Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

[SKB]

^ RN Officers: "You see? I told you Portsmouth's shed is bigger!"

[Ron5]

And still nothing, from the text or graphic, to confirm the number of Sea Ceptor....

No, no, no. I can definitely see 32 launchers. You're not looking (wishing) hard enough.

Some other kit is now showing in this fantasy picture of a type 31 escorting a carrier ..



Probably in the Sea of the North

[SKB]

Steel cut for first T31




(MoD) 23rd September 2021

At a ceremony at Rosyth Dockyard, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace MP today cut the steel for the first of the Royal Navy
Type 31 frigates - one of five that will be built by Babcock on the Firth of the Forth.

More: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/firs ... -programme

[tomuk]

Two things:

1) Who are the Admiral(s) with Ben Wallace? The ones wearing dark headgear? Poles? Greeks?

2) In the ful text of his speech Ben Wallace says about T31:

It will be agile – ranging some 10,000 miles and able to do everything from detecting submarines and intercepting illegal activity to gathering intelligence and providing humanitarian support.

[serge750]

Mk 1 eyeball organic submarine detection system ( when surfaced/snorkling )

[SKB]

detecting submarines

They'll lower their anchor and listen for the "ding". Easy

[Jensy]

Mk 1 eyeball organic submarine detection system ( when surfaced/snorkling )

Someone's been watching Vigil

Some other kit is now showing in this fantasy picture of a type 31 escorting a carrier ..

Deck launched 'Inspiration missiles' fitted amidships. Will dazzle your enemy with hopes for a better tomorrow and plays John Lennon's 'Imagine' just before impact...



Also, some reporting in a Greek aviation and defence publication:
https://www.ptisidiastima.com/first-met ... h-type-31/

Absolutely zero information within but it's good to see coverage in potential export markets.

[RichardIC]

They carry PODS! (stuff in a container).

[SKB]

Venturer class sounds way better than Insipid class.

[SW1]

Showing what can be done using a highly capable design that considers production optimisation to a high degree and then concentrating on building and optimising the production line. Congrats to the Danes, Babcock and the RN for pushing it thru hopefully things continue to progress well.

[RichardIC]

Some other kit is now showing in this fantasy picture of a type 31 escorting a carrier ..

Where's this from?

[RichardIC]

Found it

[Poiuytrewq]

Some other kit is now showing

Good to see the canisters included but don't 57mm and 40mm look like piddly little things!

It would be much improved by a Mk45.

[bobp]

Good to see the program start on time. Hope we get some decent pictures of the build when it starts.

[Jensy]

Reposting the above, as there's something that seems to have got lost amidst all the submarine shenanigans of the last few weeks.

At 3:40, Jonathan Walton confirms (as some here have strongly suggested in the past) that a Sea Ceptor VLS can be positioned in place of the 'b' turret.

Although the model doesn't seem to want to agree, this is the first time I've seen official confirmation of that flexibility for Type 31, as opposed to with StanFlex interfaces on the Iver Huitfeldts.

[dmereifield]

And still nothing, from the text or graphic, to confirm the number of Sea Ceptor....

No, no, no. I can definitely see 32 launchers. You're not looking (wishing) hard enough.

24, or even 18, would bring a smile to my face!

[donald_of_tokyo]

The image from the above infographic in much higher resolution (four RHIBs suggests the fourth boat bay might have been reinstated):

Good point. It could mean
1: forth boat alcove added
2: the 3rd alcove can actually carry two boats
3: just a mistake

I think it is, "2". But, could be "3".

[donald_of_tokyo]

Found it

Thanks a lot!

One thing I was really happy is, addition of SeaSentor torpedo defense system. You can see the decoy launcher added on the bridge. (It is much much much more needed than a hull sonar.)

But, with Harpoon-like SSM ALSO added at the middle, I then start thinking this is yet another "with FFBNW" options. If so, SeaSentor could be also within the "FFBNW" list.

Yet another information is needed...

[Dobbo]

If with some relatively cheap purchases or cascading equipment from retiring T23s (e.g. SeaCeptor silos, I-SSGW etc) you end up with essentially an ocean going patrol ship which could form a small part of a larger task force with QEC, T26 and eventually the T83, and you free up the aforesaid top of the line ships for the P2P tasks I’d say they are a decent investment.

[Tempest414]

As said a hundred time if T-31 were to get 24 CAMM , 8 x SSGW , Hull sonar and a good decoy fit they would be a very good global patrol frigate

[JohnM]

Couldn’t agree more… and I think they eventually will… a lot of that (decoys, SSM) can cascade down from the T23s as they decommission and a basic sonar is cheap (the T45 one is less than £5M a pop)…

[Anthony58]

I could make DSEI on Tuesday only.

Went to the Babcock stand, I was told the RN has not yet made a decision on the number of Sea Ceptors to be installed. The ship has been designed, so it's ease of use to upgrade, i.e. wiring. In particular I asked about ASW shipboard capability, that can be added after build. Babcock's advise is to build the ship to contract and then make changes prior to handing over the ship to the Royal Navy.

For ASW, a hull mounted sonar and use of a container aft to fit a three in one wire towed array (which will soon be available), one for a active/passive sonar, another for the torpedo decoy detection, couldn't remember about the third.

Prior to visiting Babcock, I visited the Ultra stand, asked about Type 31 and was told in rough figures a ball park figure of £75 million per Type 31 to fit and totally install ASW shipboard capability for Hull mounted and towed array.

I also briefly spoke to Tobias Ellwood MP, chairman of the House of Commons Defence committee re Ultra on type 31, he rushed off to their stand. I did speak more to his two parliamentary assistants, who where on the Leanardo stand with their 149 helicopter.

BAE told me there was a ban on taking photos, so didn't take any at the show.

Had an enjoyable and informative day, but the road traffic getting out of London was another matter!

[Ron5]

We have our very own mole. Thanks so much Anthony

[Ron5]

The image from the above infographic in much higher resolution (four RHIBs suggests the fourth boat bay might have been reinstated):

Good point. It could mean
1: forth boat alcove added
2: the 3rd alcove can actually carry two boats
3: just a mistake

I think it is, "2". But, could be "3".

5: Fourth boat alcove never went away

I got $100 on #5

(mainly because the Arrowhead 140 model had 4 but it is an ancient model)

[Ron5]

One thing I was really happy is, addition of SeaSentor torpedo defense system. You can see the decoy launcher added on the bridge.

I may be wrong but I thought they were mission fitted. So not part of the base ship but craned on from a warehouse as the ship leaves to go someplace dangerous. Like the Phalanx & Harpoon.