shipsfrigates

Frigate is a type of naval warship designed for speed and maneuverability, typically operating as an escort, scout, or independent raider. The term derives from the French fregate, and in the Age of Sail it described a fast, medium-sized vessel carrying roughly 20–40 guns, smaller than ships of the line but capable of independent sailing and reconnaissance.

With the shift to steam propulsion and steel hulls in the 19th and 20th centuries, the role of frigates changed from wind-powered raiders to modern multi‑mission escorts. In many navies the term was retained for ships intended to protect convoys, hunt submarines, and operate in blue-water or littoral environments. In contemporary usage, frigates are medium-sized, multi‑role vessels designed to perform anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, and air defense, often as escorts for carrier groups or amphibious task forces, and capable of independent patrol duties. They are typically smaller than destroyers and larger than corvettes, though exact size and armament vary by navy.

Modern frigate designs emphasize flexibility, with integrated sensor suites, vertical launch systems for missiles, guns, and the ability to operate helicopters or drones, enabling anti-submarine, anti-surface, and some air-defence tasks. The class and equipment of frigates reflect national doctrine and industrial capability, contributing to naval presence, sea control, and crisis response.

Notable modern classes include the UK's Type 23 and Type 26 frigates, France/Italy's FREMM class, Germany's Type 125, and the Netherlands' De Zeven Provinciën class.