Images captured earlier this week show HMS Glasgow, the first of eight Type 26 frigates being built on the Clyde, as the vessel is fitted out.
Here are the photos.
Here’s a video, too.
https://twitter.com/geoallison/status/1615745651199082496
HMS Glasgow entered the water for the first time at the start of last month, the frigate was moved onto a barge at the Govan shipyard before being moved downriver to Glenmallan on Loch Long. There, the barge was submerged, allowing HMS Glasgow to float off and be towed back to the city towards the BAE Scotstoun facility, where she is being fitted out. You can read more about this here.
In other Type 26 news, the composite mast for second Type 26 Frigate HMS Cardiff has arrived in Glasgow from specialist supplier Umoe Mandal in Norway.
In 2020, Umoe Mandal was awarded a contract for three shipsets of composite mast and SCOT Sponsons structures for the Royal Navy’s first batch of Type 26 Frigates, designed and manufactured by BAE Systems.
The Type 26 represents the future backbone of the Royal Navy and eight of the class are planned, starting with HMS Glasgow. The eight ships will replace the eight dedicated anti-submarine Type 23 frigates which will reach the end of their active lives by the mid 2030s.
In addition to the Clyde built Type 26, five Rosyth built Type 31 general purpose frigates are intended to replace the general-purpose Type 23s currently in service and also coming towards the end of their long careers.
I have a question, under the bridge wings we see an open area with support braces that surely will both reflect radar and of course catch the sea which means corrosion which is not easy to attend too. Surely that should be either blocked in or removed? Spoils the picture of a very good looking Ship. Flat surfaces are easier to take care of.
I was looking at that too.
The models show that as a flat surface so presumably it will be plated in later.
I am assuming that the ‘outriggers’ were added after the main blocks were assembled and so access was required to weld the stay legs in place?
Pure speculation on my part.
Hi SB,
I recon they’re going to leave as is. If they did plate them in I think there would be an even higher risk of corrosion because you would get condensation in the space between the bridge structure and sponson, even if you did provide drainage holes. The large gap at the moment ensure plenty of ventilation.
On the radar cross section issue two things spring to mind a) those supports are well down the side of the ship so if they start to generate meaningfull reflections I would suggest that any modern military radar would have rumbled the presence of a 6,500+ ton warship; b) the T23’s have lots of similar supports and as you have pointed out to me on more than one occasion the T23 have a very low RCS (stuff does sink eventually, mate!).
Having said all of that it does look a bit odd but I can’t imagine that they didn’t do it for a reason. Given steel is [pretty] cheap I’d suggest a trade off between a) and b), unless someone can come up with any better suggestions. A minor but curious feature…
Cheers CR
As always excellent info CR. Cheers
Thanks geoff, although it was, as SB points out for his comment, speculation based stuff learnt down the years…
For example, some 70’s cars were notorious for the kind of corrsion problem I describe above particularly in the sills – Datsuns were well known as having great engines, reliability and err rust.
Basically, a closed box section of steel needs to be well vented or condensation forms when the temperature drops. Any flaw in the surface treatement will lead to rust forming on the inside of the structure. As box sections tend to be structural that can be a problem..!
Cheers CR
CR-I had an Alfa Sprint and the sills were paper thin and started to corrode after 9 months!! Build quality and in particular anti corrosion systems, dipping car bodies and new materials have all but eliminated rust in modern cars
Interesting enough they would drill holes in aggro machinery for that very reason.
It’s like my mind has been read by others, those supports are the only jarring aspect of this beautiful ship, certainly seems an oddity almost an afterthought for further structural integrity. If not I presume the models just didn’t bother going into such minute detail or structural engineering aspects hadn’t been concluded.
Have to say all the rather more obvious ‘prop’ supports on the T23 has always jarred with me too, though the need for them supporting the above deck is rather more clearly needed if rather crude looking but typical of the time I guess. Shame because for their time they too are very attractive frigates with only ‘messy’ details like that damaging their otherwise cleanish, very purposeful 90s lines. Just surprises me that anything of that sort is still to be seen on a state of the art replacement (esp post T45) even if it’s a minor irritating feature over anything else in reality.
Interestingly it will be interesting to see how the new American Constellation class frigates look in reality. Despite its roots the images suggest that the US are sticking with their Old School rather messy looks for their warships for whatever reason.
Google is providing a staggering benefit of 6850 USD per week in local currency, which is amazing considering that I was laid off in a very horrible financial situation a year ago. “W Many Thanks Google Dependably for Gifting the ones Rules and Soon It’s My Commitment to Pay and Rate It With Everyone..
right now I Started… https://createmaxwealth.blogspot.com/
Again speculation but the Bridge Wing looks structurally complete,so i think that area will be Plated/covered before completion,looks way too messy in regards radar returns.
Do hope you are right.
Bae has said they are open to allow rain water to drain and will be plated over at a later point.
It appears to have a formed lip at the top, perhaps its intended to have a removable composite type cover to maintain easy access to the void behind it.
George, great pictures and seems as if at the time the weather north of the border was far nicer that it was down here in the South West.
Bring ’em on.🙂
Just to clarify the ship is in a wet dock not a dry dock so it’s permanently floating , also there has been no external progress since it was docked , and I think you will need to wait till late 2024 before she sets off on sea trials / commissioning , then head south to Devenport for weapons fitment .So you will have lots of time for update pictures .
That’s interesting so do we know when the sonar will be fitted. Would assume it will be out of the water at some point prior to trials for various processes and checks.
I assume the sonar will be installed in dry dock down south at a later date , unless they want to use the float out barge they have now and lift it back out of the water again down river , but I reckon that’s not very practical .
Hi folks hope all is well!
Great to see very impressive, she does look quite large against the background. A proud day for the UK
Cheers
George
Goodti hear mast has arrived for HMS Cardiff, when will her two halves be rolled out for joining?
Thanks for keeping up with this story George.
Looking at the future composition of the RN destroyer/frigate fleet, i.e. T45 + T26 + T31 + T32/T31 Batch2, I wonder what will happen re the Devonport frigate complex, which will be left with rapidly decling T23 work.as all the above will be too large.
That’s a big old escort. I know it actually has slightly less beam than a T45, but it looks altogether…..what can I say….chunkier.