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Broadsword vs Type 21

Broadsword vs Type 21 at a glance — displacement 4,500 vs 3,250 tons, length 131 vs 117 m, speed 30 vs 37 knots, crew 222 vs 177.

Specifications
Broadsword Type 21
Origin 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Category Frigate Frigate
Type Frigate Frigate
Manufacturer Yarrow (Shipbuilders) Ltd Yarrow Shipbuilders
Year introduced 1979 1974
Number built 14 units 8 units
Estimated unit price NA $60 million
Displacement 4,500 tons 3,250 tons
Maximum speed 30.0 knots 37.0 knots
Range NA 4,000 nm at 17 knots
Length 131.2 m 117.0 m
Beam 14.8 m 12.7 m
Crew 222 177
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Broadsword Type 21
Armament
  • 2 x Sextuple Sea Wolf anti-air missile launchers
  • 4 x Exocet MM-38 anti-ship missile launchers
  • 2 x triple STWS-2 tubes for Mk.46 or Stingray anti-submarine torpedoes
  • 2 x 40mm Bofors guns
  • 2 x 20 mm GAM-BO1 guns
  • L7A2 GPMGs
  • M134 Miniguns
  • 2 x quad Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers (Batch 3)
  • 1 x 4.5-inch (113 mm) Mk.8 gun (Batch 3)
  • 1 x 30mm Goalkeeper CIWS (Batch 3)
  • 2 x 30mm DS30B guns (Batch 3)
  • 1 × 4.5 in (114 mm) Vickers Mark 8 gun
  • 2 × 20 mm Oerlikon guns (later 4)
  • 1 × 4-rail launcher for GWS-24 Sea Cat
  • 2 × 8-barrelled Knebworth Corvus countermeasures launchers
  • 4 × launchers for MM38 Exocet surface-surface missiles
  • 2 × 12.75 in (324 mm) 3-tube STWS-1 anti-submarine torpedo launchers
  • TKWA/MASS (Multi Ammunition Softkill System)
  • 2 x 4-cell Harpoon missile launchers
  • 1 x 6-cell LY-60N Hunting Eagle SAM launcher
  • 1 × Vulcan Phalanx 20mm CIWS
Propulsion 2-shaft COGOG, 2 Rolls-Royce Marine Olympus TM3B high-speed gas turbines: 54,000 shp (40 MW), 2 Rolls-Royce Tyne RM1C cruise gas turbines: 9,700 shp (7.2 MW) COGOG on 2 shafts; 2 × Tyne cruise turbines: 8,500 shp (6,300 kW); 2 × Olympus boost turbines: 50,000 shp (37,000 kW)
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Broadsword-class or Type 21-class?
The Broadsword-class has greater displacement at 4,500 tons compared to the Type 21-class's 3,250 tons.
Which is faster, the Broadsword-class or Type 21-class?
The Type 21-class is faster with a maximum speed of 37 knots compared to the Broadsword-class's 30 knots.
Which has longer range, the Broadsword-class or Type 21-class?
The Type 21-class has a longer range at 4,000 nautical miles compared to the Broadsword-class's 0 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Broadsword-class or Type 21-class?
The Broadsword-class is longer at 131.2 meters compared to the Type 21-class's 117.0 meters.
How many crew members do the Broadsword-class and Type 21-class have?
The Broadsword-class has a larger crew complement of 222 compared to the Type 21-class's 177 crew members.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Broadsword-class or Type 21-class?
The Broadsword-class has been built in greater numbers with 14 vessels compared to 8 vessels of the Type 21-class.