HMS Cardiff, the Royal Navy’s second Type 26 frigate, has passed another construction milestone with the installation of its anchor chains, according to BAE Systems.
The company said teams from operations, shipbuilding, commissioning and engineering worked together to prepare the ship’s chain lockers before fitting the cables, a necessary step to ensure the system can safely support the vessel’s anchors.
With the chains now installed, work will move on to load testing the windlass system, which is used to raise and lower the anchors and must be verified before the ship enters later stages of outfitting. The milestone marks continued progress in the build of HMS Cardiff, which is currently being fitted out at BAE Systems’ Scotstoun yard on the River Clyde following its launch in September 2024.
HMS Cardiff is the second of eight Type 26 frigates being built for the Royal Navy to replace the ageing Type 23 fleet. The programme began with HMS Glasgow, while HMS Belfast is due to follow as the third ship in the class.
Momentum is building as HMS Cardiff is looking ship shape ⚓
The successful installation of the Type 26’s anchor chains is a huge win for our Operations, Shipwrights, Commissioning, and Engineering teams. Working side-by-side, they prepared both chain lockers, a critical safety… pic.twitter.com/qpcXt7I7FU— BAE Systems Maritime (@BAES_Maritime) March 26, 2026
Designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, the Type 26 class will also undertake air defence and general-purpose missions, forming a core part of the Royal Navy’s future surface fleet. The ships will be equipped with the Sea Ceptor air defence system and a 24-cell Mk 41 vertical launch system capable of firing a range of weapons, alongside advanced sonar systems including the Type 2087 towed array.
With a displacement of over 8,000 tonnes at full load and a range exceeding 7,000 nautical miles, the class is designed for global operations and sustained deployments, supported by a large mission bay and facilities for helicopters and uncrewed systems.
BAE Systems said progress on Cardiff reflects ongoing momentum in the programme as the UK continues to regenerate its complex warship building capability on the Clyde.
Interestingly the ship doesn’t even seem to have covered holes prepared for mk41, just a steel deck. Perhaps we shouldn’t worry so much about spotting what the deck arrangements are at this stage on T31, or instead panic that the T26s won’t get mk41.
They’ve been ordered, so we know at least three of the upcoming RN frigates will receive at least 24 cells.
I’ve just looked up the photos of Glasgow at the same time, and I don’t think she had the deck holes either.
And yet when Active got rolled out and when it was floated off everyone was craning to have a look at the VLS tub and see how many holes in the deck there were. Realistically Babcock could put in anything they like even at this late stage.
9 set were approved by Congressionally Approval for Foreign military sale March 2018 to BAe three for the first 3 ships not sure if the have placed an order for ship 4+
Don’t think labour want any armed forces
And you’re saying this because BAE just installed the anchors on a ship they’re building? What a strange comment
This is not a patriotic Labour Government is it? Its a Giveaway Government. Selling off multiple ships like the Albions, The Chagos, The Fishing in our waters. etc, etc. There is a mass of evidence before we even talk about our open orders and Marches every weekend in our Capital.
Remind me again which party cut the number of Type 26 from twelve to eight.
It was 13 down 8 and that was Cameloon & Odbourne.
BUT, there was a plan for 5 T31’s and 5 T32’s as well. All academic now of course.
Correction:
I don’t think THE TREASURY wants any armed forces
🤡
Labour refuse to announce spending plans labour will certainly slash spending on the forces in real terms
I’m glad she has anchor chains. It’ll be handy if she spends most of her life alongside.🙃🤔
Ouch.
Ships are moored when alongside, not anchored. 🤦🏻♂️
I wonder when the last time was one of HM Ships actually spent time at anchor? Presumably they’re just there because of insurance rules.
A relative of mine worked on a North Sea support vessel for years, it never once used its anchors thanks to its thrusters.
They are there for seamanship reasons.
There has to be a way of stopping the ship drifting in case of total mechanical failure.
Dauntless ,was at anchor in plymouth sound , December, before returning to portsmouth.
Anchors aren’t much use on the wall ….ropes are used for that!
No ackshually because we are building so many new ships they are going to moor stern to, Mediterranean style, to save space at the wall!
IT was a joke SB….😊
They are the new underwater cable attack capability. Ever more lethal!
A “chain gun” for subs?🙃
Anchor cable.
Slowly does it ….
Iran will probably have a new long range balistic missile developed and in service before the RN gets this ship
🤡
Anchors aren’t much use on the wall ….ropes are used for that!
Well Healy has made a real tit of himself today on LBC Ferrari asked him many destroyers and frigates we have and he actually didn’t know! Then he came up with the figure of 17, nice to know our defence is in such capable hands isn’t it🙄
17 works if you include the T26s and T31s that are crewed while still under construction. Still a worrying display of gullibility while trying to impose reform on a resisting MoD.
It was a super poor performance from Healey.
Interesting that he didn’t even try to explain why a T23 would be no use in an ABM role or that there is another T45 being readied for other duties.
Really very strange to simple flannel on about repairs and upgrades….made it sound like the other 16 were all being fixed…..
I can see why he is struggling with HMT if that is the best argument he can formulate.
You need a Defence minister on the top of his game who can discuss detail from his knowledge base. I was shocked because I thought he was a better communicator. He needs to do his homework, stay in and miss the football game.
I’m thinking the aerial photo shown is Cardiff and not Glasgow. Amongst other things, Glasgow has her deck installed already and I don’t see that here.
* deck gun installed
I hear the 3 Batch 1 River Class patrol boats are to be sold off with no replacements on order, Another wise move by those should know better. Lets hope these new ships can be built faster than it took to built an Battleship in 30/40s.