Regele Ferdinand (F221)

Frigate Warship

Romania | 2004

"Regele Ferdinand F221 is the ex-HMS Coventry of the British Royal Navy - given renewed life to serve the modern Romanian Naval Forces."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/04/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Image from the U.S. Department of Defense DVIDS imagery database; Public Release.

Type 22 frigates served the British Royal Navy into 2011 at which point the class of fourteen-strong, built across three batches, was succeeded by the Type 23 design. Surviving ships were then sold off to the navies of Brazil, Chile, and Romania to continue their ocean-going careers under different flags. Romania acquired two of the class, HMS London (F95) and HMS Coventry (F98). Coventry, acquired in 2003, was renamed Regele Ferdinand (F221) and formally commissioned on September 9th, 2004. It remains in active service today (2021) as the fleet's flagship.

The warship has an overall (bow-to-stern) length of 486 feet, a beam of 49 feet, and a draught of 21 feet. Displacing 5,300 tons, the vessel is powered through 4 x Rolls-Royce gas turbines driving the warship to speeds of 30 knots (cruising is typically done at 18 knots). Range is out to 4,500 nautical miles (5,200 miles) and aboard is a complement of 250 personnel. Armament consists of 1 x 76mm /62 caliber OTO-Melara Super-Rapid turreted deck gun.

The ship carries a single IAR-330 Puma Naval helicopter launched and retrieved from the stern helipad. Hangar facilities are provided at the aft-end of the hull superstructure.

The vessel's profile sees a stepped hull approach with the turreted deck gun over the forcastle and the bridge section immediately aft. Two main masts are present with the low-profile smoke funnels at midships. The aft superstructure section is integrated to the main section, offering a completely unbroken hull line from turret-aft to the helipad.

Regele Ferdinand (F221) has been selected for modernization alongside sister-ship Regina Maria (F222). In addition to this, the class will be joined by four French-originated Gowind-class multi-mission corvettes - these already serve the Egyptian, Malaysian, and Argentine navies.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one sea-going vessel design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for Regele Ferdinand (F221).

COGOG (COmbined Gas-Or-Gas): 2 x Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines developing 54,000 horsepower (dashing) with 2 x Rolls-Royce Tyne RM1C gas turbines developing 9,700 horsepower (cruising) driving 2 x Shafts astern.
Propulsion

30.0 kts
34.5 mph
Surface Speed

4,519 nm
5,200 miles | 8,369 km
Range

Structure
The bow-to-stern, port-to-starboard physical qualities of Regele Ferdinand (F221).

250
Personnel
Complement

481.0 ft
146.61 meters
O/A Length

49.0 ft
14.94 meters
Beam

21.0 ft
6.40 meters
Draught

5,300
tons
Displacement

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of Regele Ferdinand (F221).

1 x 76mm /62 caliber OTO-Melara Super-Rapid turreted deck gun.

Air Arm
Available supported fixed-wing / rotary-wing aircraft featured in the design of Regele Ferdinand (F221).

1 x IAR-330 Puma Naval helicopter launched, retrieved, and maintained from the stern-based helipad.

Ships-in-Class (2)
Notable series variants as part of the Regele Ferdinand (F221) family line as relating to the Type 22 group.

Regele Ferdinand (F221); Regina Maria (F222)

Operators
Global operator(s) of the Regele Ferdinand (F221). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national naval warfare listing.

Shipbuilder(s): Swan Hunter - UK

[ Romania ]

1 / 1

Image from the U.S. Department of Defense DVIDS imagery database; Public Release.

Mission Roles
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to seaborne requirements.

BLUE WATER SERVICE

OFFSHORE BOMBARDMENT

LAND-ATTACK

MARITIME PATROL

AIRSPACE DENIAL

FLEET SUPPORT

SHIP-TO-SHORE

Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Going Further...
Regele Ferdinand (F221) Frigate Warship appears in the following collections:

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