Editing Royal Navy (section)

====Escort fleet====
[[File:Duncan (7899777334).jpg|thumb|{{HMS|Duncan|D37|6}}, the [[Type 45 destroyer|Type 45]] [[guided missile destroyer]]]]
[[File:Type 23 frigate HMS KENT at Sea, south of the Isle of Wight MOD 45158148.jpg|alt=|thumb|{{HMS|Kent|F78|6}}, the [[Type 23 frigate]] designed for anti-submarine warfare]]
The escort fleet comprises [[guided missile destroyer]]s and [[frigates]] and is the traditional workhorse of the Navy.<ref name="MODRNinfo">{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/Organisation/KeyFactsAboutDefence/TheRoyalNavy.htm |title=Royal Navy information |publisher=MOD |access-date=10 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814213023/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/Organisation/KeyFactsAboutDefence/TheRoyalNavy.htm |archive-date=14 August 2007 |url-status=live  }}</ref> {{As of|December 2024}} there are six Type 45 destroyers and eight [[Type 23 frigate]]s in commission. Among their primary roles is to provide escort for the larger capital ships—protecting them from air, surface and subsurface threats. Other duties include undertaking the Royal Navy's [[Standing Royal Navy deployments|standing deployments]] across the globe, which often consists of: counter-narcotics, anti-piracy missions and providing humanitarian aid.<ref name="human" />

The Type 45 is primarily designed for anti-aircraft and anti-missile warfare and the Royal Navy describe the destroyer's mission as "to shield the Fleet from air attack".<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Destroyers/Type-45-Destroyers Royal Navy: Type 45 Destroyer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504193359/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Destroyers/Type-45-Destroyers |date=4 May 2014 }}, 28 January 2014</ref> They are equipped with the [[PAAMS]] (also known as Sea Viper) integrated anti-aircraft warfare system which incorporates the sophisticated [[SAMPSON]] and [[S1850M]] long range radars and the [[Aster (missile family)|Aster 15 and 30]] missiles.<ref name="BAEType45">{{cite web|url=http://www.baesystems.com/ProductsServices/bae_product_type45.html |title=Type 45 Destroyer |publisher=BAE Systems |access-date=2 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015030342/http://www.baesystems.com/ProductsServices/bae_product_type45.html |archive-date=15 October 2007 }}</ref>

Sixteen Type 23 frigates were delivered to the Royal Navy, with the final vessel, {{HMS |St Albans|F83|6}}, commissioned in June 2002. However, the 2004 [[Delivering Security in a Changing World]] review announced that three frigates would be [[paid off]] as part of a cost-cutting exercise, and these were subsequently sold to the [[Chilean Navy]].<ref name="SellType23">{{cite web |url=http://www.helis.com/database/sys/469/ |title=Type 23 Duke class – Helicopter Database |publisher=helis.com |access-date=23 March 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160831042228/http://www.helis.com/database/sys/469/ |archive-date=31 August 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref> The 2010 [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010|Strategic Defence and Security Review]] announced that the remaining 13 Type 23 frigates would eventually be replaced by the [[Type 26 Frigate]],<ref>{{cite web |title= Strategic Defence and Security Review – Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty |publisher=Ministry of Defence |url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_191634.pdf |access-date=1 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222022127/http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/%40dg/%40en/documents/digitalasset/dg_191634.pdf |archive-date=22 December 2010}}</ref> with the incremental retirement of the remaining Type 23s commencing in 2021. The [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015]] reduced the procurement of Type 26 to eight with five [[Type 31 frigate|Type 31e frigate]]s also to be procured.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/478933/52309_Cm_9161_NSS_SD_Review_web_only.pdf |title=National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=23 November 2015 |website=gov.uk |publisher=Cabinet Office }}</ref>