HISTORY
The ship was launched on Saturday 6th May 2000. It was built at BAE Systems' Yarrows Yard in Scotstoun, Glasgow and was launched on the Clyde.
On the 27 October 2002, before it had even entered into operational service, HMS St Albans collided with the P&O ferry Pride of Portsmouth when gale force winds pushed the ferry into the ship whilst returning to her berth in Portsmouth. HMS St Albans was damaged in several parts of the deck, the gun deck, the sea boat supports and the bridge wing. However, no members of the crew were injured.
In 2004, Commander Steve Dainton RN took command and the ship was deployed on Operation Oracle duties in the Arabian Sea.
In July 2004 the crew were granted "Freedom of the City" by the Mayor of St Albans.
On the 13th February 2006, HMS St Albans departed on a 6 month deployment to the Gulf region. She arrived in the region in early April, where its tasks included protecting Iraqi Oil Platforms as well as patrol duties in the Northern Gulf. During the trip, she provided a diplomatic role by visiting 16 countries, including Algeria, Albania, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Lebanon (before the 2006 conflict with Israel.)