The recent steel-cutting ceremony for HMS Formidable, the third Type 31 frigate, is especially significant as the programme to build 13 frigates on Scotland is now over halfway.
With this latest development, there are currently seven Royal Navy ships under construction in Scotland.
This includes three Type 31 frigates: HMS Venturer, HMS Active, and HMS Formidable, as well as four Type 26 frigates: HMS Glasgow, HMS Cardiff, HMS Belfast, and HMS Birmingham.
These ships, built in Scotland, are supporting thousands of jobs and will be a critical part of how the Royal Navy keeps our country safe.
2/2 pic.twitter.com/bX6Xm2msOr
— Scotland Office (@ScotSecofState) October 8, 2024
The Type 31 frigate, also known as the Inspiration-class, is a class of general-purpose warships being built for the Royal Navy. Developed under the Royal Navy’s “National Shipbuilding Strategy,” the Type 31 aims to provide a versatile and cost-effective platform, complementing the more advanced Type 26 frigates. Each vessel in the class is designed to displace around 5,700 tonnes, with a length of approximately 138 metres. The design focuses on modularity, allowing for adaptability in various roles, including maritime security, disaster relief, and low-intensity operations, alongside its core warfighting capabilities. With a focus on export potential, the Type 31 is intended to be an attractive option for allied navies seeking a capable yet affordable frigate.
In terms of capabilities, the Type 31 frigate is equipped with a range of sensors and weapon systems suitable for multi-role operations. It features a 57 mm Mk 110 naval gun as its primary armament, complemented by 40 mm cannons for close-range defence. The frigate is also fitted with the Sea Ceptor surface-to-air missile system, providing area defence against airborne threats. Additionally, it is capable of deploying a range of smaller boats and unmanned vehicles from a spacious mission bay, enabling flexibility in tasks like boarding operations or mine countermeasures. The Type 31’s flight deck can accommodate a medium-sized helicopter, such as the Wildcat or Merlin, further enhancing its reach and capabilities for anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and reconnaissance missions.
The Type 26 frigate, also known as the City-class, is a class of advanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) vessels being built for the Royal Navy. Designed as part of the Royal Navy’s modernisation efforts, the Type 26 is intended to replace the ageing Type 23 frigates, particularly in the ASW role. Each ship in this class has a displacement of around 8,000 tonnes and measures approximately 149.9 metres in length. The Type 26 is characterised by its focus on stealth, featuring a hull design and noise-dampening measures to minimise acoustic signatures, making it highly effective in detecting and countering submarines. The first four vessels, HMS Glasgow, HMS Cardiff, HMS Belfast, and HMS Birmingham, are currently under construction, with with the work on the rest of the order at various stages of procurement.
In terms of capabilities, the Type 26 frigate is equipped with an array of advanced sensors and weapons. It is armed with a 5-inch Mk 45 naval gun, providing long-range fire support, and is equipped with the Sea Ceptor missile system for area air defence. For ASW, the frigate carries powerful sonar systems, including a towed array, and can deploy anti-submarine torpedoes. The Type 26’s mission bay is designed to support a range of operations, from humanitarian aid to counter-piracy, allowing for the deployment of unmanned systems and small boats. Additionally, the flight deck is capable of supporting a range of helicopters, including the Merlin, which enhances its ASW and reconnaissance capabilities. With its combination of advanced systems and modular design, the Type 26 is intended to be a versatile platform that can adapt to a variety of operational demands.
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Great see, although this level of shipbuilding really should be the baseline for any navy that wants to remain a significant blue water player.
Parallel and continuous drumbeats of escorts, auxiliaries and submarines to keep skills sharp, costs low and the fleet effective/young.
We could easily have this between Barrow, Rosyth, Govan and CL/A&P taking up any slack fabricating sections in between its repair work.
I agree, two mid sized yards working in surface ships at a steady clip of one every two years should be an absolute minimum with several other yards providing pre fabrication work. It’s essential that we have hot production lines as it’s the best way to achieve exports. That being said with the continued limping on of H&W the likely cancelation of T32 and very distant commitment to just 3 MRSS it’s likely that Rosyth will close and H&W will close once the FSSS are built or before if Navantia don’t bail them out. The last government talked a good… Read more »
need to go to continuous build for both. 1 a year, when you get to year 15 decide to keep (expand fleet) and refit to the latest standard on ship 15, or sell as is, or sell upgraded, keep but mothball, keep upgrade and mothball.
This just about eliminates obsolescence, this will save around the cost of a couple of t26’s, and no i’m not kidding. all the reviews/committee’s/testing and years of time to replace obsolete parts are exceedingly expensive, and that’s of course when you actually have the funding to do all of it (they don’t and never will)
CL is fabricating sections for dreadnought, type 26 and building a ferry.
Can we “have some more please Sir Keir” Asks the Naval clerk Charles Dickens from his Chatham Dockyard office.
We need a Bigger Navy!!!
A minor point but saying approximately 149.9m is a bit silly, quoting a figure to 4 significant figures is extremely accurate. An approximate length would be 150m.
The digital plans might well be 149.9 meters but the actual vessel might be more or less depending on construction tolerances and temperature.
There is a far greater mathematical error in the article where it says the program is more than half way. Given that the first vessel isn’t finished and the seventh has just started having steel cut I would estimate that the program hasn’t yet reached the 25% stage of construction or less than a quarter.
The Government should order another batch of 5 Type 31s (or as #2s) and reap greater economies of scale before production winds down on Batch 1. It would hard to argue against another batch of 5 Type 26s too and I would add HMG should go the opposite direction to what they have down with naval construction in the last 20yrs and speed up construction, the US spit out an Arleigh Burke in ~4yrs! I would expect export opportunities would materialise too and once a proper build drum beat has been established, the RN can start to get the critical… Read more »
I’d like to see a rolling contract for second tier escorts, delivered every 15 months from Rosyth, initially based on the Arrowhead 140 at maybe £400m a unit (£320m a year rising with GDP), with a fit out agreed by the Navy to sit within that cap and regular design upgrades by Babcock for efficiency. If Babcock doesn’t screw up and provides value for money, they’d just keep churning them out and second-hand ones would be sold off maybe 15 years after launch. I think that would give the Navy around 10 high-availability ships to complement the top-tier escorts. By… Read more »
I would agree , I am certain if uk banged out t26 and t31 at a faster rate and ordered another 6 batch of each basic shells as an example without even budgeting for weaponry. These shells would either be purchased by Royal Navy in the future or snapped up by a foreign nation for a fast modernisation of their own fleet. Another opportunity missed for British industry with maintenence contracts .