Frigate HMS London will be built at the BAE Systems shipyard in Govan.

Eight Type 26 Frigates are to be built in total with three in the first batch, the contract for the second batch will be negotiated in the early 2020s.

Three of the class are currently unnamed, LONDON will be the 8th and final ship in the class.

Ordering in batches is common for projects of this size around the world and was last seen with the Royal Navy for the Type 45 Destroyers and recent Offshore Patrol Vessels. The Type 45s first batch order was for three vessels for example.

Thirteen ships of the Royal Navy have been named London, after the city of London. The previous HMS London was a Type 22 frigate launched in 1984, sold to Romania in 2002 and renamed Regina Maria.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said:

“The Type 26 Frigate is a cutting-edge warship, combining the expertise of the British shipbuilding industry with the excellence of the Royal Navy. These ships will be a force to be reckoned with, there to protect our powerful new carriers and helping keep British interests safe across the world.

The contract is structured to ensure value for taxpayers’ money and, importantly, now designed to protect them from extra bills from project overrun. The investment will secure hundreds of skilled jobs at BAE Systems on the Clyde for the next twenty years, and thousands of jobs in the supply chain across Britain.”

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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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Harry Nelson
Harry Nelson
5 years ago

As a crew member on the previous LONDON, I wonder what happened to the “Domine” part of the motto?? Not PC enough perhaps??

andy reeves
5 years ago
Reply to  Harry Nelson

interesting to see how long it serves the previous london’s, the type 22, and the county class weren’t in service for anything near their shelf life.

,ms, i think thedesign lacked enough sponson spaces like the ones where phalanx will be fitted
,ms, i think thedesign lacked enough sponson spaces like the ones where phalanx will be fitted
5 years ago
Reply to  Harry Nelson

its utter rubbish, who really gives a stuff over ships names?

Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago

Why out of sequence?

What is the thinking behind it?

Easier to cut? No chance of that with Cardiff Glasgow Belfast.

They are naming a ship that may never exist.

Steve Taylor
5 years ago

There has been a London in the fleet for most of the last 300 years.

It is the country’s capital. Stopping laugh at the back! It is………even now….

Steve Taylor
5 years ago
Reply to  Steve Taylor

English ship London (1636) was a 40-gun East Indiaman purchased in 1636 and listed until 1653 The London (1656 ship) was a 64-gun second-rate ship launched in 1656 and blown up in an accident in 1665 HMS Loyal London (1666) was a 96-gun second-rate ship launched in 1666: she was partly destroyed by fire by the Dutch in the Medway in 1667, but the remains were rebuilt becoming the next HMS London HMS London (1670) was a 96-gun first-rate ship launched in 1670 to replace the previous ship of the same name: rebuilt in 1706 and 1721, and was broken… Read more »

Barry Larking
5 years ago
Reply to  Steve Taylor

‘HMS Loyal London (1666) was a 96-gun second-rate ship launched in 1666: she was partly destroyed by fire by the Dutch in the Medway in 1667, but the remains were rebuilt becoming the next HMS London”

She was to be named with the ‘Loyal’ prefix again but the City failed to stump the cash so Charles II had the Loyal removed.

Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago
Reply to  Steve Taylor

Steve.

I’m a Londoner. At least insofar as I was born there

There the similarity ends.

Some even wanted London to break away after the referendum with Khan as president.

Says EVERYTHING anyone needs to know about patriotism and pride in ones country in parts of modern Britain today.

Geoff
Geoff
5 years ago

Ha Daniele. I was born in London as well but left a very long time ago. I suppose HMS Durban is out of the question?

Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago
Reply to  Geoff

As one of a decent number of T31 called Common wealth class, not at all. Quite like the name.

Steve Taylor
5 years ago

It’s more for the City than the Metropolitan London. It’s about appealing to the more rooted parts of our society and culture than appealing to transient ones like Khan and those thinks for which he stands.

I would have gone with another tranche names to be honest. And then if we had done that I wouldn’t have been surprised if one hadn’t been named London.

Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago
Reply to  Steve Taylor

Agreed.

andy reeves
5 years ago
Reply to  Steve Taylor

i doubt the man in the street gives a damn.

andyreeves
andyreeves
5 years ago
Reply to  Steve Taylor

when was the last h.m.s portsmouth?

andy reeves
5 years ago

i’d rather see a ship named gibraltar (one in in the eye for the spanish). the type 31’s named the ‘admiral class would go down pretty well anson,blake collingwood, hardy, fisher e.t. a nod to the past.

Levi Goldsteinberg
5 years ago

Painful seeing May singing the military’s praises last night at that speech while she has presided over its demise

andyreeves
andyreeves
5 years ago

i wish she’d said sorry on behalf of the previous governments from 1975 onwards.

andy reeves
5 years ago

not just her, the damage was done at the last SDSR.

maurice10
maurice10
5 years ago

What a problem for the UK Government? Crashing out of the EU now looks more likely than reaching an agreement with Brussels? Such a decision could have a drawdown on Sterling, if only initially, and that could create a domino effect on all departmental government spending? However, a go it alone UK will need to ensure the RN maintains, and if possible, expands its role in order to truly operate globally. I firmly believe trade and military compacts are in some cases inseparable, as we are witnessing in Oman and other Middle East countries. With increasing tensions in the Far… Read more »

Steve Taylor
5 years ago
Reply to  maurice10

Our major naval ally doesn’t belong to the EU so no problem. We already operate globally. A prudent government would divert some of the money that went to our EU Danegeld to the RN and RAF….. The biggest currency threat to us is the Euro going plop not Sterling. War with China is a long way off. And I expect we will be there to help the US, Japan, and South Korea if it does happen. I expect the Germans and French will be elsewhere……… Are you just ill informed or not very good at trolling? How dare you disparage… Read more »

andy reeves
5 years ago
Reply to  Steve Taylor

china is an overblown story with nothing to back up the issue, just because they’ve lots of everything doesn’t make them any kind of a threat. they are like russia build, build , build, but when the money’s gone, they’ll be left with a mountain of unused junk.

Soapy
Soapy
5 years ago
Reply to  andy reeves

We should revote to stay in the EU then to prove our love e of all things European name the three remaining unnamed frigates… HMS BRUSSELS… HMS PARIS & HMS BERLIN

Steve Taylor
5 years ago
Reply to  andy reeves

I think China is overblown too. As I have said before the balance in the Pacific is more about the US losing it than China gaining it.

Gfor
Gfor
5 years ago
Reply to  andy reeves

I’m not sure how you reach that conclusion. China has an aggressive expansionist foreign policy, buying control of nation states, investing heavily in an already massive military, printing and loaning money to its nationals to spend domestically and globally with no prospect of it being fully repaid, a deliberate policy to make them too big to fail. Their provocative stance over the South China Sea is one of many examples of their overt aggression. Russia is a danger as it is severely wounded with no realistic prospect of recovery, but my main concern since the late 80s has been China.… Read more »

maurice10
maurice10
5 years ago
Reply to  Steve Taylor

I’m not ill-informed as you so rudely accuse me of being. Who gave you license to judge so smugly on someone else’s opinion? I’m acutely aware of the RN’s current operational reach. If Brexit happens then I fear the current fleet is not big enough to do the job in a post-exit era. Money could be short for a number of years, and some services could be hit with Treasury cuts? The point I made; should the Navy get dispensation is based on the new future needs of UK plc? Unless you are one of the voices that don’t colorate… Read more »

andy reeves
5 years ago
Reply to  maurice10

without the u.k the likelihood of a european force would seem more appealing to the french and germans.

Steve Taylor
5 years ago

Ooh surprise! Not.

It was a given.

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago

HMS Londonistan.

Alex T
Alex T
5 years ago

Twerp

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago
Reply to  Alex T

Thanks XXX

peter moger
5 years ago
Reply to  Alex T

Is that what the T stands for?

andyreeves
andyreeves
5 years ago

tottenham taliban?

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago
Reply to  andyreeves

Ha, best Team in Town by far. I like you Andy, You have Humour and a sense of Silliness too. Long may you remain here, Personally I’ve been Censored/Silenced @ 8 times in recent years just for posting In an unbiased and Free Speaking forum set up by equally Unbiased and Freedom of Speech orientated fellow Defence interested Members. Makes me feel Proud to be a member of such an unbiased and “Impartial” site.

Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago

I had a thought….and double checked.

The 8th T22 was also HMS London.

First that departed from the B name convention.

Coincidence?

Lusty
5 years ago

Could be, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it was a deliberate nod to the previous London.

As a side note, originally, it was meant to be ‘Bloodhound’, which along with ‘Broadsword’, and ‘Battleaxe’ are some of my favourite names from the B convention. Doubt they’d use them today though.

Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago
Reply to  Lusty

Agree. I liked the batch 1 and 2 T22 names, though not so much Beaver!

London was with the replacement Coventry in Sheffield.

Didn’t know about Bloodhound, great name pity it was not used.

I prefer those B names than the town city ones for T26 if I’m honest.

Steve Taylor
5 years ago

I remember actually reading ‘that letter’ in the Navy News to do with ship names when it was published.

Nobody really reads the NN, but they do super cutaway drawings.

andy reeves
5 years ago
Reply to  Steve Taylor

and have a fixation with the Q.E just as they had with ocean.bit of a rag these days.

andy reeves
5 years ago

i loved the brazen’ name

Gunbuster
Gunbuster
5 years ago

Nothing wrong with Beaver…”Happiness is a Wet Beaver” ( its a make of wet suit) was the sticker plastered all over the offices and spaces onboard. She was a great ship( I paid her off) and 2nd only to Bulwark in the best ships I served on.
Brazen was another good name …the Helo being called Hussy and the wrens ( Brazen being the second RN vessel to go mixed crew) embracing the nickname of Hussies when they joined.

Steve Taylor
5 years ago

No. The last London had just been de-commissioned. There wasn’t one in the fleet. Probably somebody in Mrs Thatcher’s administration thought it would be a good move.

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago
Reply to  Steve Taylor

The “London” I remember was sold or given to Pakistan years ago. hence my earlier reference to “Londonistan”. Pakistan, India, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Romania, Canada and various other Countries have been happy recipients of our brilliantly designed and built ships for decades just look at Hermes, such a long and Glorious life It makes me wonder just why we get rid, so soon. Oh and , don’t even mention “Ocean”. ” Built to commercial standards ” blah blah blah. “End of her useful life ” blah blah blah. not required now that we have a 4 Billion £££££ aircraft carrier… Read more »

Steve Taylor
5 years ago

There were several ways the RN could have gone. They went with carriers. It has been suggested that perhaps without the carriers to defend there would have been even fewer escorts which I can’t see really but apparently there is some truth to it. Ocean was worn out. She will built very much to a price. Brazil has a large and cheap engineering base capable of keeping her going for a while. She proved that we should have had two LPH built to naval standards. Or perhaps we should have built 3 and never built the LPD’s. Or built LHA’s.… Read more »

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago
Reply to  Steve Taylor

Hello Steve, “Ocean was worn out” you say, well yes and that’s because she was well used, It’s not like she wasn’t doing a fantastic job, She was being used to do lots of work that over night seems to have Vanished completely. Dare I compare her to Nimrod ? Heaven forbid the Government decide that an “Ocean” actually might be required In a few years time. P8’s and all that.

T.S
5 years ago

Let’s hope that this is a message we are definitely getting all 8 due to all the uncertainty. Now to see what we will be getting from T31. No news for a while now and yet only a few months away from needing a decision. I have come round to them being lightly armed now as long as they can be quickly up armed if conflict comes. I just hope we get something with some asw ability due to T26 and Poseidon numbers being low. Reused 4.5” gun, 12 seaceptor and some box launches asm, but space to add additional… Read more »

Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago
Reply to  T.S

I noted in the other thread on the Russian carrier they used the term ” ships of the 1st rank”

Did they mean capital ships or their best assets.

Either way, id like to see T31 in as great a number as we can build and man.

Let’s build up some numbers in the RN, along with more personnel, so our “1st Rank” assets are not frittered away individually around the world.

T.S
5 years ago

I agree, and I like the idea of the ‘Commonwealth Class’. let’s have them posted around the world to support our commonwealth friends where needed. How about a GP batch for this to start, then a second batch of 5 ASW versions for home waters protection and North Sea patrol?

Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago
Reply to  T.S

Totally logical in my book.

And T31 has to have some form of ASW capability.

where phalanx will be fitted
where phalanx will be fitted
5 years ago
Reply to  T.S

i’m still of the opinion that the type 31 is a smokescreen, and won’t happen, the way the t31 issue is being drip fed to the nation doesn’t bode well.

BB85
BB85
5 years ago

In other news the Norwegian frigate that was rammed is now fully submerged. So I’m assuming is a write off for someones insurance company.

Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago
Reply to  BB85

Looks like bridge crew were responsible though, from what I’m reading.

BB85
BB85
5 years ago

It’s an expensive blunder. I don’t understand when oil rigs and large cargo ships know they cannot slow down or change direction easily how do they manage to avoid each other in busy sea lanes, yet this is the third collision with a large warship in just over a year. Are warships expecting large vessels to steer out of their way and not adjusting their own course until its too late?

Daniele Mandelli
5 years ago
Reply to  BB85

I think our cruise ship sailed that stretch of water into Bergen.

There did not seem to be much room as far as my inexperienced eyes could tell, especially with cruise liners and tankers using it.

Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins
5 years ago

When can we expect it to appear as the finished article and fully operational?

https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/why-will-the-royal-navy-not-have-its-first-type-26-frigate-operational-until-2027/

Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins
5 years ago
Reply to  Nigel Collins

Some other interesting posts on this site by the way including, “New engines for the Royal Navy’s Type 23 Frigates.”

https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/tag/type-26-frigate/

BB85
BB85
5 years ago

It is mental, the T23 refits have been so extensive they may as well be new ships and the costs of the refits are probably not much lower than the proposed £250mm of the T31. So have the RN really saved anything by delaying their replacement. I think the answer is a solid no.

Steve Taylor
5 years ago
Reply to  BB85

Kick it down the road is always the way these days. They try to run governments like PLC’s and I think the latter isn’t the best way to run some big companies. I remember working for a large PLC where we were denied purchasing certain equipment, but then had to hire it to meet targets, and then got moaned at for hiring the equipment. Administrations are short term-ist because they know the public has only two choices. Throw in some spreadsheet accounting and you have problems. The Chinese had the right idea.

Helions
Helions
5 years ago

Ship construction news from this side of the Pond.

https://news.usni.org/2018/11/09/38268

Cheers!

Steve
Steve
5 years ago

Its funny how they are slowly naming them, to give some more news stories, without actually announcing anything new.

Geoffrey Roach
Geoffrey Roach
5 years ago

Excuse me folks. As the current plan is to base the class in Devonport could we have an HMS PLYMOUTH please?

Geoffrey Roach
Geoffrey Roach
5 years ago

Excuse me folks. As the class is to based at HMNB Devonport I really do think an HMS PLYMOUTH should be in there. All agreed. Excellent!

Lusty
5 years ago
Reply to  Geoffrey Roach

I’m in agreement. It’s time to bring that name back into the fleet.

Steve Salt
5 years ago

There`s got to be an HMS Plymouth…hasn`t there ?

captain P Wash.
captain P Wash.
5 years ago

How about HMS Appledore ? as a farewell to the last English Warship builder capable of actually Building complete Ships. Just thinking about the demise of our Ship building capabilities south of the Border and I tell you what Guys, It’s Unbelievable really.

Stephen Sedgwick
Stephen Sedgwick
4 years ago

We should name 2, HMS GIBRALTAR AND HMS FALKLANDS it’s been many yrs since any HMS ship has been named after these overseas territory Gibraltar has been a loyal servant to the crown for over 315 yrs and a proud friend of the Royal Navy ,and the Falklands deserve one as a lasting memory for all that lost their lives in 82

Barrie Jones
Barrie Jones
4 years ago

Sir, Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands are two of our most strategic and biggest overseas territories. I, as an PORS of 23 years service in the RN, a Falklands veteran, along with my good Gibaltarian friend Stephen Sedgewick keep asking can ships be named after Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands. Perhaps you would care to respond. Thank you.