The first blocks of HMS Active, the second Type 31 Frigate, have been laid out beside HMS Venturer at the Rosyth ‘frigate factory’, showcasing the scale and potential of one of two planned frigate fabrication facilities in Scotland.

At 147 metres long, the hall can comfortably fit three Olympic-sized swimming pools, and the 30-metre high doors can accommodate two vessels being assembled at the same time side by side, just as we’re now seeing.

Construction of HMS Active began with a steel-cutting ceremony at Rosyth in January 2023.

In May 2021, the First Sea Lord announced the names of the five planned Type 31 ships. The names were selected to represent key themes that represent the future plans of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines – forward deployment of ships overseas; operating in the North Atlantic; carrier operations; technology and innovation; and the Future Commando Force.

Active, named after the Type 21 frigate which served in the Falklands War, symbolises forward deployment of ships overseas.

The plan for the Type 31 project envisages all five units of the class being in service by February 2030.

What about the west coast?

With the east coast frigate factory already being utilised, it’s a good idea to look at the progress of the ‘frigate factory’ being built on the west coast for the Type 26 Frigates.

Drone shots show massive Glasgow frigate factory progress

Recent drone imagery shows the progress of a massive new ‘frigate factory’ in Glasgow. The massive facility at Govan represents a huge boost in capability for UK naval shipbuilding, like the ‘Venturer’ building, this facility will be able to build two frigates side by side.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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87 COMMENTS

    • The NSS has the T31’s being completed by 2030, with the T32 (currently 5 vessels)build programme commencing in 2027. We are all still waiting to see what the T32 design(if it actually goes ahead as such) looks like and more importantly what it will actually be used for. If its just to be used purely as a ‘drone’ mothership, then surely that’s a waste, as something along the lines of RFA Proteus would be more suitable? We all await the unveiling so to speak.

        • I don’t know about that, but I do wonder if the T32 will be a ‘clean sheet’ design? T31 is based on the IH class frigate, which in turn used the hull form design of the preceding Abslom class frigate. So a design that’s 20 yo already.
          The easy\cheaper option is to use the T31 design and alter to suit, which potentially limits what you can do with it.
          Starting from scratch, while more expensive, avoids any such constraints that rehashing an older design might present.
          As always time will tell what if anything comes out of it. I imagine we will either know early next year what the design looks like, or, will have to wait until after the election to see where this project ends up.

          • T32 concept phase has funding until next year so any decision will be with who ever wins the next election. I would say the odds are against the T32 ever being a reality.

          • You may well be very correct there, but that then leaves far bigger issues about frigate numbers in general, as the RN are aiming to get back to a 24 ship frigate/destroyer fleet as a minimum requirement.
            Could all change again after the next election I know, but, if Labour get in and start cancelling programmes, can they then survive any backlash as the NSS suddenly crumbles and shipbuilding in this country probably goes forever? If that is there intent, it would be a hugh risk for them, given that they are almost entirely funded by the unions.

          • I suspect that starmer will do a Tony Blair and commit to holding tax and spend levels to those inherited from the conservatives for his first term. Also I can see recent developments pushing defence spending worldwide up rather than down. 2.5 to 4 % seems inevitable.

          • I agree Labour will stick to Tory funding but I think Geo politics will go the other way, Russia finished and China is crumbling.

          • Russia, everyone forgets, is self contained in terms of raw materials. They were running a substantial surplus before 2022 and had little inclination to spend much on anything but defense which was probably running at 5% or more.
            Finished? Not if Trump and others let him off the hook. The Democrats will finish USA by other means. All sad and unnecessary.

          • I agree. Trump is a real snake in the grass, a Putin fanboy who’s declared he will withdraw US support from Ukraine if he gets elected again. The Republicans are screwed if they back a pro-Putin candidate. Insanity.
            However Russia is a huge land area with lots of raw materials & has obtained huge areas of Africa to exploit as part of its Wagner support for corrupt regimes package.
            We need to maintain a united sensible front against Russia.
            With Saudi forces slaughtering hundreds+ of immigrants at the border, we should be more careful about what regimes we support too.

            It’s great to see better capacity to build escort numbers. Now we need the political savvy to rebuild & maintain the RN at the level needed.

          • Trump and his megalomania to me , makes more of a threat to world peace than the little fool in Korea.

          • Looking at where British foreign aid is going to, just makes my blood boil . millions to Syria, nation who’s despotic leader uses gas on his own people. How can we justify it? Abdul needs a new camel? No problemo, the British will buy it for him £200 million to Pakistan. A nation that harbors terrorists and allows it’s soil to be used to train more.those who oversees this issue should be sacked, and I’ve said as much to my local M.P

          • I find the resistance to a program of defence spending uplift quite bewildering when everyone else is spending like crazy.

          • Speaking of spending, when labour come to power, we’ll have a huge armed forces they’ll buy and buy, till all the money is gone, then they’ll borrow some more and spend that too!

          • But it’ll take the n years to have the basic design sorted. If it’s anything like the T26, then th entire hull will be fitted for, but not with, and the navy wouldn’t have a chance to get the 6-8 destroyers it needs.

          • I agree, too much focus being placed on the army now. T32 budget will never appear and it won’t be a cut for labour as the Tory’s never funded it.

          • So if Labour than trash the NSS….

            That would mean Labour effectively closing a ship yard….

            That will go down well with the unions when there is a bit of industry that us on the up…..

            Also makes little sense when UK ships are exporting very nicely.

            But I appreciate UK thinking is driven by short term book balancing and not long term thinking.

          • Thats politicians for doesn’t matter what colour only ever interested in what will get get the next 20 seconds on camera. Not one gives a sh*t about the reality

          • I’d they try for a clean sheet design it will be cancelled. The only hope is a cheap as chips build in line with T31.

          • That is entirely possible fella, probably the most realistic outcome if it ever gets the nod so to speak. Not necessarily the right course to take, but…..

          • Probably the best option to get 5 more scorts. Could be upgraded slightly, a better MG & ASW sonar for example. T31’s are a lot more formidable now Mk41 silos are included.

          • Only five? Rediculous like the T31 ordersfor the price of those, I’d bin T32, and double the T31 order. I think, as a class, the T31 will be a massive success. Especially when we know exact much they do cost compared to the £250 million projected cost. Venturer and the active are looking like being quite fast to manufacture, it only seems like yesterday that the first cut of steel was happening, yet the picture of two ship being built in tandem shows that a whopping great lump of active is already filling it’s place in the hall.

          • A fully militarised river design, would suit me, I used to love those rothseas to bits, when Exmouth has the Olympus gas turbine fitted it was superb ship , one similar to it, with say 76mm gun,extra 30mm cannons decent ASW suite and maybe artisan and of course a flight deck.yarmouth and Plymouth acquitted themselves well in the Falklands and proved that there is plenty of room in any naval fleet for the small powerful well designed, properly equipped small warship.

          • I think you would likely find that the limiting factor might be that there is insufficient UK complex warship design capacity to deal with a clean sheet T32 whilst also covering continuing work on upgrades for T26, T31. T45, and then not forgetting T83 which will be a major undertaking. Hence I would expect T32 (if it comes to pass) will be a derivative of T31.

          • Yes, that is certainly a distinct possibility given what you allude to. Someone will also be working on the FSSS design, further diluting the experience available.
            The down side to not going ‘clean sheet’ can be seen across the pond with our US cousins and the mess they have got themselves in with the AB and beyond. Which is also why they went and used the Italian FREMM as the basis for the Constellation class.
            This is what years of neglect and limited to no investment gets you unfortunately.

          • Agree your points including the AB class – a very successful design, but has clearly run out of road interms of further development potential (volume, weight, stability, elec generating capacity), a new class should have been much further on than is the case. Re Constellation class, I know that there have had to be major revisions to meet USN requirement, including structural design, and this may bring its own issues, we will see. Your last sentence: too right!

          • Could you fit 3 rivers building together? The hall with two T31’S still has lots and lots of extra space.

          • Mate., I’ve got absolutely no idea if that could be done. Have to say, not sure why we would want to at the moment either.
            We are sort of stuck with where we are at the moment, money, skilled personnel and crew manpower are all limiting factors as we speak, probably will be for a while yet.

          • I think the T83 will do to the naval budget, what the carriers and astutes did.(use it all).

          • Expat wrote:
            “”I suspect it will be linked the next governments defence review 😀“”

            I must admit the one thing the MOD under both governments has become world beating experts in, is in defence reviews

          • Can’t wait for the Defence Review class of RN frigates all in batches of one. HMS Defence Review will be the first Frigate without any armament though it will have sensors so it can detect hostile ships it can surrender to. The PM will say it’s a marvel of British ingenuity and shows our importance in the World and above all commitment to bring a world Peace closer to reality.

        • I’d like to see a FEW the size of the T14 Exmouth. With artisa ceptor and single gas turbine. Not every RN ship has to be huge

    • Assuming there are no major issues with either T31 ot T26 the temptation would be to create a steady drumbeat of ship production extending well into the future so that the facilities are running at maximum capacity. 30 Frigates & 12 Destroyers seems like a tempting initial plan. It looks to me like the RN will be spending much more time in the Pacific in the future. These ships will need to be supported by 10 times the number of drones but they will clearly be built elsewhere.

      2-3 Billion a year on ship production should be achievable even for the treasury. The cost per unit should reduce the more we build. The world is becoming an unstable place and 3% Defence budget must be just around the corner.

        • It is perhaps early days however there seems to be some joined up thinking between the building anti western alliance BRICS countries and some of their junior partners. This may well be seen as an emerging threat and an increase in defence spending a prudent & necessary next step.

          • Looking at some of the half hearted responses and delays towards Ukraine I suspect that any possible response to BRICS is several years away – I think the UK is more likely to either say ‘not really our problem’ or wait and see what happens.

            As to any increase in spending beyond, say, 2.5% I doubt our ability to increase the build rate of frigates/destroyers – probably our main naval shortfall – or recruit enough people to crew them. Same with army/RAF – not going to increase tank force, need lots more artillery, RAF need stuff across the board – and always recruitment and long term planning issues.

          • Problem with the BRICS counties is they are all shit at fighting, hate each other and are mostly pro western.

            Despite their rhetoric Russia and China are amongst the most pro western counties in the world, their leaders favour keeping their money and families in the west.

          • Fair point . UK had been allies with the French for a long time even then were more like frenemies and were actual enemies before that
            Portugal has been the only constant ally

          • You won’t see any argument about this from me. However, there would be a question of finding crews.

          • The creeping issue is somewhat overblown, if 10,000 Nepalese applied for the 400 places in the British army, I’ve no doubt that many of the unsuccessful ones would take up an offer for a place in the RN. Another aree worth discussing is retentionwhen I put my 18 months notice in, back in 1984, not once was I asked’why I wanted to leave. If sailors aren’t asked why, how can the issue be identified? And put right. I know a lot of people still in the navy bear a big grudge over the state of the married patches, neglect, poor local services a decent school, doctors surgery or dentist. The giant rowner estate in Gosport looks like a failing London inner city dump than a place fit for the nations defenders.sailors go for many reasons, average pay. The belief that there are many jobs that pay more, give you every weekend off, festivities and family occasions off. Too much time away as our little coast guard navy is thinly spread further away by the nations leaders. Export opportunities and flying the flag means nothing to a sailor born in Blythe, made in the royal navy. Is that the best we can do? It’s pathetic.

      • Seems like a very achievable and worth while goal, the national shipbuilding strategy called for this, we may build 30 surface combatants is a cycle but some will be paid off early to reap funding to keep the production lines going. Higher end vessels like T26 and T45 may stay in service for 30+ years while the lower end T31, T32 are kept for 15-20 years with older hulls sold on to Allie’s.

        • the T45’S are being clogged. They’ll be.knackered in no time for the next class design even being finalized th RN needs a class of destroyer that can be a large number of ships in the class the paltry six type 45 were never going to be enough

      • Where would you get the crews for 30 frigates and 12 destroyers?

        Honestly that is more than we need.

        A surface fleet of 30 frigates and destroyers would be plenty.

        I’d rather have 30 properly armed and kitted out than 42 place savers – which was the old RN approach of mass.

        • If you are to argue with politicians you must do it based on need and not on what you think they will let you have. They, generally, haven’t got the foggiest idea. Personally the issue which makes me think we need a greater number is that the potential threats are all over the world not just NATO. Cooperation is building between nations like China and Argentina for example.To be fair I’m not sure how i got to 42 but I think there needs to be more focus on the threat and adjusting our forces to meet that threat. I’m thinking we will need ships in Austrialia, Falklands, Middle East and well as Europe.

          I’m not sure that crews are as bigger problem as ships to put them on. If we pay the right money & make a decent profession out of it and they are travelling the world why wouldn’t they join?

          • I often write to the local aaMp with questions about . matter’s naval. On the rare occasion that I get a reply it is a paper of reasons why Not to do with any proposals anybody puts forward. The whole.navh organisation is blinkered and full of we know what’s going on and those blinkers have blocked me innovative, creatability that we used to be renowned for. Has gone we’re just going along with what unknown people appointed (by who).how and why are these unknowns put into the position of holding the navy to ransom over the size and cost.theres far more commonsense on here. Ideas on how the size and shape of how the navy could/should be. Ideas such as removing the superstructure of a bay class, fitting a full length deck and designating it as a HLP.are valid, but will never pass go I n the minds of those in these chairs. the admiralty is not fit for purpose it should be cleaned out, restaffed, restructured and staffed with people who really care about the ships, the people, and not just the costs

        • There were plenty of frigates and destroyers , even carriers, swinging on a mooring in the old days . Often a refit would finish and go straight to reserve

          There is enough manpower/ladypower just its not in the right places

          A T23 has 70 ratings inc PO , 2 Wo and 4 officers in the engineering department
          yet the last time they published manning levels 4200 trained general service engineers ( excl subs, aviation etc) who werent officers- 1500 of those
          Overall ratings at time was 23,700
          It will be down a bit now but gives a general idea

        • Bor.n in Blythe, made in the royal navy, is that the best we can do? Over ten thousand Nepalese applied for 400 places in the army if they are offered a place in the navy, a lot WOULD BE UP FOR IT. maybe a ship H.M.S GURKHA, would be a good way to entice some volunteers. Maybe make whole crew Nepalese

  3. Being realistic my view would be to sell the first 5 RN T31 within 15 years to be replaced by a second tranche. Keep the drumbeat going and offer allies some value for money, decent GP frigates.

    • That was the initial idea in John Parkers shipbuilding strategy report . Forgive the pun but that ship looks to have sailed.

    • I’d rather see the 5 ship order upped by 5 more. I believe that the T31 will be a massive success for the RN.it looks like the production rate of delivery is going to be a massive bonus the picture of the venturer and the active side by side is great. Those early blocks of active seem to have been banged up very quickly.yes for me, double the amount of the T31’S ordered and forget the T32. That, plus T26,T83, and the astutes replacement Will give us the drumbeat we’ve waited for too long to happen.

  5. Neither the Babcock Rosyth nor BAES Clyde succeeded in winning “build export” order yet.

    Shipbuilding is made of,
    1: concept design (easy),
    2: detailed design (very difficult, including all the process, verification and certification works),
    3: build of hull (welding, expensive but no the major part),
    4: and warfight/sensor systems integration (costy).

    (1/2) T26 and Arrowhead 140s’ Design export is great. But, after T26, there is no detailed design (for T31, UK did buy many of the detailed design from Denmark).
    (4) systems integration can be also done in mid-life upgrade (like T23LIFEX, T45 CAMM addition/SeaViper upgrade), so maybe sustainable.
    (3) welding works now ongoing, but I think there is no hope for more T31 or T32 to be built in Rosyth. Rosyth must move to MHC-LSV or MRSS or Argus replacements.

    • T31 was detailed design in UK for RN requirements.
      Just that the contract was for an existing baseline ship to avoid the endless ministry- RN- industry games of musical chairs for various ‘gates’

      T26 had no export builds either just the design plans. Thats how it works these days they want their own ship build however a lot of the radars, combat system, air con, fire control, water treatment , engines etc are sourced from Uk companies

      • Duker-san, thank for reply.

        No. T31’s detailed design is large a copy of Iver Huilfeldt class. If you read the Babcock guy’s document, it is written as such.

        Yes Babcock made detailed design, but they carefully avoided changing the original design as far as possible. Virtually, almost all compartments are unchanged, other than small modification to address small difference in internal standard requirements (but note that Iver Huilfeldt class is already designed to NATO escort standard, which is largely common with RN’s). Center of gravity requirement is more strict for RN, and that is the reason the radar masts are much more compact in T31.

        Thanks.

        • Im going on what the people who did the detail design said. Yes the requirement was for an existing design – modified to RN standards

  6. Let’s hope the government keep their commitment to ship building and keep a steady supply of work coming to these yards . It would be nice to see the RN benefit with an increase in surface ships . The numbers are far to low at the moment

  7. That the Babcock hall can build frigates in pairs is all well and good. However Babcock in three years time will have only one ship under construction in the hall and in four years none.
    This as we all know would mean a waste of investment into the hall, a loss of the workforce, a loss of the skills and extra cost if Babcock gets a new contract a few years later. We could then sell ships to partner nations that would be 10-15 years old and re invest into more new ships. It would also save money on expensive refits and life extension programs.

    Government would need to have contracts in place by the end of 2024 for the T32 so detailed drawings could be ready by 2026-27 for the first steel cutting of the new T32s 2027-28. This uses the potential of the hall and keeps the workforce in place.

    We have all heard that defence committees have thrown about numbers of surface combat ships that the RN needs. These numbers are from 24 to 30.
    If we use 30 which is what I think we need then to save money we could use designs that we have in production now. So in my opinion the future 2040 fleet would have 8 T26s ASW, 4 T26 AAW, 5 T31s, 5 T32s and 8 T83s. The T83 and T26 variants would act as escorts for the QEs and 2 x 30,000 ton LHDs.

    To save further cost the T26 AAW could have Artisan replace with a three plane SAMPSON and a Thales APAR block 2 -x band intergrated into the same mast, replace the forward Sea Ceptors with a further 2 blocks of Mk41s. There is only a 40cm diffrence in the beam from a T26 to a T45 so the mast should not be an issue. S band and X band have good signal seperation and will not cross contaminate each other.

    The T32s should be the Babcock stretched T31 concept as reported by navylookout (26th June 2023) with only the NS 100 being upgraded to the NS 200.

    With BAE and Babcock both having build halls for two ships under construction and an experiance workforce, this construction schedule is not only possible but cost effective. The only issue is the LHD but I suspect they could be built in Belfast when the FSS ships are nearing completion.

    Yes I know, money money money. Yet here is the thing, if government was to sit the three ship yards down at the table and say right this is what we want, this is the time frame and and here is the pot of money that is paid out over the time frame. Then everyone can plan and know what work is to be done for the next 15-20 years. A much better situation than Babcock has at the moment as they do not know if they have work in five years time.

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