History | |
---|---|
United Kingdom | |
Name | Venturer |
Namesake | HMS Venturer (P68) |
Builder | Babcock,[2] Rosyth |
Laid down | 26 April 2022[1] |
Sponsored by | The Princess Royal |
Homeport | HMNB Portsmouth |
Status | Under construction |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type 31 frigate |
Displacement | 5,700 t (5,600 long tons) |
Length | 138.7 m (455 ft 1 in) |
Installed power | 4 × Rolls Royce/MTU 20V 8000 M71 8.2 MW (11,000 hp) diesel engines[7] 4 × Rolls Royce/MTU 16V 2000 M41B 900 kW (1,200 hp) generators |
Propulsion | MAN Alpha VBS Mk 5 CP propeller, two shafts, CODAD[3] |
Speed | > 28 knots |
Endurance | 9,000 nmi (17,000 km; 10,000 mi) |
Complement | 80–100 (accommodation for up to 160) |
Sensors and processing systems | Thales TACTICOS combat management system, Thales NS110 3D radar, Anschütz Warship Integrated Navigation and Bridge System, Terma Scanter and Anschütz NSX navigation radars, 2 Mirador Mk2 EOS, Viasat Ultrahigh-frequency satellite communications[4] |
Electronic warfare & decoys | Vigile-D ESM |
Armament |
|
Aircraft carried | 1 × Wildcat or Merlin helicopter |
Aviation facilities | Helicopter hangar and flight deck |
Notes | Mission bay under flight deck for 6 TEUs. 3 boat bays for RHIBs and USVs/UUVs. |
HMS Venturer is the lead ship of the Type 31 frigate-class currently under construction for the Royal Navy and the seventh vessel named HMS Venturer.[8]
In May 2021, the names of the five planned Type 31 ships were announced by the First Sea Lord. The names were selected to represent key themes that represent the future plans of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Venturer, named after the Second World War submarine Venturer (P68), the only submarine ever to have, while underwater, destroyed an enemy submarine in underwater battle, symbolises technology and innovation.[9]
As of 2023, planning envisages Venturer being launched in 2024 and entering service by 2025.[10][11] The entire class is to be in service by February 2030.[12][8][13]
First steel was cut for the new ship on 23 September 2021 signalling the start of construction.[14] The keel of the ship was ceremonially laid down in April 2022.[1]