The Aft block of HMS GLASGOW Type 26 frigate to join the forward block.

According to information published by BAE Systems on May 1, 2021, the aft block of HMS GLASGOW, the first City Class Type 26 frigate being built for the Royal Navy, has been rolled out of the build hall to join the forward block at our BAE Systems shipyard on the River Clyde.
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The aft block of HMS GLASGOW, the first City Class Type 26 frigate being built for the Royal Navy, has been rolled out of the build hall to join the forward block at our BAE Systems shipyard on the River Clyde. (Picture source BAE Systems)

In a busy period for HMS GLASGOW, teams at our Govan shipyard prepared and completed a series of complex maneuvers to bring the aft block out of the ship block and outfit hall and into position to meet the forward block. This significant moment brings the two blocks together, and for the first time the full size, scale, and elegant lines of HMS GLASGOW are out in the open.

The aft block contains the versatile mission bay and hangar which is capable of supporting helicopters, boats, mission loads and disaster relief stores, while the flight deck is capable of landing a Chinook helicopter for transport of embarked forces.

HMS GLASGOW is the first in a new generation of cutting-edge Type 26 frigates, designed and built in her namesake city. The Type 26 Global Combat Ship will be a world-class anti-submarine warfare ship. Globally deployable, the flexible mission bay, aviation facilities and combat systems ensure it will be capable of undertaking a wide range of roles from high-intensity warfare to humanitarian assistance, either operating independently or as part of a task group.

Type 26 is the original variant of BAE Systems’ Global Combat Ship, which Australia and Canada have both selected as the reference design for their anti-submarine frigate programs, supporting greater operational, training, and intelligence ties between the three nations. The Type 26 program plans to develop three variants: anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-aircraft warfare (AAW), and general-purpose (GP) vessels.

The Type 26 also called City-class is a class of frigates being built for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. The program was launched by the British Ministry of Defence to partially replace the navy's thirteen Type 23 frigates, and for export. The type is the first naval platform shared between Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

The Type 26 has been designed to offer modular capabilities and will be built to offer stealth capabilities. The ship will have a length of 149.9 m, a beam of 20.98 m and a full loaded displacement of 8,000 tons. Se will be powered by a by Combined diesel-electric and gas (CODLAG) propulsion system including one Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine, four MTU Type 20V 4000 M53B high-speed diesel generators, and two electric motors.  The Type 26 will be able to reach a top speed of 26 knots (48 km/h) with a maximum cruising range of 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km). 

The armament of Type 26 will include 12-cell VLS for 48 Sea Ceptor anti-air missiles, 24-cell Mark 41 VLS for Tomahawk, VL-ASROC, CAMM or ESSM (quad packed), and anti-ship missiles, one 5-inch 62-caliber Mk 45 naval gun, two 30 mm DS30M Mk2 automatic cannons, two Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon Systems), two miniguns and four general-purpose machine guns.