Royal Naval Reservists from HMS Scotia recently had the opportunity to visit Babcock’s Rosyth facility in Scotland, where the UK’s new Type 31 frigates are under construction, according to a press release from the Royal Navy.
The visit provided the reservists with a unique insight into the building process of these advanced warships, including a close look at the first of the Inspiration-class vessels, HMS Venturer.
During the visit, the reservists were shown the full shipbuilding process, from the initial stages of working with sheet steel along the panel line to the assembly of the ships in the build hall.
The press release highlighted that HMS Venturer and HMS Active are currently being assembled side-by-side, giving the reservists a detailed view of the block assembly method used in construction. This modern approach allows the ships to be built under cover, protecting them from adverse weather, a significant improvement over traditional shipbuilding methods where vessels are constructed on a slipway or in a dock.
Sub-Lieutenant Callum Girdwood, who led the tour, explained the details of both the UK’s Type 31 project and its Polish counterpart, the Miecznik (Swordfish) class, on which he also works as a Project Manager.
Reflecting on his experience with Babcock, he said, “The transformation and excitement that the Type 31 project has brought to the facility is incredible, and it was fantastic to have the opportunity to share this with my RNR colleagues.” He added that Babcock has supported his Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) training, allowing him to develop leadership skills that he brings back to his engineering role.
Petty Officer Andrew Fulton, another reservist who participated in the visit, expressed his fascination with seeing a warship so early in its construction. “Our jobs in the Royal Naval Reserve often take us onboard operational warships, so it is fascinating to see a ship in build, literally from the steel plate upwards,” he remarked. He noted that the visit provided “a great insight from a welcoming neighbour,” as the reservists observed the transformation of raw materials and components into the advanced Type 31 frigates.
The press release indicated that all members of the HMS Scotia Ships Company left the visit enthused by the rare opportunity to witness the construction of a warship that they may one day serve on. They also expressed their gratitude to the Babcock staff who facilitated the visit, underscoring the close collaboration between the Royal Navy and its industrial partners.
And the launch date is……nil point……?
Last I heard (in April) … the end of this year. To be fair it said “the end of the year”, and I’m just assuming it meant this one.
I just hope that there is a good reason for the delay.
It might make sense to do the Mk41 installation now while RN is short of crew numbers?
Rather than generate a crew trial her and then put her back in for a package of upgrades.
I remain optimistic – no idea why!
It was the Princess Anne’s visit and someone from Babcock said that it marked the transition between the big blocks being assembled and the fitting out starting. So it’s possible they are doing more fitting out in the build hall pre-launch that was done for Glasgow.
I’ve dug it up. The exact wording was:
Glasgow is a T26?
But I agree most of T31 fit is in the shed.
I think that’s probably the point he was making ie the different build process between the two types and that thus when launched the T-31 will be theoretically more complete. But presumption on my part as I had no knowledge of that variance before his post.
SB To me this makes no sense, the idea behind building a surface ship in an Assembly hall is so the major blocks can be be pre outfitted with the larger equipment, locked out and then joined together. Then out the door and as the rest is mainly internal it can be completed outside, then Radar, weapons fitted. Then finally dry docked for shafts, props, rudder, anti fouling and Sonar Dome. This had me really scratching my head, as outfitting inside is just bunging up the Assembly process. Then I thought why are they building a surface ship the same… Read more »
I agree that fitting it out indoors is a bit strange.
As we both observed from the early photos of the build there wasn’t a lot of ore outfitting in evidence!
So the whole thing has a slightly odd feel to it.
By the time she is ready to launch, Global sea levels will have risen enough for her to float out.
My thoughts were headed the same direction, they present it as an advance and superior methodology when in reality, for good or bad, it couldn’t be done any other way.
Rosyth’s Drydocks use too handle Polaris subs ,and leanders , how big are the 31s
About 10m longer and double the beam of a Polaris sub. They are also too big for the Frigate Support Centre in Devonport dockyard.
Can’t see them being towed down to Pompey Going too be awkward for Rosyth and Babcockb
Yep but one has to be on 24/7/365 standby for the QE class and handle the regular refits of same. I believe the other is being used in the de fuelling of the old Subs that are stored there.
The underlying issue is that Rosyth has never been a ship building yard, the vast majority of the QE’s were block built with a high level of pre outfitting elsewhere.
I know , all that was done in the Shed was refitting Fibreglass Hunts being a ‘Southerner ‘ had too find an interpreter just joking at the time I was there the V boat pen was being dug The QEs weren’t even being drawn up on paper and 1 polaris was in refit Stern covered away from prying eyes .
MK 41? wait for 2 more years. something RN can’t afford.
But it is everything so wasteful, by not designing a proper warship because was made on the cheap.
At least five big ships that can be upgraded were ordered.
“At least 5” was what was mentioned way back until as predicted,5 was the actual order.
“up to 5 T32’s” was also mentioned, I’m still waiting to see if it actually was a BJ gaff.
Could be a 2nd batch of 3?
If I was to guess the negotiations Babcock said ‘order 5 and get this price and we build a proper frigate shed’.
It would be the reverse of T26 B1 x 3 and B2 x 5.
Certainly a breech of contract!
Not sure how that would work as Babcock are making a £90 loss on contract for the 5 ships
Financial year if its April😏
LOL. Find a way to be even gloomier!
The RN have abandoned Northumberland’s lifex and feel confident enough to affirm CSG2025. That tells me they believe the T31, T26 and T45 programs will deliver enough hulls to the fleet through the 2026/7 nadir.
Hmme Well 1SL was spouting that he was comfortable with fleet assumptions bla bla a few years ago. My issue is that the surveyed state of the ships is so out of whack with the state found and that two perfectly good hulls (the Albions) are laid up. So the overall situation must be terrible with active frigate number down to a handful. The crews for the Albions are T45(ish) sized. They are MILSPEC hulls. So why they are not being used is incredible really. They could take NSM and Sea Ceptor as they gave ARTISAN and an appropriate CMS… Read more »
Notwithstanding their large crew and running costs I agree with you regarding the LPDs. They have Phalanx and you could replace the 20mm with 30mm and also maybe add a 57mm mcg and a telescopic hangar, Wildcat with Martlet and Sea Venom. Quote from wiki. “In March 2024 James Cartlidge, Minister of State at the MoD stated that the ship (Bulwark) would ( after her support period) only return to operations “if required”. I interpreted that to mean if Glasgow and Venturer do not enter service soon enough then Bulwark is the fall back.
No pictures then?
Maybe something to hide?
Looked a long way from finish the last time we saw, I suspect they want it painted before we see any more as it covers up a multitude of potential sins and psychologically makes it look more finished, bit like a building when scaffolding et al is gone it looks almost finished when realistically you have no idea how much more there is to do within and as we have seen with T-26 can take an age.
What is the difference between the T31 and the T26?
5
😂
About £700 Million.😁
A 26 will have one of the best weapons kit in the world. The 31 is as things stand an oversize patrol ship with very little clout.
Fitted for but with empty spaces all round I fear for the T26 and still no onboard ASW kill weapons, needed for its primary role!!!!! F31’s will have a good fit once all onboard and even without the long launchers will most likely get the NSM’s from the T23’s as the fit will be easily accommodated and give them a real boost to offensive weapons onboard. Just need a lot more of them as the RN as all the other Armed Services in UK are really at a size that is an embarrassment. All worn out and so little of… Read more »
What NSMs? 3 ships were expected to be fitted by the end of 2023.
11 sets of NSM were contracted for.
And its a very high in demand weapon that therefore takes time to make as their order backlog is massive. Would be better if they could be also made in the UK and making it the standard fit for the Fleet. Such a weapon could also be fitted to other surface units from the OPV’s up and with a land attack capability a useful weapon to have fitted to the larger units other than just Frigates and Destroyers. But the pink and fluffy Woke Brigade 😫would not care for the Fleet to be too aggressive as may upset someone……
Navalnews: Kongsberg is opening a production line for JSM and NSM in Australia.
I was wondering what’s causing the delay? I’m aware of the 11 sets, yet only 1 has been fitted so far and despite the commitment to 3 by last Dec.
The issues with HMS Somerset have not helped with the implementation of NSM, of the 11 sets specified 3 Ships were to be equipped ‘at pace’ with them according to the blurb but obviously that hasn’t happened.
Same old problem Angus. That dreaded phrase “fitted for but….” Spend a billion and save on arming them. I hear that the latest Acute is going to be built without torpedo tubes to save on weight, purchasing and crewing.😇
Hopefully, the Mk 41 VLS will change that
IF they get them…🙃
Others will know a lot more than me but the fundamental difference is that the T-26 is a specialised anti submarine frigate with all the added sophistication and added costs in making it a very quiet platform. T-31 though I believe has its original roots in an anti submarine design doesn’t have any of that sophistication especially in its propulsion. But as I say though it’s been up gunned from the original plan so that’s less of a gap others will know a lot more of the nuances especially sensors/armament than I.
I think you pretty much covered it there.
Personally I think the T31’s are certainly useful and pretty well armed now that the spec has been upgraded. I know others see them as easy prey due to the stuff they don’t have but the RN do have a knack of being able to improvise when required.
They are a larger ship than T23 and a far cry from the River 2’s that some often compare them to when calling them just a bigger River patrol boat.
The T31 is based on Iver Huitfeldt class, which in turn is loosely based on Absalon class. Neither the AAW Iver Huitfelds nor the multi-role Absalons were ever designed for ASW. However, the Absalons are being converted to ASW, with conversion expected to be complete by 2026. T31s would also need some work to handle ASW and will still never approach the capability of the T23s or the T26s as sub hunters.
It would be far easier to follow the Iver Huitfeld path and make them second tier AAW.
The 8 City Class (type 26) Frigates are high end anti-submarine warships, displacing about 8,000t, 150m long, with a variable depth towed sonar, a Merlin capable hangar, raft mounted combined diesel electric and gas engines, 48 CAMM missiles, 24 Mk 41 VLS cells, a 5 inch gun, and 2 CIWS Phalanx systems and a massive mission bay. They’re coming in at about 1 billion £ each. The 5 Inspiration (type 31) Frigates are much lower spec, based off the Danish IH frigates, and cost less than half the City Class. They’re about 6,000t displacement, and about 10m shorter than the… Read more »
Wonder if the reservists were given a task to read about the fortunes of Aboukir, Hogue and Cressy before the visit. They’ll learn about the perils of not taking anti submarine seriously.
Indeed. And as mentioned, no onboard hard kill for T26. Perhaps RN helicopters/drones will never go u/s or weather go outside of flying parameters? Does every other sinificant navy have it all wrong?
The problem is that RN hard kill ASW systems require you to get within knife fighting range of a submarine, so are practically useless. The exact same torpedoes that would be ship launched are Heli launched, but with range. If the weather is so bad you’re not going to be able to launch a helicopter then it’s going to be bad enough that you’re not going into combat operations at all.
Worth noting that the US Navy is dropping magazine launched Torpedoes from the Constellation class as well, so not “every other navy.”
Thanks for that. I do think there is still validity in short range hard kill at short notice, especially in litoral environment eg Norwegian fjords, hebrides etc,
Personally I would like to see adoption of asroc or equivalent now we have Mk41 vls on the way
As reported on here the MOD are looking into an ASROC Type System, but nothing concrete as yet.
As Paul stated ASROC is soething the RN are looking at, still quite a bit shorter ranged than a HWT, but not as bad as the magazine launchers that a lot of surface ships have. I think it might be a hard sell, as ASROC will end up launching the same class of lightweight torpedoes that the Helicopters do, and take up magazine space from FCAS/CAMM, but you never know.
It would have been nice to see the progress of the build, with the two hills next to each other in the shed.
Damon Hill and Benny Hill ?
Sorry, I’ll get my coat. 😁
I put HMS before each of those and laughed!
Bloody typo…..
There are some pics from a while back on here and NL but I can’t say where you’ll find them, it was some time back that the last lot were shown, i’d like to believe Venturer was scratching at the door !
Yeah, the rest of us would like to get a good at Venturer too, The last photos I can find were from April.