HMS Norfolk (F230)  HMS "Norfolk was a British Type 23 frigate, the sixth in the Royal Navy to use this name, laid down in 1985 by Yarrow Shipbuilders. She was launched on the Clyde by Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon in July 1987 and named for the Dukedom of Norfolk. She was commissioned on 1 June 1990. "Norfolk" was the 'first of class', as well as being the first of a new generation of 'lean manned' ships. She was commissioned into the Chilean Navy in 2006 as Almirante Cochrane". Following commissioning in 1990, HMS "Norfolk" completed a year on first of class trials culminating in BOST in November/December 1991.  1992 started with JMC following by a brief defect rectification period in early March. On 11 May, "Norfolk" deployed as part of the Orient 92 Task Group with (Flag), and . During her deployment she completed visits to the Eastern Med (Soudha in Crete, Alexandria in Egypt, Haifa in Israel), Mauritius and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, Malaysia (Lumut, Penang, Pulau Tioman), Thailand (Bangkok), South Korea (Pusan) and Hong Kong in the Far East and Oman in the Middle East. She returned to the UK at the end November 1992. In January 1993, "Norfolk" continued with first of class shock trials in Portsmouth before completing accommodation changes being the first Type 23 to host Wren ratings at sea. This was completed in June 1993 followed by a brief trip to Amsterdam, BOST and preparation for her Southlant deployment in 1994. In 1994, "Norfolk" became the first Royal Navy warship to visit South Africa in over 20 years, a visit designed to show that the Commonwealth was ready to accept South Africa as an ally resulting from the abolition of apartheid. Since then, she has conducted many operations, including a deployment to Sierra Leone in 2000 as part of a Royal Navy task force to assist in restoration of peace and stability to the war-torn West African nation. 2000 was a busy year for "Norfolk" with a deployment under Commander Bruce Williams to the United States. Amongst the places visited were Savannah, Wilmington, Port Canaveral and Nassau. She has also served in the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf, as well as being involved in Standing Naval Force Atlantic. Other duties included acting as guardship for the Falkland Islands, as well as the Caribbean. A chance encounter in 2000 attracted a local bottlenose dolphin whilst on exercises.