New Type 26 frigate HMS Glasgow takes to water for first time

The first of the Royal Navy's new frigates, HMS Glasgow, has been sailed down the River Clyde for the first time on board a barge.

Fittingly the sight came on St Andrew's Day, as the Scots-built warship is named after Scotland's largest city.

The Type 26 frigate was moved onto the Clyde for the first time last week in a landmark moment for Royal Navy's new generation of frigates.

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She was escorted by Military of Defence Police as she was floated from Clyde Marine Unit where she will eventually be lowered into the water for the first time.

Scottish shipyards have orders to build 13 frigates, with the type 31 vessels being built by Babcock at Rosyth on the east coast and the Type 26 ships being constructed by BAE Systems on the Clyde.

When HMS Glasgow touches water for the first time, she will be towed back up the Clyde to BAE Systems' yard at Scotstoun where the work to fit the warship will be completed.

Both HMS Cardiff and HMS Belfast are still under construction in Glasgow and are the Royal Navy's second and third vessels.

Last week, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace visited the vessel in Glasgow while it was being rolled onto the barge.

Mr Wallace praised the "remarkable achievement" of shipbuilders and said the Type 26 was coming out of the shipyard late, but not "catastrophically" so, saying he is confident HMS Glasgow and the other frigates will enter service in time.

Brigadier Andy Muddiman RM, Naval Regional Commander Scotland & Northern Ireland, said last week: "The floating of HMS Glasgow... represents an important milestone in the build of the Royal Navy's latest anti-submarine warfare frigate. 

"This is the first of eight Type 26 frigates being built by BAE Systems in Glasgow.

"The Royal Navy's exciting programme of shipbuilding in Scotland, which includes five Type 31 general-purpose frigates being built by Babcock International in Rosyth, will generate jobs, skills and economic benefits in Scotland for many years to come."