Babcock has debuted the Royal Navy’s first Type 31 frigate at its facility in Rosyth, Scotland.
The event marks the transition of the HMS Venturer (F12) from its three-year construction to final outfitting before induction into the military.
The event involved the warship’s transfer using the company’s specially engineered transport cradles to put the hull in place for its first entry into water this summer on the River Forth.
After the platform completes its float-off, the vessel will return to Rosyth for dock-based integrations and sea trial preparations.
“HMS Venturer will be at the heart of the Royal Navy fleet, deterring aggression and supporting our Armed Forces,” UK Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard stated.
“Today’s significant milestone shows this government’s commitment to grow the economy by supporting thousands of jobs in Scotland and across the UK.”
Five Warships by 2030s
London’s Type 31 frigates, also called the Inspiration-class fleet, are based on Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 model, which can be tailored to user-specific requirements.
Their modular architecture allows customers to update the ships throughout their service life, thereby reducing the need for extensive overhauls.
Under the program, the British government plans to build five frigates, which will replace the Royal Navy’s Type 23 systems operational since the 1980s.
The Inspiration-Class System
The Royal Navy’s incoming Inspiration-class frigates will each have a length of 139 meters (456 feet) and a beam of 20 meters (66 feet).
It can accommodate more than 180 sailors, a maritime helicopter the size of a Merlin or Wildcat rotorcraft, rigid-hull inflatable boats, and an unmanned aerial system.
The ship is armed with a 57-millimeter naval gun, 40-millimeter support guns, surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles, and soft-kill countermeasures.
The vessel is equipped with four diesel engines and four generators for a top speed of over 28 knots (52 kilometers/31 miles per hour) and a range of 7,500 nautical miles (13,890 kilometers/8,631 miles).
