|-valign=top
|  | F103
|  | [[HMS Lowestoft (F103)|''Lowestoft'']]
|  | (a) & (b) [[Alexander Stephens and Sons|Alexander Stephens and Sons Ltd]], Linthouse, Glasgow.<ref name=NE1962/>
|  |
|  | 9 June 1958 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | 23 June 1960 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | October 1961 <ref name=NE1962/>
|  | 26 September 1961 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | £3,510,000 <ref name=NE1962/><br>reconstructed 29 May 1970 <ref name="Freidman2006p210"/>
|  | Paid off 1985, sunk as target 16 June 1986.<ref name=Conwaysp519/><ref name=Friedmanp337/>
|-valign=top
|  | F106
|  | [[HMS Brighton (F106)|''Brighton'']]
|  | (a) & (b) Yarrow & Co Ltd, Glasgow.<ref name=NE1962/>
|  |
|  | 23 July 1957 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | 30 October 1959 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | October 1961 <ref name=NE1962/>
|  | 28 September 1961 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  | £3,600,000 <ref name=NE1962/><br>reconstructed 18 February 1972 <ref name="Freidman2006p210"/>
|  | Paid off Nov 1981, sold for scrapping 16 September 1985.<ref name=Conwaysp519/><ref name=Friedmanp337/>
|-valign=top
| 
|  ''Weymouth''
| (a) Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast.<ref name=Conwaysp519/>
| 
| 10 April 1959 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|  
|  
|  
|  
|  Cancelled 1960, and completed as the ''Leander''-class frigate [[HMS Leander (F109)|''Leander'']].<ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|-valign=top
| 
|  ''Fowey''
|  (a) [[Cammell Laird|Cammell Laird and Co (Shipbuilders and Engineers) Ltd]], [[Birkenhead]].<ref name=Conwaysp519/>
| 
|  19 October 1950 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|
|
| 
|
| Cancelled 1960, and completed as the ''Leander''-class frigate [[HMS Ajax (F114)|''Ajax'']].<ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|-valign=top
| 
| ''Hastings'' (i)
| (a) JI Thornycroft Ltd, Southampton.<ref name=Conwaysp519/>
| February 1956 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
| 
|
| 
|
| 
| To New Zealand February 1957 (see HMNZS ''Otago'' below).<ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|-valign=top
| 
|  ''Hastings'' (i)
|  (a) Yarrow & Co Ltd, Glasgow.<ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|
| 2 December 1959 <ref name=Conwaysp519/>
| 
| 
| 
| 
| In 1960 changed to be completed as the ''Leander''-class frigate [[HMS Dido (F104)|''Dido'']].<ref name=Conwaysp519/>
|-valign=top
! colspan=10 | Royal New Zealand Navy
|-valign=top
| F111
|  [[HMNZS Otago (F111)|HMNZS ''Otago'']] (ex ''Hastings'')
|  (a) [[John I. Thornycroft & Company|JI Thornycroft Ltd, Southampton]].<ref name=Conwaysp284>Gardiner (1995), page 284.</ref>
| February 1956 (for RN)<br> February 1957 (for RNZN) <ref name=Conwaysp519/><ref name=Conwaysp284/>
| 5 September 1957 <ref name=Conwaysp284/>
| 11 December 1958 <ref name=Conwaysp284/>
|
| 22 June 1960 <ref name=Conwaysp284/>
| 
| Stricken 1983.
|-valign=top
| F148
| [[HMNZS Taranaki (F148)|HMNZS ''Taranaki'']]
| (a) JS White & Co Ltd, Cowes, Isle of Wight.<ref name=Conwaysp284/>
|
| 27 June 1958 <ref name=Conwaysp284/>
| 19 August 1959 <ref name=Conwaysp284/>
|
|  28 March 1961 <ref name=Conwaysp284/>
| 
|  Stricken 1982,<ref name=Friedmanp337/> sold.<ref name=Conwaysp284/>
|-valign=top
! colspan=10 | South African Navy
|-valign=top
|  | F150
| [[SAS President Kruger (F150)|SAS ''President Kruger'']]
| (a) [[Yarrow Shipbuilders|Yarrow & Co Ltd, Glasgow]].<ref name=Conwaysp334/>
|
| 6 April 1960 <ref name=Conwaysp334/>
| 21 October 1960 <ref name=Conwaysp334/>
| 
| 1 October 1962 <ref name=Conwaysp334/>
|
| Sunk on 18 February 1982, after a collision at sea with the replenishment ship [[SAS Tafelberg|SAS ''Tafelberg'']].<ref name=Conwaysp334/>
|-valign=top
| F147
| [[SAS President Steyn|SAS ''President Steyn'']]
|  (a) [[Alexander Stephen and Sons|Alex Stephen & Sons Ltd, Linthouse, Glasgow]].<ref name=Conwaysp334/>
|
| 20 May 1960 <ref name=Conwaysp334/>
| 23 November 1961 <ref name=Conwaysp334/>
|
| 26 April 1963 <ref name=Conwaysp334/>
|
| Paid off 1984. Sold for breaking up 1990.<ref name=Friedmanp337/><ref name=Conwaysp334/>
|-valign=top
| F145
| [[SAS President Pretorius|SAS ''President Pretorius'']]
| (a) [[Yarrow Shipbuilders|Yarrow & Co Ltd, Glasgow]].<ref name=Conwaysp334>Gardiner (1995) page 334.</ref>
|
| 21 November 1960 <ref name=Conwaysp334/>
| 28 September 1962 <ref name=Conwaysp334/>
|
|  4 March 1964 <ref name=Conwaysp334/>
| 
| Paid off 1985, sold for breaking up 1990.<ref name=Friedmanp337/><ref name=Conwaysp334/>
|-
|}

==Deck codes after midlife refits==
{{Clear}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%;"
!Name
!Pennant
!Deck Code
|-
| [[HMS Rothesay (F107)|''Rothesay'']]
|F107
|RO
|-
|[[HMS Londonderry (F108)|''Londonderry'']]
|F108
|LD
|-
|[[HMS Brighton (F106)|''Brighton'']]
|F106
|BR
|-
|[[HMS Yarmouth (F101)|''Yarmouth'']]
|F101
|YM
|-
|[[HMS Falmouth (F113)|''Falmouth'']]
|F113
|FM
|-
|[[HMS Rhyl (F129)|''Rhyl'']]
|F129
|RL
|-
|[[HMS Lowestoft (F103)|''Lowestoft'']]
|F103
|LT
|-
|[[HMS Berwick (F115)|''Berwick'']]
|F115
|BK
|-
|[[HMS Plymouth (F126)|''Plymouth'']]
|F126
|PL
|-
|}

==See also==

*{{sclass2|River|destroyer escort}} – Australian ships based on the Type 12.
*{{sclass|Whitby|frigate}} – the original Type 12 design.
*{{sclass|Leander|frigate}} – the Type 12M frigate, a general-purpose design following on from the success of the Type 12I

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

==Footnotes==
{{Commons category|Rothesay class frigates}}
{{reflist}}

==References==
*{{citation |last=Friedman |first=Norman |title=British Destroyers and Frigates, the Second World War and After |publisher=Seaforth |date=2006 |isbn=978-1-84832-015-4}}
*{{citation |last=Gardiner |first=Robert  |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995 | publisher= Conway Maritime Press |date= 1995|isbn=0-85177-605-1}}

{{Rothesay_class_frigate}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rothesay class frigate}}
[[Category:Cold War frigates of South Africa]]
[[Category:Frigate classes]]
[[Category:Rothesay-class frigates| ]]
[[Category:Ship classes of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Ships of the South African Navy]]