Inspiration Class

A SUSTAINED GLOBAL PRESENCE

Flexible and adaptable by design, the Type 31 general purpose frigate will undertake missions such as interception and disruption of those using the sea for unlawful purposes, intelligence gathering, defence engagement and providing humanitarian support. The T31 frigates will collectively be known as the ‘INSPIRATION’ Class, so called because either their deeds or the ingenuity of their designers are milestones in RN history. Comprising, in order of build: HMS VENTURER, ACTIVE, FORMIDABLE, BULLDOG AND CAMPBELTOWN.

The Royal Navy is excited about the capability and flexibility that these ships will bring. They will be complimentary to our Type 26 anti-submarine frigates, and our Type 45 anti-air warfare Destroyers. The Type 31s will conduct critical maritime security tasks, freeing-up our specialised capabilities to undertake the roles for which they were intended.

T31 will be larger than the T23 ship that it is replacing. Specifically, the five T31s will each have a displacement of 5,700 tons, a beam of 19.8 metres and will be 138.7m in length.

One Bofors 57mm Mk3 and two Bofors 40mm Mk4 naval guns.

Sophisticated combat system.
Sea Ceptor missile system.
4D air and surface surveillance and target indication radar.

Boat bays will allow T31’s to launch and recover 3 PAC-24 boats to support boarding operations, anti-narcotics and piracy missions as well as rendering assistance to other maritime craft.

Each T31 contains a 119 m3 mission space, which can accommodate up to 6 x 20 foot ISO Containers, enabling the T31 to change or enhance its capabilities to suit the mission.

Capability to operate with a Merlin or Wildcat helicopter.

Lt Jenkins, 25

Warfare officer

The job may be intense, but it’s incredibly rewarding. I also get to work on some of the most advanced warships on the planet.

Bridge Watch

Part of my job is ‘watching on the bridge’, acting as a helmsman. It means I’m actually in charge of steering the ship, a billion-pound Type 45 Destroyer.

Comms

When we’re on operation, the information I gather is crucial to the overall mission, so I’m sending key data to other vessels for their Commanding Officers to make decisions.

Downtime

We get time off every day, so if the operation allows it, I’ll spend time relaxing in the mess or going ashore with my crewmates.

PT

The job gets pretty physical, so keeping up a good level of fitness is really important. When time allows, I’ll hit the treadmill or rowing machine in the gym we have on board.

Radar

I work in the ops rooms a lot, using our Early Warning Radar system. I pass information to my Warfare Officer so they can make decisions about the mission.

Training

Training’s happening all the time, so I’m constantly honing my skills – whether in the classroom or on board a vessel.

Click on a location to explore our operations

Middle East

Kipion

Units of the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary have been on patrol in the Gulf since October 1980, after the Iran/Iraq conflict of that year, and more recently operations have extended further south with the increase in piracy off the Somalia coast.

FIND OUT MORE

Bay of Biscay

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 is a multinational, integrated maritime force - made up of vessels from various allied nations, training and operating together as a single team - that is permanently available to NATO to perform a wide range of tasks, from participating in exercises to crisis response and real world operational missions.

FIND OUT MORE

Middle East

Kipion MCMV

In support of wider British efforts in the region, minehunters are providing the capability to conduct route survey, sea-bed clearance, and mine clearance operations all over the Gulf. The operation provides a visible naval presence in a region where stability and good relations with local nations is vital. Much of the UK’s oil and gas, as well as other products, come from the Gulf region and as such these efforts are paramount to our economy.

FIND OUT MORE

Arctic

Nato MCMV Force

The RN has always supplied an MCMV to one of the two NATO Mine Counter-Measures Squadrons. These are six-month deployments as part of the NATO Standing MCM Groups and will generally be around the coasts of Northern Europe or the Mediterranean depending upon the squadron in which the RN ship is working.

FIND OUT MORE

North Sea

Standing Nato Maritime Group 1

Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 is a multinational, integrated maritime force - made up of vessels from various allied nations, training and operating together as a single team - that is permanently available to NATO to perform a wide range of tasks, from participating in exercises to crisis response and real world operational missions.

FIND OUR MORE

United Kingdom

Fishery Protection

Protecting the British fishing industry and safeguarding the nation's fishing stocks.

FIND OUT MORE

Gibraltar

Gibraltar Squadron

Conducting security patrols within British Gibraltar territorial waters, and providing protection to warships.

FIND OUT MORE

Antarctic

Antarctic patrol

To provide a UK sovereign presence in the British Antarctic Territory, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and their surrounding maritime areas, to underpin their security and good governance; and meet the UK treaty obligations and exercise rights under the Antarctic Treaty System through inspections, hydrographic charting and support to scientific research.

FIND OUT MORE