Written statement on the Type 26 Frigates

Sir Michael Fallon (Secretary of State for Defence): Following the announcement earlier this month that the Ministry of Defence had signed a £3.7 billion contract for the first batch of the new Type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigates, I am pleased to announce that the frigates will be known as the City Class.

The first ship is to be named HMS GLASGOW and her construction formally began today. Naming the ships after cities provides significant and readily identifiable linkages with large populations across the United Kingdom. GLASGOW is a name with a distinguished historical pedigree, and this first name in the class provides a tangible connection with the city where the ships will be constructed.

There have been eight Royal Navy ships of the name from the early 1700s, who between them have earned ten battle honours. In more recent history, two ships served in the World Wars, including the Arctic Convoys and the Normandy Landings, and the last ship to bear the name was awarded the ‘Falkland Islands 1982’ battle honour to add to the ‘Falkland Islands 1914’ honour won by her predecessor.

The Type 26 Frigates, the first of which we expect to enter service with the Royal Navy in the mid 2020s, will provide essential protection to our nuclear deterrent and aircraft carriers into the 2060s, keeping British interests safe across the world.