9th September 2024 at 1:10pm
Two of the Royal Navy’s Type 26 City-class frigates have been pictured together in the water for the first time, with one of them having been fitted with a new 5-inch gun.
HMS Glasgow, the lead ship in the Type 26 class, has had the gun fitted to her forecastle, with HMS Cardiff pictured alongside at BAE Systems’ Scotstoun Yard.
The next-generation frigates are designed to be primarily submarine hunters, replacing the Type 23s.
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They are also expected to carry out other roles, with adaptable mission bays to allow the eight City-class ships to operate drones, mine-hunting systems or raiding kit for Royal Marines commandos.
This new gun is likely to be a mainstay of the fleet for half a century or more, with all the ships set to be fitted with the capability.
So what are the benefits of this new class of frigate?
One of them is the gun.
Officially called the Mk45 Mod 4A Medium Calibre Gun, it is the latest variant of a US Navy gun that has been fitted to over 280 warships – including Nato allies and vessels from Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
It replaces the existing Mk8 4.5in gun, which has been in service since the early 1970s and has been used in the Falklands, two Gulf wars and the Libyan Civil War.
The latest gun is fully automated, safer, reliable, accurate and interoperable with the UK’s closest Nato allies.
It is also able to eliminate threats as varied as enemy positions ashore or aerial drones.
Despite being fitted to HMS Glasgow, the gun is still missing its barrel.
But once it is operational, shells weighing up to 31.5kg leave the muzzle at speeds between 823 and 1,051 metres per second – or up to three times the speed of sound – depending on the ammunition used.
It can also be used against aerial threats, including drones and fast-moving inshore attack craft, with it being much cheaper than firing a missile.
However, what makes the gun really stand out is the automatic handling system.
Sailors will no longer need to form a chain to supply the gun with fresh shells during a shoot, with the automatic system instead pulling shells from its “deep” magazine to constantly refill the 20-round “ready to use” magazine.
According to the Royal Navy, the result is a first-class gun that is easier to maintain, operates seamlessly working with allies and is highly reliable – with other navies reporting an availability of 99.6 per cent.
Neil Stevenson, Type 26 Weapons Group Leader at Defence Equipment and Support, said the installation marked a “major milestone for the Type 26 MOD weapons team”.
“The Mk 45 Mod 4 is a proven, effective weapon that incorporates the latest technologies for today’s multi-mission warships,” he said.
“Throughout the entire team has been supported by US Department of Defence and the Royal Navy, ensuring that this system is at the forefront of gunnery technology and adaptability, that meets the needs of the Royal Navy, now and in the future.”