RN Frigates: Type 31 Inspiration Class

[Pelican]

The Government have again confirmed the numbers and entry into service date of the Type 31e Frigates.

Earl Howe, The Minister of State for the Ministry of Defence and Deputy Leader of the House of Lord said in response to a question:
“The National Shipbuilding Strategy envisages that the Type 31e will undertake a broad range of roles currently delivered by the Type 23 general purpose frigate, of which HMS Argyll is currently the first to leave service in 2023. We want the first Type 31e to enter service in 2023, with all five ships delivered by 2028.
The exact dates for the delivery of the Type 31e frigates are yet to be determined so it is too early to release the numbers of ships in service at any one time.”

The five ships will be known as the Inspiration class and the name of each ship has been selected to represent key themes and operations which will dominate and shape the global mission of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines

Carrier operations - HMS Formidable
Operational advantage in the North Atlantic - HMS Bulldog
Forward deployment of ships around the globe to protect UK interests - HMS Active
Technology and innovation - HMS Venturer
Future Commando Force - HMS Campbeltown

Continues at:
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/governm ... no_cache=1

For historical, spec. and recent info please see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_31e_frigate
https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/?s=TYPE+31E
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/cammell ... igate-bid/
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/70-per- ... no_cache=1

[ivorthediver]

Well time will tell eh David , lets hope signatures are forthcoming and contracts signed

[Pelican]

Well time will tell eh David , lets hope signatures are forthcoming and contracts signed

Yes Ivor lets. The way I see it is that originally the government wanted to build the ships to a price [£250m] but were told it could not be done. BAE did not want to go it alone for presentational and political reasons so joined up with Cammell Laird who would take the lead but using a BAE desgin. They will be up against a consortium led by Babcock International. The MOD also sees a way of keeping costs down is to obtain export orders. The contents of the link below explains a little of what is going but its a bit old.
https://www.ft.com/content/572e3292-b41 ... 002965bce8
More press opinion here - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/20 ... mpetition/

[ivorthediver]

As I thought David , same storey , revised edition , still once out of the EU with all these spare billions we can buy even more

[Pelican]

The Government have again confirmed the numbers and entry into service date of the Type 31e Frigates.
Earl Howe, The Minister of State for the Ministry of Defence and Deputy Leader of the House of Lord said in response to a question:
“The National Shipbuilding Strategy envisages that the Type 31e will undertake a broad range of roles currently delivered by the Type 23 general purpose frigate, of which HMS Argyll is currently the first to leave service in 2023. We want the first Type 31e to enter service in 2023, with all five ships delivered by 2028.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/governm ... ate-plans/

[ivorthediver]

So how many type 23 leaving .....and to be replaced with 5 type 31e [ envisaged only at this point ] well thanks for that David , but I'll believe it when we see them as my understanding of the word is thus :-ideate ,conceive ,envisage ......form a mental image of something that is not present or that is NOT the case ....Hmmmmm .

[Pelican]

So how many type 23 leaving .....and to be replaced with 5 type 31e [ envisaged only at this point ] well thanks for that David , but I'll believe it when we see them as my understanding of the word is thus :-ideate ,conceive ,envisage ......form a mental image of something that is not present or that is NOT the case ....Hmmmmm .

Phasing out-in there some details here Ivor - https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2018/ ... take-part/ - but I saw a more detailed somewhere.

[ivorthediver]

Ok Thanks for that David , I'll try to cultivate a little of a more optimistic attitude to the Governments daily bulletins on the current thoughts ......but as I said before ..Seeing is believing lets face it if Brexit is finally agreed [ another commitment to be confirmed] we may get another election and we all start again .....but I won't hold my breath as I have heard it all before... just like you but thanks for the post .

[Pelican]

The Ministry of Defence is looking at the size and composition of frigate fleet as part of the Modernising Defence Programme, hinting that there could be more than 5 Type 31e frigates with some even having ASW capabilities.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said at a Defence Select Committee meeting, when asked about any intention on expanding the number of Type 31e Frigates to be built:

“We’re looking at that as part of the Modernising Defence Programme. If there’s opportunities going forward to expand on that [the fleet size] we’d look at that as part of the Modernising Defence Programme.”

Plans to acquire a new class of “more affordable” Type 31 Frigate were announced as part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review.

It is understood that the Type 26 Frigate will primarily support carrier task group operations while the Type 31 is to be deployed for a range of less high-tempo operations.

Continuues at - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-n ... -ggozw2sOY

[ivorthediver]

Thanks David , that sounds interesting , but again I'll believe it when I see them on the water , but a step [one] in the right direction at least