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Sheffield vs Type 21

Sheffield vs Type 21 at a glance — displacement 4,200 vs 3,250 tons, length 125 vs 117 m, speed 30 vs 37 knots, crew 253 vs 177.

Specifications
Sheffield Type 21
Origin 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Category Destroyer Frigate
Type Guided-missile destroyer Frigate
Manufacturer Vickers Yarrow Shipbuilders
Year introduced 1975 1974
Number built 16 units 8 units
Estimated unit price NA $60 million
Displacement 4,200 tons 3,250 tons
Maximum speed 30.0 knots 37.0 knots
Range 4,200 nm at 18 knots 4,000 nm at 17 knots
Length 125.6 m 117.0 m
Beam 14.3 m 12.7 m
Crew 253 177
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Sheffield Type 21
Armament
  • 1 × twin launcher for GWS-30 Sea Dart missiles
  • 1 × 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun
  • 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS
  • 2 × Oerlikon / BMARC 20 mm cannon
  • 4 × MM38 Exocet anti-ship missile launchers
  • 2 × STWS II triple anti-submarine torpedo tubes
  • 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 shafts COGOG; 2 × Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B high-speed gas turbines (50,000 shp); 2 × Rolls-Royce Tyne RM1C cruise gas turbines (5,340 shp) COGOG on 2 shafts; 2 × Tyne cruise turbines: 8,500 shp (6,300 kW); 2 × Olympus boost turbines: 50,000 shp (37,000 kW)
Explore further
Sheffield-class Specs, operators & history →
Former operators · 16 built
Type 21-class Specs, operators & history →
Former operators · 8 built
Change comparison vs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Sheffield-class or Type 21-class?
The Sheffield-class has greater displacement at 4,200 tons compared to the Type 21-class's 3,250 tons.
Which is faster, the Sheffield-class or Type 21-class?
The Type 21-class is faster with a maximum speed of 37 knots compared to the Sheffield-class's 30 knots.
Which has longer range, the Sheffield-class or Type 21-class?
The Sheffield-class has a longer range at 4,200 nautical miles compared to the Type 21-class's 4,000 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Sheffield-class or Type 21-class?
The Sheffield-class is longer at 125.6 meters compared to the Type 21-class's 117.0 meters.
How many crew members do the Sheffield-class and Type 21-class have?
The Sheffield-class has a larger crew complement of 253 compared to the Type 21-class's 177 crew members.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Sheffield-class or Type 21-class?
The Sheffield-class has been built in greater numbers with 16 vessels compared to 8 vessels of the Type 21-class.