The Ship Model Forum

Arming the Type 26 Frigate with land attack missiles ‘currently being considered’
By George Allison - October 25, 2018
Options are currently being considered for arming the Type 26 Frigate with land attack missiles.

Nicholas Soames, Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex, asked:

“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to introduce Tomahawk Land Attack Missile capability to the surface fleet.”

Stuart Andrew, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, responded:

“Type 26 Frigates are being equipped with the Mk41 Strike Length Vertical Launch System which would be compatible with Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles. A range of candidate solutions are currently being considered in the Concept Phase to fulfil this capability requirement, but in the meantime United Kingdom maritime land attack capability remains ably provided by submarines.”

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New Type 26 Frigate named HMS Sheffield
By
George Allison
November 22, 2018

Frigate HMS Sheffield 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.

THREAD: Whilst @GavinWilliamson was visiting HMS Tyne, @StuartAndrew our Minister for Defence Procurement, was visiting one of our #T26 suppliers in Sheffield and has also announced that the 5th #T26 will be named HMS SHEFFIELD. pic.twitter.com/CFFBTNDqfE
— First Sea Lord (@AdmPhilipJones) November 22, 2018

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.

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Another Type 26 Frigate named, HMS Newcastle
By
George Allison
November 22, 2018
Another Type 26 Frigate has been named, this time HMS Newcastle was chosen.
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.”(...SNIPPED)

Buying the Type 26 Frigate Might Make Sense
By Norman Friedman
April 24, 2019
The Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy, and Royal Canadian Navy
The BAE Type 26 frigate appears to be the most popular frigate design in the West. In February, the Canadian government finalized its decision to buy a version to replace its current fleet of Halifax- and Tribal-class ships. The Royal Australian Navy signed an AUS$35 billion contract ($26 billion) for development and construction of nine Type 26 ships last June to replace its current ANZAC class. Combined, the two Commonwealth navies and the Royal Navy have ordered 32. The Franco-Italian FREMM has done well also, with 20 on order and a potential order for another 8. The U.S. Navy is considering FREMM for the 20-ship FFG(X) future frigate program, but not the Type 26, because a program requirement is ships under consideration must already be in service.
Recalling the past export success of British ships such as the Type 12/Leander design, BAE sees other export customers considering the Type 26 as well. Chile historically has favored British designs, and its aging frigate force is due for replacement soon. Brazil is another possibility. There also has been speculation that the Royal Navy may reverse its decision to buy five less-capable Type 31 frigates in favor of more Type 26s. The export success of the frigate raises the question of whether the U.S. Navy’s decision should be revisited.
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Steel cut ceremony signals important progress on UK Royal Navy programme
Image for article 218347

Published: 14/08/2019

BAE Systems has cut steel for the second Type 26 Global Combat Ship, HMS CARDIFF, marking an important milestone in the programme to deliver the most advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capability to the Royal Navy.

In a traditional steel cut ceremony at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Govan on the River Clyde, attended by BAE Systems’ employees and representatives from the Royal Navy, Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, Minister for Defence Procurement, performed the official duties; setting the plasma cutting machine to work on a plate of steel that will form part of the unit that holds vital fuel stores for the ship.

The Type 26 Global Combat Ship is designed and built by BAE Systems in Glasgow. The Type 26 frigate is an advanced ASW warship designed for the critical protection of the Continuous At Sea Deterrent and Carrier Strike Group. The City Class Type 26 will build on the pedigree of the Royal Navy’s current Type 23 Anti-Submarine Warfare frigates which have served the Nation well. Each Type 26 will be equipped with a range of capabilities including the Sea Ceptor missile defence system, a 5-inch medium calibre gun, flexible mission bay, Artisan 997 Medium Range Radar, powerful bow and towed array sonars and a vertical launch silo capable of hosting a variety of weapons.

The ceremony to mark the formal start of manufacture on the second of the Type 26 Global Combat Ships, HMS CARDIFF, comes two years after steel was cut on the first in class, HMS GLASGOW. Momentum on HMS GLASGOW continues with over one half of the ship now in production and she remains on track to enter service in the mid-2020s.
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Could New Zealand join the Type 26 Frigate programme?
By
George Allison
July 12, 2019
BAE Systems is promoting the Type 26 frigate in a potential deal with New Zealand.
No decision is likely to be made for a number of years for a ship not likely to hit the water towards the end of next decade, however.
Steve Timms, BAE managing director for naval ships was reported as saying:
“New Zealand is clearly interested”, adding that a deal could involve “two or three” vessels.
New Zealand would join the UK, Australia and Canada in ordering the design.
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The Type 4X Destroyer – An early look at an early concept
By
George Allison
August 20, 2019
The Type 4X, the Type 45 Destroyer replacement, is just an early concept at this stage but a variant of the Type 26 Frigate is officially being considered for the job.
The UK Defence Journal has been speaking to Paul Sweeney, MP for Glasgow North East and former shipbuilder and we’ve been told that consideration is already being given to the development of an Anti-Air Warfare variant of the Type 26, a variant that will function as a future replacement for the Type 45 Destroyer fleet – the programme is currently referred to as as T4X.
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Powering the stealthy submarine hunter – Type 26 frigate propulsion system in focus
Publisher
AuthorSave the Royal NavyPublished10th October 2019
This article was first published on the Save the Royal Navy website and republished here with their permission,
The Type 26 frigate is widely accepted as the best anti-submarine warship design available in the world right now. The quiet propulsion system that limits noise radiated from the ship is a key part of its ability to detect submarines. Here we take an overview of this very technical subject.At more than £1Billion each, the Type 26 is a very expensive frigate, a significant part of that cost is driven by the need for stealth. Noise reduction is achieved by a combination of engineering solutions than include hull shaping, internal pipework design and securing equipment throughout the ship on shock and vibration-resistant mountings. But by far the greatest challenge is to ensure the engines and gear train can propel the ship quietly. The RN and British industry is already building from a position of experience and knowledge with the Type 23 frigates that set a new benchmark for warship stealth when they were introduced in the early 1990s. Type 26 frigate propulsion system(Schematic – not to scale)

A combination of gas turbines for higher speed and diesel generators (DG) driving electric motors is the preferred propulsion system for the Type 23, Type 45, QEC aircraft carriers and may other warships globally, although in significantly different configurations. The Type 26 introduces another variation in a Combined Diesel-Electric OR Gas Turbine (CODELOG) arrangement. Essentially there are two main operating modes. For higher speeds, a single Rolls Royce MT30 gas turbine (GT) drives the propellors directly through gearboxes. For cruising and slower speeds, up to four DGs provide power to two electric motors on the shaft line while the GT is de-clutched. Type 26 benefits from 30 years of advances in propulsion technology in two particular ways. The MT30 GT developed from the Trent aero-engine, has such power density that a single unit can propel the 6,900-tonne warship up to at least 28 knots on its own. (The CODELAG Type 23 requires two Spey GTs in combination with its motors to reach maximum speed). Modern motors are also much more power-dense than the those available when the Type 23 was designed. CODELOG Propulsion modes(Schematic – not to scale)Diesel-electric mode (0-20 knots)Gas turbine mode (20-28+ knots)Current from up to 4 diesel generators supplied to induction motors via power converterSingle Gas turbine drives both shafts through gearboxes
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Next batch of Type 26 Frigates to be ordered ‘in the early 2020s’
By
George Allison -
September 11, 2020126
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The procurement of the Batch 2 Type 26 Frigates is expected to happen “in the early 2020s” according to the Government.

Luke Pollard, the Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs recently asked via a written Parliamentary question:

“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to order the next batch of Type 26 frigates.”

Pollard was directed to a statement made earlier in the year by Baroness Goldie which states:

“The procurement of the Batch 2 Type 26 Frigates will be subject to a separate approval and contract which is expected to be awarded in the early 2020s.”

Eight Type 26 Frigates are to be built in total with three in the first batch.

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Viasat to supply Britain’s future frigate with satellite communications tech
By: Andrew Chuter   12 hours ago
LONDON — Progress toward boosting the British Royal Navy’s frigate numbers with a new class of ship continues to advance, with the Babcock International-led consortium contracted to build the warships adding on satellite communication supplier Viasat to its list of subcontractors.
A deal to supply ultrahigh-frequency satellite communications for five general-purpose frigates being built for the Royal Navy has gone to Viasat UK, the company announced Nov 3. Viasat is based in the U.S. and was ranked No. 69 on Defense News’ latest list of the top 100 defense companies around the world.
Ultrahigh-frequency SATCOM is a mission-critical capability that will provide the Type 31 with beyond-line-of-sight, secure, integrated voice and data services.

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HMS Glasgow hull blocks joined together
By
George Allison -
May 1, 202152
The hull of Type 26 Frigate HMS Glasgow now sits as part of the Glasgow city skyline.

The aft block of HMS GLASGOW, the first City Class Type 26 frigate being built for the Royal Navy, has been rolled out of the build hall to join the forward block at the BAE Systems shipyard on the River Clyde.

BAE Systems say on their website:

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HMS Glasgow to enter service 12 months sooner than planned
By
George Allison -
June 25, 2021 166
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A National Audit Office report entitled ‘Improving the performance of major equipment contracts‘ has shed some light on major projects, including the Type 26 Frigate.

The NAO claim it sought to identify the causes, and explain the consequences, of cost overruns and schedule delays in the contracts for some of the most significant equipment programmes and to examine how the Ministry of Defence and industry teams are working to improve delivery.

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Construction starts on third Type 26 Frigate HMS Belfast
By
George Allison -
June 29, 2021 26
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Prince William today started construction on the UK’s third of eight Type 26 Frigate for the Royal Navy.

In a steel cut ceremony at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Glasgow, His Royal Highness, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, set the plasma cutting machine to work on the first plate of steel for the third Type 26 frigate, HMS BELFAST. Minister of State for Defence Baroness Goldie, together with employees and representatives from the Scottish Government, Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence, joined the celebrations.

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Cambridge firm to supply radar software for Type 26 Frigates
By
George Allison -
November 4, 202172
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Cambridge Pixel will be supplying its latest generation of SPx radar processing and display software to BAE Systems for the visualisation of primary and IFF video onboard the Type 26 Frigates Combat Management System.

In terms of their surveillance and sensor capabilities, each Type 26 will be fitted with the BAE Type 997 Artisan 3D air and surface surveillance radar, solid state X and S band navigation radars and a long range IFF interrogator, as well as electro-optical and infrared systems.

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Babcock complete ‘frigate factory’ in Rosyth
By
George Allison -
November 30, 2021

The shipbuilding facility will be able to build two frigates at the same time.

Babcock also unveiled plans to recruit 500 workers for its Type 31 frigate programme as the build of its new state-of-the-art assembly hall, known as ‘the Venturer Building’ is completed at its Rosyth site.

The announcement was made as Douglas Chapman MP, employees, industry representatives, local school children and trade unions gathered to witness the commemorative ‘topping out’ ceremony at the new facility.

“The event included a demonstration of two 125 tonne gantry cranes, which will be used to assemble the frigates, with local schoolchildren adding the final touches to the facility by helping to plant bulbs and shrubs around its perimeter.”
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