Rumours that the UK Government might cancel the Type 32 frigates – not to be confused with the eight Type 26 and five Type 31 vessels already underway in Scotland – have been described as “an act of national self-harm”.
Britain is shooting itself in the foot
Cancelling frigates that were supposed to increase the size of the Royal Navy fleet at a time of global tension and renewed challenge at sea for the West is like Britain shooting itself in the foot just before a race.
I spoke to a contact at Rosyth, wishing to remain anonymous; he told me:
“A strong Navy is important for protecting our country and projecting military power. Plus, building and maintaining these ships provide jobs and keep the shipbuilding industry healthy. It’s that simple. But when we as a nation cancel these projects, we’re not only weakening our Navy but also hurting our economy and employment. It’s a vicious cycle, if we don’t keep a steady stream of orders for ships, our shipbuilding industry will suffer.”
Not only that, people in Scotland are used to chopping and changing of frigate orders and this will only serve to remove trust in the UK Government. While these aren’t part of the 13 frigates promised to Scotland (those were actually ordered, eventually), the newly planned vessels were expected to be built in Glasgow or Rosyth and it’s no secret that a continued drumbeat of orders is essential to keep the industry going. The status of the Type 32s, announced in 2021 and originally planned to sail in 2032, is highlighted in the table below.
“Why do I believe this would be national self-harm? It’ll not only damage the industry; it’ll destroy any remaining trust many in Scotland might have that the UK is in their best interests. It might end not only the industry, it might also end the UK”, added my source.
So, what happened?
It was reported this week that the anticipated multibillion-pound investment in the long-term future of Scotland’s shipbuilding industry, in the form of the Type 32 frigate, may be eliminated or reduced in the upcoming defence review by Rishi Sunak. These vessels, touted long after the independence referendum, would continue to boost Scottish shipbuilding, providing a future beyond the current vessels alongside the Type 83 Destroyer.
The latest uncertainty follows the announcement two years ago by then Prime Minister Boris Johnson of plans to construct five new Type 32 frigates with the aim of establishing Britain as the leading naval power in Europe.
However, the project has encountered difficulties and has put a significant number of employment opportunities at risk. According to the report, insiders at the Ministry of Defence say that it is unlikely that the ships will be included in the defence review this spring as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt works to reconcile the country’s finances.
Will Type 32 be scrapped?
Officially, the current line is that they’ll be a “key part of the fleet”, but I don’t have a crystal ball. The recent rumours mentioned above add to a recent report from the National Audit Office that stated that the Royal Navy withdrew its plans for Type 32 frigates because of concerns about unaffordability. However, officially it is claimed that work on the project is continuing.
The November 2022 report of the National Audit Office on The [Defence] Equipment Plan 2022-2032 stated that, in July 2022, “Navy Command withdrew its plans for Type 32 frigates and MRSS [Multi-Role Support Ships] because of concerns about unaffordability. The revised costing profile is likely to be significantly higher.”
Addressing the above, John Healey, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, asked, via a Parliamentary Written Question:
“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 20 of the NAO report on the Equipment Plan 2022 to 2032, HC 907, published on 29 November, for what reason Navy Command was concerned about the affordability of the Type 32 frigate programme.”
Alex Chalk, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, responded:
“The Type 32 frigate programme remains a key part of the future fleet and is currently in the concept phase. Work continues to ensure the programme is affordable in order to deliver the ships the Navy and Marines need.”
What will Type 32 frigates be able to do?
In November 2021, former Royal Navy First Sea Lord Tony Radakin announced that the ship had entered its concept phase. He added that it was too early to define its characteristics, but being a “Type 31 Batch 2” frigate could be an option.
The revised National Shipbuilding Strategy, released in March 2022, suggested that the Type 32 frigates were likely to be “the first of a new generation of warships with a focus on hosting and operating autonomous onboard systems.”
Earlier comments by the UK’s Minister for Defence Procurement, Jeremy Quin, also suggested that the new Type 32 frigate will be a platform for autonomous systems, adding to the Royal Navy’s capabilities for missions such as anti-submarine warfare and mine countermeasures.
If they do go ahead, they’ll enter service in 2032. If they don’t (or if no ships at all are ordered for this timeframe), say goodbye to a chunk of the UK shipbuilding industry and maybe even the UK itself.
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