The 90-metre warship, which successfully completed her
maiden sea trials in December, will soon be sailed to Her
Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth, where she will be
commissioned into the Royal Navy and prepare for
counter-terrorism, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling and other
maritime Defence operations.
During his visit the Minister also announced key milestones
in the UK’s Type 26 Frigate programme - the start of
production of the next section of hull for HMS Glasgow -
and BAE Systems’ signing of a new £5.6 million contract to
establish a Type 26 electrical testing facility in
Leicestershire.
Defence Minister said:
Thanks to the hard work of the Clyde shipyards, HMS Forth
is now ready to join the Royal Navy surface fleet and
begin the vital task of defending the UK and her
interests around the world.
Developing the Type 26 capability is also making great
strides forward, reflecting the UK’s commitment to this
cutting-edge new warship, which will sustain 4,000 jobs
in Scotland and right across the UK.
HMS Forth, one of five new OPVs being delivered for the
Royal Navy, will enter service this year. Her sister ships
- HMS Medway, HMS Trent, HMS Tamar and HMS Spey - are all
expected to enter service by 2020.
The latest unit for HMS Glasgow, which will extend over two
deck levels and house the ship’s two large electric drive
motors and associated shaft line, is now under construction
and will weigh 132 tonnes once complete.
It will be added to the rest of the structure of the ship
as it takes shape across the Clyde in Govan.
The newly-signed Electrical Integration and Test Facility
sub-contract with General Electric, enabled through a £3.7
billion MOD contract for the first batch of Type 26 ships,
will establish a centre in Whetstone, Leicestershire. This
facility will allow critical power and propulsion
integration and de-risking tests for Type 26, ensuring the
Frigates have safe and effective propulsion systems.
The agreement, which follows a previous Design Development
contract signed in 2016, brings the total committed
investment in the facility to around £13 million.
Director Ship Acquisition for Defence Equipment and Support
(DE&S), the MOD’s procurement organisation, Henry
Parker, said:
Formal acceptance is a hugely important step in the
delivery of any new ship and the teams at DE&S could
not be prouder to see HMS Forth emerge from trials ready
for delivery to the Royal Navy.
We look forward to continuing to work closely with BAE
Systems to ensure successful delivery of the new OPV and
Type 26 fleets.
Like her sister ships, HMS Forth will be equipped with a
30mm cannon and a flight deck capable of receiving a Merlin
helicopter.
Displacing around 2,000 tonnes, they will have a maximum
speed of 24 knots and will be able to sail 5,500 nautical
miles before having to resupply.
