Type 26 Frigate HMS Glasgow has left the shipyard in Glasgow that built her onboard a barge on her way to be lowered into the water at Loch Long, a sea loch downriver from the city.

The ship is now on its way to Glen Mallan where she will be lowered into the water by the semi-submersible barge before being brought back upriver to Glasgow again, this time to BAE’s facility at Scotstoun for fitting out.

BAE Systems said:

“Once in position, the float off will involve the base of the barge being slowly submerged over a number of hours until HMS GLASGOW fully enters the water. She will then return to BAE Systems’ Scotstoun shipyard further along the Clyde, where she will undergo the next stages of outfit before test and commissioning.”

Ben Wallace, Secretary of State for Defence, said:

“HMS GLASGOW entering the water for the first time marks a major milestone for the Type 26 programme which supports thousands of highly skilled jobs in Scotland and more across the wider UK supply chain. We’re continuing to invest in the British shipbuilding industry to maintain the Royal Navy’s cutting-edge ability to defend our nation, while strengthening our partnership with allies.”

David Shepherd, Type 26 Programme Director, BAE Systems, said:

“Seeing HMS GLASGOW in the water for the first time will be a proud and exciting moment for the thousands of people involved in this great endeavour. She will soon transfer to our Scotstoun yard in Glasgow where we look forward to installing her complex systems and bringing her to life.”

For those wondering how they moved the ship onto the barge, little wheeled vehicles under the vessel shown below.

The submersible barge was tested last month ahead of the upcoming launch of the new warship.

Frigate carrying submersible barge tested in Glasgow

According to Malin Group, the barge will initially be used to transport and ‘launch’ the Type 26 Frigates being built by BAE Systems for the Royal Navy and then berthed on the Clyde and made available to industry as required, “catalysing further opportunities for the wider supply chain in fields including shipbuilding, civil construction and renewable energy”.

I went along to watch the barge arrive. Here’s the video.

John MacSween, Managing Director of the Malin Group, said:

“Securing this piece of equipment marks another positive step forward in the reawakening of the shipping and large-scale marine manufacturing industry in Scotland.  This versatile asset, based on the West Coast of Scotland, can be used for launching and bringing ships ashore, docking vessels locally or at remote locations as well as being used to relocate large structures around the UK and further afield.

We are delighted to continue our long-standing relationship with the internationally renowned tug and barge owner specialists Augustea, as well as work with Hat-San who are bringing years of shipbuilding experience to the conversion. We are also extremely grateful for the support we have had from Scottish Enterprise in making this project a reality.”

The barge is a joint venture between the Malin Abram and Augustea and, now modified, represents one of the largest in Europe – it can submerge to load vessels and cargo with draughts of up to 12m and over 137m in length.

It will be based on the Clyde between projects.

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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124 COMMENTS

  1. Now to see if the ballast and balance calculations are correct! Fingers crossed all goes to plan, then Glasgow can return to Glasgow!

  3. Sounds like an existencial crisis.😮

    Hadn’t realised they take her down to Glen Mallan before returning to Scotstoun for fitting out. Great work.

  5. Excellent news on the one hand and on the other?

    Just as things were looking up too 😠

    UK scraps additional A400M buy as ‘unaffordable’
    30 NOVEMBER 2022

    “The United Kingdom has scrapped plans to acquire additional Airbus A400M Atlas airlifters, saying it is no longer affordable.

    The National Audit Office (NAO) made the disclosure in its ‘The Equipment Plan 2022 to 2032′ report, published on 30 November, reversing the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) announcement in February that it was seeking to add to the 22 aircraft already contracted.”

    https://www.janes.com/defence-news/defence/latest/uk-scraps-additional-a400m-buy-as-unaffordable

    • That is one bureaucratic view of future, however, Sunak, Hunt, Wallace, et. al., may beg to differ, once defense plan revised and approved.

      • This might have something to do with it, the cost must be huge.

        U.S. and NATO Scramble to Arm Ukraine and Refill Their Own Arsenals
        Last summer in the Donbas region, the Ukrainians were firing 6,000 to 7,000 artillery rounds each day, a senior NATO official said. The Russians were firing 40,000 to 50,000 rounds per day.

        By comparison, the United States produces only 15,000 rounds each month.

        https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/26/world/europe/nato-weapons-shortage-ukraine.html

        “NATO doesn’t really plan to fight wars like this, and by that I mean wars with a super intensive use of artillery systems and lots of tank and gun rounds,” said Frederick Kagan, a senior fellow with the American Enterprise Institute. “We were never stocked for this kind of war to begin with.”

        That has had a compounding effect on already dwindling weapons reserves. Nadaner said Pentagon stockpiles are low on sea-launched missiles, such as Harpoons and Tomahawks; joint direct attack munitions; and the munitions heavily used by the Ukrainians, such as Javelin anti-tank missiles and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.

        Ukraine has received 20 of the rocket launchers and has about 18 more on the way.

        “The idea that the United States, in some cases, has just a few weeks of stores for the magazine and they’re going to empty out, it really harms deterrence,” Nadaner said.

        https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/11/16/ukraine-weapons-military-aid-stockpiles-nato-low-industry/

        • Read the RUSI report that’s just been released on Ukraine, the russians were using in 2 days the equivalent amount of artillery shells the UK has in total inventory.

          • Hopefully, all missing their intended targets. More useful kit is on the way for Ukraine who will win in the end with our help and that of other nations.🙏

          • That is, thankfully, more or less guaranteed with Orc tactics.

            I’d say that 99% of their shots are totally wasted. They don’t do precision which is why they go for the Coventry/Dresden effect everywhere.

        • JDAM guidance kits, perhaps, but believe US has literally 100+K dumb bombs in inventory, and believe that is a very conservative estimate. The rest of assessment is probably correct.

          • The JDAM kits would be the kind of thing that it was relatively easy to step up production of. That is mostly an electronics manufacturing exercise.

            Where it gets complicated is if you have to produce loads of rocket system and manufacture and then fill warheads.

        • Also a very good article yesterday in the Times by Roger Boyes, giving the same figures. I believe that when Gavin Williamson was Minister of Defence there was a proposal to increase stockpiles and he vetoed it with the comment “I’m not going to be photographed in front of a f***ing warehouse”. As we all know he is an outstanding example of the standard of our politicians.

    • Oh well at least they are honest. Perhaps the spare airframes that are sitting around can be made into a nato pool like the awacs and C17. Actually is the uk in those pools?

    • Could well be down to Germany no longer wanting to divest herself of some of the planes?

      There is probably a very rational reason for that.

      It is interesting that this is coming out of NAO and hadn’t ‘leaked’.

      The lack of leaking suggests, to me, that Plan B exists and people are happy with it.

      • As long as plan-B isn’t bringing back the Beverley.
        On another note, I read that the Ukrainians are planning to rebuild the An-225 Mriya which I will believe when I see it. That said until I read the story I hadn’t realised Antonov was a Ukrainian company.

        • Don’t have most of another one that wasn’t finished?

          I would speculate that half the reason for the Russian invasion was to get Co trial of the substantial Ukrainian weapons industry.

          • Sorry yes, control.

            The Russians haven’t been able to make a wide range of munitions and systems since 2014…..

          • Ukraine up to 2014 provided Russia with significant enabling systems for Russian weapon systems. In particular large maritime gas turbines, IR and active radar seekers for missiles, along with optics for tanks.

            Post the annexation of Crimea, Ukraine stopped all these being exported to Russia. Which has been dire for their weapons programs. Russia have set up new manufacturing facilities in Belarus. But the quality of these products is pretty shoddy. Where a number of air to air missiles in particular have failed in combat.

            I think the phrase: You reap what you sow, is very apt when it comes to Russia.

          • Yes, we discussed this back in March(?) when I was speculating as to how this might affect the path of things.

          • They do and it seems it’s a national pride topic. I suspect they are just talking about it without any serious plans to spend the money required at this stage, at least until they have won the war and rebuilt their country.

          • Sometimes you need a totemic National symbol to pull people together…..

            Although the money could be better spent, for sure.

        • I think they are already being disposed of, 4 of the J’s have been handed over to the Bangladesh Airforce – the crews are being trained by the RAAF right now. The RAAF lads are amazed at how clapped out they already are😂

          • To be fair. They have had a pretty hard life. With the constant shuttle runs initially to Iraq then Afghanistan. Mixed in with the normal routine stuff. Compared to other NATO countries. We run our equipment ragged as that’s all we have. Sometimes, the penny pinchers to see this. Only seeing we have X number of assets. Not seeing how they are being used.

    • Not good! However, I understand that BAE have been asked to provide a plan for upgrading the Typhoon Tranche 1 aircraft after somebody finally realised just how small the RAF is these days and that losing 30 Tranche 1 aircraft in 2025 won’t help. Rumour is Type 32 might be put on hold due to affordability issues

      • That might be a reason for the Tactical Augmented Reality System to help with pilot training and get them up to speed quicker.

        Good news if true!

        “BAE Systems will collaborate with Red 6 to explore the integration of the Advanced Tactical Augmented Reality Systems (ATARS) onto the Hawk,” the announcement said. “This will enable pilots to identify, engage, and defeat virtual threats and co-operate with virtual wingmen whilst airborne.”

        https://www.janes.com/defence-news/defence/latest/bae-developing-augmented-reality-for-hawk

      • There is so little commonality between T1 and T4 it would almost certainly be easier and more cost effective to start from scratch.

        No avionics cross over
        Very little structural cross over
        Loom is totally different
        Contol surfaces are all slightly different.

        What do you take across the
        – canopy
        – seat / ejector
        – part of the fuselage
        – part of the wings
        – two engines that can be upgraded
        – landing gear
        I’m struggling to think of many other bits that port across.

        I’d port that lot into a new build fuselage.

        Or has the line been dismantled to make way for the Tempest demonstrator? It is really the only reason I can think of to tinker.

        • Can you help me out here? I’ve not been following the Typhoon saga. What can T1 do and what worthwhile capabilities would it be economically feasible to give it? Launch Brimstone, Spear 3?

          • That is the nub of the issue.

            To make it do all those good things requires a full upgrade.

            Others you have mixed maintenance, stores and training type headaches.

          • The T1 is really an interceptor, it has limited ground attack capability. Project Centurion paid for the T2 and T3s to get the full Tornado GR4 capability. Where Storm Shadow and Brimstone were integrated onto the Typhoon. But perhaps the biggest issue with the T1 is that it can’t use Meteor, it has to use AMRAAM.

            The main problem is that the avionics are several generations behind those used in T3 let alone T4. It doesn’t have the structural modification for Captor-E Radar 2+ AESA radar. Though both Spain and Italy have paid to get theres modified to T3 standard at quite a cost.

            With Spain and Germany ordering new Tranche 4 Typhoons. The production line “should” stay open until at least 2030. It would make a lot of sense for the UK to order a batch of new T4s. Except what funding was available has been used to pay for the new radar, avionics and defensive aids.

          • Thx. So if Spain and Italy have upgraded their T1s why would we need BAE to quote for upgrading ours unless we think BAE can do it better or more cheaply; or we are thinking of upgrading them in a different way…to give us a capability we don’t have; an AShM or JSM for example,

      • Hi Paul, now that sounds a really interesting development (well, potentially anyway), Might you have a link to any info in that regard? I can but hope the current economic pressures don’t force the planned Tranche 1 retirement.

      • Type 32 was always nonsense in my mind. Type 31 cheap as chips just build more of them and Type 26 can deploy drones and UUV in contested environment. Build something cheaper like Black Swan sloop of war that can operate sensors, drones and UUV in less contested water.

        • Yes. The batch 2 Rivers would surely be a contender as a basis for a Black Swan design. Replace one T32 with a squadron of batch 3 Rivers.

      • Even just parking those tranche 1 aircraft in a hanger would serve a use. Ukraine shows just how quick we will run out of high end platforms and what can be done with retro fitting even older aircraft.

        I would love to see us eventually pass all typhoon in to some form of air national guard like the US does with RAF operating Tempest.

    • Possible strawman to justify necessity of increased defense spending? Politicians can occasionally display some cleverness.

      • We will see if that happens. I fear we will just effectively take the cut in capability. We are almost a year in and no rumours of new orders for NLAW and yet state side and there is lots of talk about restocking javlin/stinger and how quickly it can be done etc.

    • Similar for the Type 32, apparently. String of commendable announcements of late likely followed by these. Personally, still dubious about Ajax – and Tempest, but that’s further down the line so not likely set for any announcements now.

      • Did nobody teach the government to do the negative sandwich? A negative in between 2 positives. Instead they do great news one week. Bad news for months.
        The example would be 5 frigates ordered. Extra A400 not being bought. New stores ship ordered.
        It makes the bad item not as bad.

        • You know that there will be some counterbalancing, but you come across it mostly by accident i.e. mumbled, not trumpeted. Silly.

          • What surprises me with this A400 announcement is it’s come from the National audit office. Who signed off on that.
            It was only ever a wish list anyway the could of kept quiet and who knows when this purchase could of happened anyway

        • I would hold off calling the store ship as good news, until an actual contract is signed. Right now it is still at talk about it stage, could easily be cut.

      • Ajax FFS it needs to go, great sensors, but bit big, very expensive and will become a gold plated solution to what could be a smaller, cheaper lighter role platform with the same sensors. My knowledge is a few years out of date, but keep and update warrior for the Armoured Inf lads and get Supacat to knock up a recce platform! However big fan of a decent overwatch platform, Ares, and a fan of commonality, hence my grudging support for the “Ajax” ASCOD programme, as a means of getting a number of decent platforms in use. And let’s not forget, certainly now with the Ukrainian experience a replacement for the striker!!!

        • Hi Airborne, your grudging support will be gratefully accepted by the guys in Merthyr I’m sure. I can’t see how a firm such as Supacat could “knock up” a recce platform even given their superb, wheeled experience. The technology that makes AJAX what it is and it’s capabilities unfortunately dictates a sizeable platform to haul it around. Also take into account the MOD mandated requirements for exceptional survivability for the lads and girls in green who will operate the system.
          Cheers
          Ian M.

          • Yep, that was one of the key drivers behind its size, compared to even Warrior. The MoD mandated that it had to be capable of taking multiple 30mm APFSDS hits. But not just the front, from what I’ve heard the sides too! Something Warrior cannot do. Hence, on the Ajax etc why they have the big boxy side armour. Which is likely to be a mixture of composite and spaced armour. If I remember correctly, adding 1cm of steel armour increases the weight by 1 ton.

            Looking at how well the Ukrainian BTR4s have done with their 30mm autocannons. Especially against Russian armour such as BMP2 and 3 let alone the odd T72. Having the durability to take multiple hits does come at a cost, ie a much bigger vehicle.

            Scimitar would not be able to take the kind of punishment that Ajax is expected to survive. Though Ukraine have been using there’s to great effect. But not just in the recce role. But also in the light strike role, by using its speed and fire power to outflank and get in the rear areas of Russian defenses and causing chaos.

            I still think there’s a place for a high mobility and high speed recce vehicle. That can also defend itself. But it must also be survivablei. Which means it needs armour. Something that Ajax will bring to the table. Hopefully!

          • Like I said mate my knowledge is now a few years out! I will of course defer to the SMEs on most things, but having been a light role soldier for a full career to include LE, while I know about ISTAR, it’s hard to see what new, extra bits and pieces can be put together to ensure the Ajax requires the size! Understand about survivability and the balance between speed, firepower and protection, with the added mix of the requirement for a Recce wagon to in fact require all 3 at various times. Also innovation breeds requirements and if the Ajax has all the current and future ISTAR and comms systems, in one package then it’s a good thing! Like I said I’m happy about the whole ASCOD vehicle package, and in fact need a number of other variants factored in, but yet again politics and money become a big problem. Cheers.

        • Funny you should mention upgrading Warrior. Stabilising the cannon has already been demonstrated.
          “Leicestershire-based Digital Concepts Engineering (DCE ), which has already ‘robotised’ a Warrior during the MoD’s ‘Autonomous Warrior – Land’ experiment in 2018, has used that experience to propose a Warrior turret upgrade that it describes as a “low-cost, 80% solution” that would substitute for Ajax.”
          https://www.army-technology.com/analysis/can-ajax-be-turned-around-warrior-return/

      • There’s now quite a number of Countries with vested interests in Tempest. Technology transfer and investment with Japan being probably the biggest.

        • Acknowledged, DB. I have Japan, Sweden and Italy to date? Also, have no doubt that our aeronautical expertise is up to the task of designing a full 5th gen and full stealth fighter.
          Depends ultimately upon numbers produced, of course. So it’s the cost effectiveness that concerns me most, what with Germany, Spain, and France perhaps predictably, going their own way. Don’t see what boils down to political chauvinism (ok, in my view – and not principally UK in origin) benefits any parties on such advanced systems. I’d prefer a pan-European 360 degree threat assessment, arguably not difficult! and take it from there.
          Anyhow, KRs.

  6. So, anyone know, at what point will the bow housing for the sonar be fitted? Presume before it goes in the water, or will it go into dry dock once back up river?

  7. Draft question:

    I’m not an Engineer or ship builder and this will sound a stupid question. Why put the ship in the water a year sooner than it needed to be? I assume the fit-out will take over a year and once the ship enters the water, it has salt attacking it which means the life span is shortened. Add to that, the levels on the ship constantly change in the water, wouldn’t it be a more precise fitting to fit it out on the shore?

    Daft question ends:

    • Good question I don’t know the answer to. It is river water so maybe not as bad for the metal. Need to look at the facilities at scotstoun but I don’t think they have a ship lift.

    • I’m no expert on this either but I would hazard a few guesses: it is easier to check for leaks and any other hull problems before the inside is fitted out, maybe add/adjust ballast?

      • I reckon you are on to something there there must be all manner of things they need or best to assess before further fitting out and I presume continuing to check on as major items are gradually fitted, so can see the logic but certainly at some point you might think it preferable to get it out of the water for final protective work on the Hull before going on trials.

    • I think they are just doing it this way as it’s a controlled launch and Glen Mallan has deep water for the barge to submerge. They will bring it back to the Scotstoun dry dock, which has been refurbed recently. I think in the pic its prop shaft is not fitted yet, which will be done in dry dock.

    • Harder to steal, takes longer to get it out of the water and down the breakers yard, for the parts to be sold on eBay and in Eastern Europe 👍

        • Medway Raid 1667, flagship HMS Royal Charles half-inched by the Dutch. Charles II was not a happy bunny.

          Royal Coat of Arms from the stern still on display in Amsterdam.

          They lent it us back for the Diamond Jubilee in 2012. 🙂

          • Remember when the flag went missing, when I was aboard Lusty. Sh*t seriously hit the fan. We gave it back eventually.

    • The reason is that the builds tend to be at Govan and the fit out is at Scotstoun and there a many sensible reasons for that. Two are the specialised split of workforce and skills over both yards and secondly Scotstoun has 3 dry docks, whilsr Govan has zero.
      One of the drydocks is equiped with pair of sumps (imagine a big hull wide inspection pit) one at the bow and one at the stern, the ship is carefully positioned over those and the water then pumped out.
      These faciltate the application of the hull anti fouling coating. propellor fitting / adjustment, sonar fit out and such items as stabilsers.
      I read somewhere that the modern anti fouling solution is some chemcal concoction that not only keeps the hull clean but duing its life time is poilshed by the passage of water which helps the ships speed and economy.

    • If you check VesselFinder and search one of the Tugs CMS Wrestler for example, you will find her and 4 others all in a little cluster just off Glen Mallan.
      Check their tracks from Port Glasgow up the Clyde to Govan and back down past Greenock, HMS Glasgow is already there.
      So not too far by sea, by road it is a wee bit more circuitous.

      • I would just like to say a massive WELL done to all guys and girls who have produced a fine ship ,(everyone deserves a good bonus for all there hard work )

    • I assume it’s out of the way of shipping on the Clyde, in case something goes wrong. But, isn’t Glen Mallan where the ammunition jetty for the carriers is? Presumably it’ll be far enough away from that too.

      • It’s just a Big Jetty with some cranes, the Big Bangy Bits are a wee bit further inland, but it is a secure site, up the Loch from Coulport and has very deep water.

  9. We should bring back the old ceremonial ship launch.

    Make it a televised event, perhaps with a pop band playing on the stern as it crashes into the water?

    The sea used to be considered romantic, in too many ways have we made it sterile.

  11. “The next stage of outfitting”, to include 14 park benches, FBNW cider necking alcoholics, a module based benefits office which can quickly transition within 4 hours to the “homeless” module, and offensive weaponry to include canister launcher broken pint glasses and the CWS bar stools! Ah isn’t stereotyping fun……..😂👍!

  12. MoD equipment budget seems to be in a mess. Deficit of £2.6 billion over 10 years likely grown to £4 billion due to inflationary pressures.
    At risk programmes. Warrior replacement. Further batches of more heavily armed boxers. Type 32 and MRSS. Future LS auxillarys. Cut too A300M programme so further batch of 8 for £768 million will not be purchased.
    Further defence cuts are coming folks. Just not yet announced.
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/11/30/army-cannot-afford-tank-replacements-wants-says-national-audit/
    This is a crap report from the Telegraph. I despair about the quality of journalism in the UK. Boxer is apparently a replacement for challenger 2. Flippin daft and inaccurate.

  13. This does seem a very inefficient method of building and launching. Hopefully it will be better with the new shed, but ideally a bae supersite to do all tasks must be better.

    Glad future ships will be built indoors. Hopefully enabling bae to be more competitive on the global market. Its sad when we see European competitors getting more export wins

  14. I’m losing the will to live.

    What happened to “24 frigates and destroyers in toto”?

    Has Type 32 been canned (TBH thought it had been already) and are we back to 19 by 2035?

    Can someone post a brief summary?

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