The first section of the first Type 26 ‘City class’ frigate HMS Glasgow has been completed in her namesake city.
The Type 26 represents the future backbone of the Royal Navy and eight of the class are planned, starting with HMS Glasgow. The UK Government say they are committed to eight of the type, this was outlined in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review.
It’s great to see the first hull unit for the first-of-class Type 26 Global Combat Ship, HMS Glasgow, leave the Steel Fabrication Shop at Govan Shipyard today. It will now be turned ‘shipwise’ and formed into a part of a full hull block in the Ship Block and Outfit Hall. pic.twitter.com/ikMOwQFyzB
— Paul Sweeney MP (@PaulJSweeney) January 18, 2018
The Type 26 programme currently employs more than 1,200 people in the UK supply chain, with a number of contracts already in place for the manufacture of major equipment for the first three ships. In total, there are already 33 UK and international companies working in the supply chain to deliver the Type 26 ships.
Admiral Sir Philip Jones, First Sea Lord said when the name of the first vessel was revealed:
“The Clyde was the birthplace of some of the greatest fighting ships the world has ever known and so cutting steel there today for the future HMS Glasgow is symbolic of a Royal Navy on the rise once again.
As an island nation, we are utterly dependent on the sea for our security and prosperity and the City-class names have been chosen for the Type 26 to provide an enduring link between the Royal Navy and our great centres of commerce and industry.
The name Glasgow brings with it a string of battle honours, stretching from the Arctic Circle to the South Atlantic.”
It will be the ninth HMS Glasgow in the Royal Navy’s history, dating back to 1707.
nice to see work has commenced,my only concern is i cannot see 8 of them being built,especially with all the cuts..
It’s a bit of a worry, but they need 6 to support the carriers, and it would be unthinkable if there was no specialist anti-sub available for home waters, so really 8 is bare minimal.
I hope!
Biggest threat to UK is subs cutting sea lanes.
Even though it’s all world leading kit, 8 T-26s, 7 Astutes and 9 P8s is a woefully thin line.
A dereliction of duty as far as I’m concerned.
Spot on. Bare minimum or sub-minimum numbers have no reserves for attrition when they are needed. Capability gaps are insanity.
Great bit of news .
it’ll look better the right way up
Perhaps one day there could be 6 type 45’s , 6 type 26, and 8-10 type 31’s.. But of course would like to see all 8 type 26 being built.
I can see this. T26 cut for extra T31.
Just as Sturgeon decides to wind up the anti-Brexit rhetoric with a piece of fiction, blame Westminster for everything and suggest an ‘IndyRef2’ before the end of the year.
I am sorry but I can’t help feeling we should not be putting even more British taxpayers into a place led by the anti British SNP that costs us £15 Bn a year to fund their fiscal deficit and 16% more per person in Barnett funding unless we get a written guarantee they won’t keep trying to split the UK. Which will never happen. So …..
Hi Chris, Last time I checked, the Scots are still British taxpayers – and the majority of Scots do not support separation from the UK. FYI – Scotland has contributed hugely to the success of the United Kingdom; in engineering, science, commerce & industry, defence of the realm etc – and let’s not get us started on 40 years of North Sea oil revenues. The “place” you refer to is Glasgow, and the River Clyde – the centre of excellence for ship-building in the UK. I can’t think of a better place to build the new generation of frigates! And… Read more »
Well said Alan. As a Brit of Scots ancestry agree with your comments entirely although I have no problem with those whose views differ from mine and would add that my best friend as a student in the 60’s was a Nationalist and this never interfered with our friendship.
On subject the real key to success for the Type 26 will be orders from elsewhere-Australia and Canada. If we can spread the fixed costs then affording 8 for the RN should be no problem.
Scotland is still family. Unless there is a divorce we’re all British tax payers and I want a balanced economy where all the family see a benefit. That UK govt has shredded defence spending and closed down much English shipbuilding isn’t fault of folks in Glasgow.
Scotland is still family-And Forever may it Remain!
Agree with you guys, together we are the equal of a France or a Germany, separate we will be the equivalent of a Belgium or a Denmark. It would be madness to break up our island into separate countries. Together we are stronger.
Alan, Geoff, Ian – I totally share your Unionist views and family alliterations and because of my patriotism (old fashioned I know) I agree with ‘long may it remain so’. I never criticised the quality of shipbuilding on the Clyde (which are not unique as the carriers proved by the way). I am also aware that Scots pay taxes (which the SNP have just increased) but then they do rather better than others in the UK out of the combined UK taxpayer funding do they not? But you confuse two issues. If the Scots elect a Government that seeks to… Read more »
Re your last para Chris – blame Cameron. I do, for defence cuts and being weak.
too right
Ian – Well we agree as I do blame Cameron and I speak as true blue Tory (and therefore a Unionist). Portsmouth was sacrificed to bolster the ‘remain’ vote in Indyref1 and look at the thanks we got for that despicable act
Here is a counter view Chris, I am an Englishman who moved to Scotland just after the 2014 Indyref. I was firmly opposed to Scottish Independence as I felt it would make us poorer, divide the nation and generate conflict. Here is the rub, like most people below the age of 45 I am utterly and firmly opposed to Brexit (horrified actually). Call me a Remoaner or a Snowflake I have heard it all before but as far as I am concerned to be stripped of my EU citizenship against my will is abhorrent! If there was a Scottish Indyref… Read more »
Voting to break up the country you live in for what? Please tell me what your EU Citizenship gives you that is so important and don’t say freedom of movement. People worked, travelled and studied in Europe before we joined the EEC and they will still be able to do so after we leave or are we facing another Atlantic wall. Whilst we are likely to suffer some economic knocks initially after we leave I believe that longer term we shall be better off and happier going our own way but trading with all including Europe. Finally, can you remember… Read more »
What do you mean “Don’t say Freedom of movement”? For Remainers like myself that is arguably the number one reason! The right to travel, work and live in the EU. Prior to joining the EEC we could do that but it was difficult. It is a RIGHT I take for granted and having it taken away boils my pee! “Whilst we are likely to suffer some economic knocks initially after we leave I believe that longer term we shall be better off and happier going our own way but trading with all including Europe.” I see no evidence that in… Read more »
Fedaykin if you are as young as you say you are how do you know it was difficult to travel and work across Europe before freedom of movement. If you have skills people want you will be welcomed it is that simple anywhere in the modern world. I believe you have taken the bait of those remainers who seem to think the end of the world is coming. You will still be able to travel, work and live in Europe but sensibly there will be controls for us and the other independent countries of Europe. Just like we have with… Read more »
Fedaykin If you love this EU so much why not move to Europe whilst you have the chance We dont leave your promised land for a while yet so you still have time to leave as i think according to you the barriers will be put up and we will be prisoners in our on land and all movement will stop Do you honestly think that will happen? How about the millions of Brits that holiday in you wonderland will they not be allowed to go to those places It would probably ruin the economy of those places and we… Read more »
Fedaykin
Over 8 MILLION non-Military us citizens live and work abroad. More than 6.6 x as many than the UK and we have never required so perverse an arrangement as the EU. Note the US is only 5 x larger in population. Meaning despite NOT being in something like the EU their are more Americans living and working wherever the economy and their lives take them.
Really just shows once again that the EU has been a cancer robbing the UK of the flexibility it needed as a Nation and economy.
Hi Chris, I always enjoy reading your posts, which are very articulate and well-constructed. However, on this occasion, I do feel some of the content is a little bit of an over-reaction, “we risk being trapped on the whim of 1/2 Mn Scots voters? This is a boil that will have to be lanced …” You are in danger of acting like an unpaid recruiting Sergeant for Nicola Sturgeon! We’re in the era of the “politics of identity”, so it’s hardly surprising that Scottish nationalism has become a factor, or indeed English nationalism – as evidenced by the controversial Brexit… Read more »
I think the way to look at Portsmouth, or Govan, Scotstoun, Rosyth, Liverpool, Newcastle, Belfast, Devonport, is to take out any localism or politics, or local employment and workers, and look coldly and ruthlessly at the needs of the RN itself. Two-thirds of the surface fleet are based at Portsmouth, including the QEs, there’s logisitics and supply needed, crew facilities including medical, then repair and maintenance. There’s also the infrastructure which was generally identifed a couple of years ago, as being severely deficient and antiquated across all bases of all arms of the forces. Hence base closures and rationalisation which,… Read more »
I deliberately missed out refits because that’s a curious thing. People complaon about spending £80 million say on a ship that only cost £150 million in the first place. But at today’s prices that’s £500 million for the sake of argument.
And in theory at least, if design and flexibility is built in at the shipbuilding stage, refits should be more regular, cheaper, and for more years on new build ships.
So where do they belong in the future ideal RN – at the repair facility or the shipbuiding one?
Fedaykin – As sjb1968 points out at 45 you have only ever known the EEC / EU. And arguably the EU has dominated your working life. I speak as someone who (at 70) has probably been round far too many blocks and owns a box of T Shirts and rather old blue beret. Now you make an issue of your ‘EU Citizenship’. Well sorry but as the EU is not an independent nation state it cannot confer ‘Citizenship’ on anyone. (I know it wants to be the United States of Europe but as the Gladiator observed: ‘Not yet. Not yet’).… Read more »
Hi Alan. Yes, but it is a problem for the UK defence establishment, but their first priority has to be defence, and the means to get the ships built, and within a budget. But they have to build in that flexibility to relocate if or when neccessary. Personally, since the Vanguards and Trident would have to stay on the Clyde for 10 years while a smaller Coulport is built (there’s not the same need as there used to be), and the easier Faslane, having got any neccessary planning and safety permissions, I think a transition arrangement could and would be… Read more »
The last paragraph is a bit ambiguous, I meant with Cameron and Salmond I think both would have been pragmatists, and the chances of an amicable arrangement quite high.
I agree – well said
As a one resident, the Scvots like taking the micky out of the English and if possible outdoing them in sport; but as for leaving, no chance. They really do have the best of both worlds and are too canny to throw that away for a vague S.N.P. pipers dream. Personally, I think the U.K. has to re-think its military stance. What I am seeing is patchy and incoherent; it is also woefully unimaginative thinking. The money required to re-build our national interest (that is what defence is all about) should come from cutting aid to countries that in 2018… Read more »
We are not all Sturgeon supporters north of the border you know. Some of us believe in the UK as a whole.
** more taxpayers money **
I would like to see more than 8 type 26s built. This government need to wake up, fund defence and other public service properly. Put up taxes to pay for a decent sized and resources royal navy.
We definitely should not be scrapping Albion and Bulwark and there is a clear strategic case for a replacement for Ocean.
Mr Bell – I was right with you until your ‘clear case for a replacement for Ocean’. So what clear case is that? And I don’t men in a wonderland of endless money. Right here right now with what we have?
Unfortunately there is genuine reasons to get a ocean replacement, and that’s not fantasy fleet talk. But as you suggest in the current economic situation it isn’t a priority.
well said
Death is a preferable alternative to communism
If we are are talking the minimum sensible fleet size, then in an ideal world we would have : 9 T45 9 T26 12 T31. 12 SSN’s The above, allowing for refits, would give an active surface fleet of approx 21 units, a blend of all three types. Plus an active fleet of 9 SSN’s. I would base this number also on a T31 design that is a capable all round fleet escort, highly automated, small crew, but not constrained by a too small displacement. We must make sure we learn the lessons of the batch 1 T42’s, where too… Read more »
I think we will end up with 13 “Destroyers” (T26 upgraded to full spectrum) and 25 T31 (or their derivatives) – configured for task, 8 MHVC, 8ASW, 8 GPF. This gives us a drumbeat of 1 T31 pa and 1 T26 every 2 years in a 25 year lifecycle, with us hopefully selling to allies at year 15. This isn’t fanciful thinking if 1. we get our act together 2. Move from the myriad of specialist hulls onto a fleet of 8/9 hull types and 3. start building regularly and to a budget. The first rule of exporting is you… Read more »
What I’m thinking along the lines of is rather than first rate specialised versus numbers of hulls, do both. There’s a current plan, which gives first-rate ships and boats, but not many of them, with the carriers and the deterrent as the first line. That’s underway at the moment, but with the addition of the RFAs to come next, and some sort of replacement for Albion, Bulwark and Ocean, but with multipurpose, and maybe as some have suggested, some incorporation into the RFAs. This takes the plan along to say 2020, with a few years to complete that part. Meanwhile… Read more »
Hi Dads Army I cannot believe that the cost of a T26 is not £1.1bn – that cost must include support and mainntenance for a period of time. I think its probably 800m to build and I think a T31 will come in closer to £400m which would still be a great result. Operational and running costs should not be put into the equipment budget in the way they are – they certainly need to be recognised – but I do find it unethical to state it in the equipment budget in a manner that makes it look as if… Read more »
Yes, trying to find out costs is a nightmare. From the RN website in July: “The first of the Royal Navy’s next-generation frigates will be laid down before the month is out after a £3.7 billion order was placed for three Type 26s.” but elsewhere the talk is £1 billion each, so I split the difference. Even the date of order – Fallon I think it was announced it in Novermber but the order was already in – or was it? Politics wants to make the budget seem small so they get it, but the spending large so they get… Read more »
Let’s not forget that it wont include the cost of the helicopter(s) it is meant to carry. Frankly if a T26 really is 1-1.3 bn each – we will be better off buying a Huitfeldt or Nansen class Frigate from our Scandinavian friends and at least we can get double the amount. Something is just wrong with all of this and I dont subscribe to its BAE etc. As they would have brought the carriers in far cheaper if it wasn’t for government meddling. We need to prove we can do this and for me a T26 has to come… Read more »
T,o all of the above, how heartening it is to read (in most cases) sensible debate if our leaders adopted the same attitude towards pragmatism we would not be in the mess were in (I refer to Brexit debate, which I voted for and at 70 year old I have experienced both sides of the coin)
Keep up those well articulated debates.