After more than three years of construction at the Rosyth shipyard in Scotland, the frigate HMS Venturer, the first unit of the Type 31 class of the Royal Navy, was transferred to the docks in Leith (Edinburgh), where it will be launched for the first time—marking a key milestone in the British fleet renewal program.
HMS Venturer, built by Babcock, is the first of five multipurpose frigates belonging to the Inspiration class, designed to replace the Type 23 frigates currently in service. At 139 meters in length and with a displacement of 5,700 tons, the vessel has been designed with operational efficiency and modularity in mind, allowing it to operate with a reduced crew of approximately 120 sailors, compared to the nearly 180–200 required by its predecessors. These features are expected to significantly reduce operational costs and facilitate technological upgrades throughout its service life.
The frigate was moved off the slipway in late May, after the completion of the structural integration stage. The external transfer was carried out using a floating platform in an operation that lasted about 12 hours. Subsequently, the vessel was mounted onto a submersible barge from the Malin Group for its transfer to the Scottish capital. In the coming days, it will be launched to begin the next phase of outfitting.
In terms of capabilities, the Type 31 class will be equipped with a Bofors Mk 110 57 mm main gun, two secondary 40 mm guns, and the Sea Ceptor missile system for air defense. Its maximum speed will be 26 knots, and it will feature a flight deck capable of operating Merlin and Wildcat helicopters—greatly enhancing its potential in surveillance, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare operations.
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