HMS Belfast (Type 26 frigate)

History
United Kingdom
NameBelfast
NamesakeBelfast
Ordered2 July 2017
BuilderBAE, Glasgow
Laid down29 June 2021
CommissionedExpected 2029[1]
IdentificationF90
StatusUnder construction
General characteristics
Class and typeType 26 frigate
Displacement6,900 t (6,800 long tons; 7,600 short tons), 8,000+ t full load[2][3]
Length149.9 m (491 ft 10 in)
Beam20.8 m (68 ft 3 in)
Propulsion
  • CODLOG configuration:
    • 1 × Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine[4]
    • 4 × MTU Type 20V 4000 M53B high-speed diesel generators
    • 2 × electric motors
SpeedIn excess of 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph)
RangeIn excess of 7,000 nmi (13,000 km) in electric-motor (EM) drive
Boats & landing
craft carried
2
Complement157
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
IRVIN-GQ DLF decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried
  • Accommodation for two helicopters:
  • Wildcat, armed with;
    • 4 × anti-ship missiles, or
    • 2 × anti-submarine torpedoes
    • 20 × Martlet multirole air-surface missiles
    • Mk 11 depth charges
  • AgustaWestland Merlin, armed with;
    • 4 × anti-submarine torpedoes
Aviation facilities
Notes
  • Flexible Mission Bay
    • Rolls-Royce Mission Bay Handling System

HMS Belfast is a Type 26 frigate of the Royal Navy and the second vessel named after the Northern Ireland capital Belfast.[13][14] In September 2017, her name was announced by the First Sea Lord. HM ships' names are selected by the Ships' Names and Badges Committee.[15] HMS Belfast (C35) was renamed HMS Belfast (1938) by the Imperial War Museum to avoid confusion.[16] She was ordered on 2 July 2017. The first steel was cut on HMS Belfast 29 June 2021 by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.[17]

References

  1. ^ "In focus: Delivering the Type 26 Frigates | Navy Lookout". 12 December 2022.
  2. ^ Chuter, Andrew (9 November 2014). "Britain Struggles With Costs for New Frigates". Defense News. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015.
  3. ^ House of Lords - Hansard - Defence: Type 26 Frigates, .publications.parliament.uk, 26 January 2015
  4. ^ "Type 26 Frigate - Global Combat Ship". www.navyrecognition.com. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  5. ^ "New navigation radar system for Royal Navy - News stories - GOV.UK". Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  6. ^ "IMO Certified Naval Radar Solution". Terma. Archived from the original on 13 May 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  7. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (20 July 2017). "Everything You Need To Know About The Royal Navy's New Type 26 Frigates". The Drive. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  8. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (13 November 2020). "Canada's New Frigate Will Be Brimming With Missiles". The Drive. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  9. ^ Scott, Richard (4 December 2014), "UK confirms Mk 41 VLS selection for Type 26", Jane's Navy International, IHS, archived from the original on 7 December 2014
  10. ^ Allison, George (1 August 2017). "BAE video shows Type 26 Frigate customised for Australia". UK Defence Journal.
  11. ^ "£183 million deal for new gun on Type 26 Global Combat Ship sustains 43 skilled UK jobs". Royal Navy. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  12. ^ "In focus: the 50 cal heavy machine gun in Royal Navy service". Navy Lookout. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  13. ^ Association, David Young, Press (27 September 2017). "New Royal Navy warship to be named HMS Belfast". The Irish News. Retrieved 6 June 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "Defence Secretary names new warship HMS Belfast in Northern Ireland | Royal Navy". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Warships", House of Commons Hansard Written Answers, Column 361W, 5 September 2014, retrieved 10 December 2015
  16. ^ Young, David (27 September 2017). "New Royal Navy warship to be named HMS Belfast". Irish Times. Press Association. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  17. ^ "Begin Belfast: Prince William starts construction of third new Type 26 frigate". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 29 June 2021.