The Type 31 is an under-construction guided-missile frigate design ultimately intended to stock the navies of Britain, Indonesia, and Poland. The warships are of a 5,700 ton displacement and crewed by approximately 107 personnel with a 7,500 nautical mile range while steaming at speeds up to 26 knots. Five will make up the British commitment to the project while Poland is set to receive three hulls and Indonesia a pair of hulls for their part. Commissioned service is planned for 2027.
For the British Royal Navy, the Type 31 "Inspiration-class" will be used concurrently with the equally-new Type 26 "City-class". Both will succeed an aging line of Cold War-era Duke-class warships in same role, broadening at-sea fighting capabilities considerably.
Dimensions include a running length of 455 feet with power stemming from a conventionally-powered CODAD (COmbined Diesel-And-Diesel) arrangement involving 4 x Rolls-Royce / MTU 20V 8000 M71 diesel engines with 4 x Diesel generators (Rolls-Royce or Caterpillar brand) to achieve desired performance. This will give the hulls a top ocean-going speed between 26 and 28 knots under ideal conditions with an achievable sailing range between 7,000 and 9,000 nautical miles.
A complete Combat Management System (CMS) will allow for excellent search-and-tracking capabilities tied to multiple engagement solutions running the gamut of ballistic, missile, and torpedo weaponry. A full Electronic Warfare (EW) suite will aid in protection of the ship from aerial, on-sea, and undersea threats at-range.
Primary armament at the heart of this guided-missile frigate will be a 32-cell Mark 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) supporting surface-to-air, anti-ship, and land-attack missiles. Beyond this will be a single 57mm (Royal Navy) or 76mm turreted deck gun with a pair of air-defense autocannons, heavy machine guns, and torpedo launchers.
Over the stern will be supported a single navalized medium-lift rotorcraft with an attached full-service hangar facility. Up to four RHIBs will be available to boarding parties.
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Total of ten hulls planned with five to serve the UK, three to Poland, and two to Indonesia.
Indonesia; Poland; United Kingdom
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Offshore Bombardment
Offshore bombardment / attack of surface targets / areas primarily through onboard ballistic weaponry.
✓Land-Attack
Offshore strike of surface targets primarily through onboard missile / rocket weaponry.
✓Maritime Patrol
Active patroling of vital waterways and maritime areas; can also serve as local deterrence against airborne and seaborne threats.
✓Airspace Denial / Deterrence
Neutralization or deterrence of airborne elements through onboard ballistic of missile weaponry.
✓Fleet Support
Serving in support (either firepower or material) of the main surface fleet in Blue Water environments.
Length
455.0 ft 138.68 m
Displacement
7,700 tons
Installed Power:
CODAD (COmbined Diesel-And-Diesel): 4 x Rolls-Royce / MTU 20V 8000 M71 marine diesels with 4 x Diesel generators (Rolls-Royce-MTU 16V2000M41B OR Caterpillar 3512C); 2 x Shafts astern.
Surface Speed
28.0 kts (32.2 mph)
Range
8,690 nm (10,000 mi | 16,093 km)
kts = knots | mph = miles-per-hour | nm = nautical miles | mi = miles | km = kilometers
1 kts = 1.15 mph | 1 nm = 1.15 mi | 1 nm = 1.85 km
1 x 57mm Mk.110 OR 76mm Leonardo "Super Rapido" turreted deck gun.
1 x 32-cell Vertical Launching System (VLS) for surface-to-air. anti-ship, and land-attack cruise missiles.
2 x 40mm Mk.4 OR 2 x 35mm PIT-Radwar AM-35 autocannons.
2 to 4 x 12.7mm Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs).
2 x 324mm torpedo launchers.
Supported Types
(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)
1 x Navalized medium-lift helicopter supported from the stern (hangar facilities integrated)
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective naval campaigns / operations / periods.
Images Gallery
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Artist rendering of the Type 31 frigate; British Royal Navy press release.
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Indonesia; Poland; United Kingdom
