Royal Navy’s first Type 31 frigate enters water (PHOTOS)

HMS Venturer, the first of five new Type 31 frigates for the Royal Navy, has completed its first entry into the water.

The operation took place in Leith and marked a major milestone in the ship’s build journey. Following a carefully coordinated marine transfer, HMS Venturer has now returned to the Rosyth facility where outfitting and systems integration will continue in preparation for sea trials, according to the shipbuilder Babcock.

“HMS Venturer’s first entry into the water is a clear demonstration of UK sovereign capability in action and the depth, resilience and expertise within Babcock’s Marine business. This latest milestone exhibits the excellent progress being made across our multi-build programme, which will see us deliver five complex warships for the Royal Navy within a decade,” Nick Hine, Chief Executive of Babcock Marine Sector said.

The Type 31 frigates, also known as the Inspiration-class, are the Royal Navy’s next-generation general-purpose warships designed to replace some of the aging Type 23 frigates. The frigates are based on Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 design, which is also exported to Indonesia and Poland.

The program is making rapid progress and is now well into its multi-ship build phase with three ships in production. The Royal Navy will receive a total of five Type 31 frigates, completed within 10 years from the point of initial contract award.

Each Type 31 frigate measures approximately 139 meters in length with a beam of about 20 meters, and they displace between 5,700 and 7,000 tonnes. Powered to reach speeds over 26 knots, the ships have an operational range of roughly 7,500 nautical miles.

These ships are intended to be highly versatile, affordable, and adaptable platforms suitable for a wide range of missions, including maritime security, escort duties, disaster relief, and future naval warfare involving unmanned systems.