Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]

[Poiuytrewq]

I was there today with my drone as the forward end of HMS Cardiff, the second Type 26 Frigate, has emerged from BAE Systems’ build hall in Glasgow for the first time. The aft section will follow in the coming days as the company’s engineers prepare to join the whole ship together.

CARDIFF-DRONE.jpg

vlcsnap-2023-06-21-14h11m43s456.png

[Jensy]

I was there today with my drone as the forward end of HMS Cardiff, the second Type 26 Frigate, has emerged from BAE Systems’ build hall in Glasgow for the first time. The aft section will follow in the coming days as the company’s engineers prepare to join the whole ship together.

CARDIFF-DRONE.jpg

vlcsnap-2023-06-21-14h11m43s456.png

Quite a number of pile drivers working on the next shipbuilding hall too. Still think it's a shame they're not building all the way back to the road/site boundary. Could easily get 200m of shed with more space at the front for manoeuvring blocks.

[Poiuytrewq]

Still think it's a shame they're not building all the way back to the road/site boundary.

Its a lateral access issue. Extending in the future should be pretty straightforward if it was ever required provided the access issues can be resolved.

[SKB]

[imperialman]

Just the forward section today, the Royal Navy mistakenly tweeted that both had been rolled out.

[Digger22]

I thought Belfast was too far into build to go into the Hall that isn't even built yet?

[Digger22]

Any ideas on what the three square bumps are on the port bow. I can't see if they're on the other side as well.

[Scimitar54]

They are on the Starboard side as well!

[new guy]

I thought Belfast was too far into build to go into the Hall that isn't even built yet?

Rear admiral in charge of T26 programme, media, bae, Mod have all said that Belfast will be constructed in the hall.

[Ron5]

Any ideas on what the three square bumps are on the port bow. I can't see if they're on the other side as well.

This view of a Type 45 explains:

[Digger22]

Can't see anything on the T45 like the bumps on Cardiff? But thanks for your reply, I'll keep looking.

[tomuk]

Can't see anything on the T45 like the bumps on Cardiff? But thanks for your reply, I'll keep looking.

I think the bumps you are referring to are just masking over the holes in the hull for mooring lines known as hawseholes.
Here is a pic of Glasgow showing them uncovered.

[Digger22]

Ahh, Now I see, thanks both.

[S M H]

The round profile of the hawes holes is to provide a rounded edges so as not to chafe the morring lines. They also reduce the water surge when the bow moves down after the crest of a wave. When the ship is underway in heavy sea state.

[tomuk]

Oh I forgot to mention it but don't zoom in on the picture of Glasgow I posted as the quality of the welding around the hatch in the bow will upset those of a nervous disposition.

[Poiuytrewq]

Interesting , £30m for 5x 2150 sonar including support.

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov ... esults&p=1

[NickC]

Interesting , £30m for 5x 2150 sonar including support.

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov ... esults&p=1

Good find, £6 million per ship, additional GFE costs for the T26 which unable to find from any MoD source, would not be surprised if T26 programme cost including GFE near £10 billion for the 8 ships.

[pko100]

Interesting , £30m for 5x 2150 sonar including support.

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov ... esults&p=1

Interesting as I'd thought the type 2150s for the last 5 type 26s were coming from the 8 ASW Type 23s as they decommissioned. Perhaps someone has realised that commonality around the frigate fleet ie upgrading Type 31 to have some ASW capability using the same sonar is worth paying £30m plus some integration into Tacticos (limited or standalone operation) and misc structural changes to the type 31 hull (if any needed).

I've never seen any discussion whether the Type 31 will have the standard ship data highway as other RN vessels.

(Mods - perhaps this should be on the Type 31 thread)

[donald_of_tokyo]

Interesting , £30m for 5x 2150 sonar including support.

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov ... esults&p=1

Good find, £6 million per ship, additional GFE costs for the T26 which unable to find from any MoD source, would not be surprised if T26 programme cost including GFE near £10 billion for the 8 ships.

Does this include the new array? Or, the arrays, front-end electronics, software ALL are re-used and just the cost of supporting the "ripping off, re-install, newly-integrate into CMS" etc?

[Tempest414]

It did say the supply installation and trials of 5 additional sonars for batch 2 type 26

[donald_of_tokyo]

It did say the supply installation and trials of 5 additional sonars for batch 2 type 26

Yes, but strictly speaking, the argument still does not contradict with "by re-using the T23 sonar". We know originally they say reusing S2150 of T23 for T26. If it has changed, I think some announcement/comment/article will come out soon, because it is new information.

[Tempest414]

It did say the supply installation and trials of 5 additional sonars for batch 2 type 26

Yes, but strictly speaking, the argument still does not contradict with "by re-using the T23 sonar". We know originally they say reusing S2150 of T23 for T26. If it has changed, I think some announcement/comment/article will come out soon, because it is new information.

You are right the word supply could mean new or reconditioned items the confusing word is additional

it would of been better if it said the supply of reconditioned sonars

[Poiuytrewq]

It did say the supply installation and trials of 5 additional sonars for batch 2 type 26

Yes, but strictly speaking, the argument still does not contradict with "by re-using the T23 sonar". We know originally they say reusing S2150 of T23 for T26. If it has changed, I think some announcement/comment/article will come out soon, because it is new information.

I read it as 5 complete 2150 sonar sets supplied, fitted and supported but the wording is vague enough to go either way.

Regardless, surely RN wouldn’t delete a hull mounted sonar of 2150’s capability level from the T31 class for £30m?

That would be quite simply unbelievable unless another system is due to provide the underwater picture.

[Tempest414]

Can anyone find the contract for same sonar for the Batch 1 order as this may clear it up

But this now takes the Type 26 program costs to 9.1 billion and also takes the batch 2 unit price from 840 to 846 million and we can only conclude that there will be other contracts for the TAS & radar

As for the Type 31 if this is for the supply fitting and testing of new sonars then yes we would have to ask why it was left out

[Tempest414]

So what I can find so far is that in Oct 2018 Ultra was award a MOD contract for 3 S2150 sonars for the B1 type 26's where BAE awarded the contract for the CAPTAS 4

But once again there is a extra cost to the program