Thursday marked a significant milestone for the Royal Navy as HMS Glasgow was formally named by the Princess of Wales. Glasgow is the first of eight new Type 26 anti-submarine frigates. She is expected to be fully operational by 2028, with the remaining seven entering service at regular intervals through the early 2030s.
There is a real buzz around this ship – a sense of excitement about its potential. Some caution is required here. Spec sheets – essentially the sales brochure outlining the dozens of systems the ship is supposed to have – never tell the full story. Warships like this are so complex, with systems so intertwined they almost become living organisms, that I don’t think you can truly judge their quality until they have fully settled into service.
Caution aside, I hope the optimism is justified, because there are several compelling reasons we need this ship to be a good one.
First, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) remains a cornerstone of our naval strategy. From protecting the Nuclear Deterrent to defending critical underwater infrastructure around the UK and abroad, to detecting and if necessary neutralising enemy submarines, this capability is only becoming more vital. It should be central not just to the Navy’s thinking, but to the nation’s.
Thursday marked a significant milestone for the Royal Navy as HMS Glasgow was formally named by the Princess of Wales. Glasgow is the first of eight new Type 26 anti-submarine frigates. She is expected to be fully operational by 2028, with the remaining seven entering service at regular intervals through the early 2030s.
There is a real buzz around this ship – a sense of excitement about its potential. Some caution is required here. Spec sheets – essentially the sales brochure outlining the dozens of systems the ship is supposed to have – never tell the full story. Warships like this are so complex, with systems so intertwined they almost become living organisms, that I don’t think you can truly judge their quality until they have fully settled into service.
Caution aside, I hope the optimism is justified, because there are several compelling reasons we need this ship to be a good one.
First, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) remains a cornerstone of our naval strategy. From protecting the Nuclear Deterrent to defending critical underwater infrastructure around the UK and abroad, to detecting and if necessary neutralising enemy submarines, this capability is only becoming more vital. It should be central not just to the Navy’s thinking, but to the nation’s.