HMS Cardiff (F89)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Cardiff.

HMS Cardiff at BAE Govan, nearing launch
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Cardiff
NamesakeThe city of Cardiff
Ordered2 July 2017
BuilderBAE Systems
Laid down14 August 2019
Launched5 September 2024[4]
Sponsored byKatherine Jenkins
CommissionedEarly 2028[3]
IdentificationPennant number: F89[2]
StatusFitting out
General characteristics
Class and typeType 26 frigate[12]
Displacement6,900 t (6,800 long tons),[5] 8,000+ t full load[13][14]
Length149.9 m (491 ft 10 in)[5]
Beam20.8 m (68 ft 3 in)[5]
Propulsion
SpeedIn excess of 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph)[5]
RangeIn excess of 7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) in Electric-Motor (EM) drive[5]
Complement118[5] (capacity for 208)[5]
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys		IRVIN-GQ DLF decoys[7]
Armament
Aircraft carried
Aviation facilities
  • Accommodation for two helicopters
  • Large Chinook-capable flight deck
  • Enclosed hangar
  • Facilities for UAVs
NotesFlexible mission bay[8]

HMS Cardiff is the second Batch 1 Type 26 frigate to be built for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy.[15] The first steel was cut on 14 August 2019.[16] The Type 26 class will partially replace the navy's thirteen Type 23 frigates,[17] and will be a multi-mission warship designed for anti-submarine warfare, air defence and general purpose operations.[5] The frigate is currently being fitted out at the BAE Systems Maritime in Glasgow, the second to enter production as part of a £3.7 billion contract for three ships announced by the MoD in 2017, preceded by her sister ship Glasgow. Belfast is to follow.[15]

Like Glasgow, the frigate was built at the BAE Systems Maritime shipyard at Govan, then transferred onto the semi-submersible heavy-lift barge Malin Augustea CD01. On 30 August 2024, Cardiff was taken on the barge down the Clyde and up Loch Long to the Glen Mallan jetty, to be floated off the barge and enter the water for the first time.[18][19] A few days later, it was taken by tugs upriver to the BAE Scotstoun shipyard for fitting out.[20]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference navylookout.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Allison, George (7 August 2024). "New frigate gets pennant number before launch in Glasgow". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  3. ^ "In focus: delivering the Type 26 Frigates". Navy Lookout. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  4. ^ "HMS Cardiff joins HMS Glasgow in dry dock fitting out at Scotstoun". Navy Lookout. 9 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h BAE Systems. "Products - Global Combat Ship". Global Combat Ship. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  6. ^ "New navigation radar system for Royal Navy". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  7. ^ a b c "Q&A with BAE Systems on Type 26 Frigate Design Update at Euronaval 2012". navyrecognition.com. Belgium. 10 January 2013. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "Re Type 26 Global Combat Ship", Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence. parliament.uk, October 2014
  9. ^ "UK confirms Mk 41 VLS selection for Type 26". Janes.com. 4 December 2014. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014.
  10. ^ "£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.
  11. ^ "In focus: the 50 cal heavy machine gun in Royal Navy service". Navy Lookout. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  12. ^ "SDSR 2015 Defence Fact Sheets" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 15 January 2016. p. 10. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  13. ^ Chuter, Andrew (9 November 2014). "Britain Struggles With Costs for New Frigates". Defense News. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015.
  14. ^ "Defence: Type 26 Frigates", House of Lords Hansard, UK Parliament, column 6-7, 26 January 2015
  15. ^ a b Allison, George (1 March 2018). "New Type 26 Frigate named HMS Cardiff". Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  16. ^ "First steel cut for HMS Cardiff". GOV.UK. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  17. ^ Type 26 Global Combat Ship, royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  18. ^ Watson, Calum (30 August 2024). "New Navy frigate HMS Cardiff makes first journey on giant barge". BBC News. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Second Type 26 Frigate, HMS Cardiff leaves Govan and taken down the Clyde to be floated off". Navy Lookout. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  20. ^ Admin, Jeremy (5 September 2024). "Shipping: New Frigate Heads Upriver After Successful Float-Off". Inverclyde Now. Retrieved 13 September 2024.