THE inaugural ship’s company of sailors and BAE Systems engineers are breathing life into the first of the UK’s next-generation warships.
Six sailors have joined HMS Glasgow – under construction on the Clyde – to begin turning a lifeless hull into one of the world’s most advanced submarine hunters.
The ship is the first of eight Type 26 frigates which will safeguard both the nation’s nuclear deterrence and its aircraft carrier strike groups from interference from hostile submarines.
Glasgow is currently on the hard-standing at BAE Systems’ yard in Govan, where shipwrights, technicians and engineers are completing the hull and superstructure.
The frigate, which has as its sponsor is the Duchess of Cambridge – known as the Countess of Strathearn when visiting Scotland – is sufficiently complete for the Royal Navy to begin assigning sailors to her.
They will produce the ship’s “operators’ manual” determining how HMS Glasgow will be run, routines, systems and sensors to make the ship an effective fighting force when in service later this decade.
It is also their task "to give Glasgow her soul – to set the tone for an active career of 25 years or more, building bonds with her sponsor, affiliates such as the city of Glasgow, Army and RAF units, charities and community groups".
Sir Simon Lister, managing director of BAE Systems' Naval Ships business, presented the ship’s first two junior ratings – leading writer Hayden Palmer and logistician leading hand Samuela Halofaki – with the inaugural HMS Glasgow cap tallies.
“The ship’s company is the life-blood of a warship,” said Commander Phil Burgess, both the warship’s marine engineer officer and senior naval officer, representing the commanding officer until one is appointed further along in the ship’s life.
“With Royal Navy personnel joining HMS Glasgow for the first time, we have reached a key milestone that will enable the engineering, administrative and organisational foundations to be established.
“These are necessary for a modern-day warship to function efficiently and effectively, and by starting now we can best support the build and transition into service of HMS Glasgow.”
Leading hand Halofaki will be responsible for making sure Glasgow has all the requisite equipment and stores aboard, as well as the supporting documentation.
“I’m delighted to have joined as the first logistics expert in the first of ship of the Type 26 class. It’s exciting to be part of the team delivering a new ship into Service in the RN and I’m looking forward to playing my part in that,” said the father-of-three who has already helped to bring HMS Trent, Tamar and Spey into service.
Sir Simon said he was proud to welcome the first sailors aboard to work with BAE’s teams to together forge “an extremely versatile, capable and powerful addition to the Royal Navy fleet”.
READ MORE: Glasgow BAE Systems anti-submarine frigates hailed by MoD
He continued: “Together with the men and women who will live and work onboard HMS Glasgow, we look forward to using our collective skill and knowledge to bring her to life completing the installation and commissioning of the key systems that will give her the vital capability to serve the Royal Navy for decades to come.”
HMS Glasgow is the first of an initial batch of three ships all named after UK cities, followed by HMS Cardiff and Belfast.
Operating from Devonport Naval Base, the Type 26 will be equipped with bow and towed-array sonars, plus carry a Wildcat or Merlin helicopter, for submarine-hunting missions.
A 5in gun and vertical-launch missile silo, plus an adaptable mission bay will provide the offensive punch and capability of the frigates.
Deputy weapon engineer officer William Hill, 29, will be working hand in hand with BAE Systems' workers on the vessel.
Mr Hill said: “I first saw HMS Glasgow from across the Clyde; she is modern, larger than the Type 23 and has beautiful lines that form her hull. I was excited, not only for the privilege of serving in her first ship’s company, but for all the sailors that get to serve with her in the future.
"The Type 26 frigate is a highly capable anti-submarine warfare platform designed for joint and multinational operations across the full spectrum of warfare, including complex combat operations, counter piracy, humanitarian aid and disaster relief work.
"Much like the role I performed in HMS Queen Elizabeth, my role in HMS Glasgow is slightly more complicated as I will be writing all the procedures, rather than just applying them. It’s very exciting to be involved this early on, as it gives us a great opportunity to set the ship on an illustrious course for the years to come.
"BAE have been very hospitable to us; defence equipment and support and the Royal Navy have a fully refurbished office within the Scotstoun shipyard, and we have been welcomed by the full range of BAE staff, from managing director to the technicians in the fabrication hall.
"Our early integration will ensure the enterprise has easy access to the Royal Navy, as the customer, to enable a seamless transition to service."
Scott Lorimer, 26, is a project manager on the BAE Systems commissioning team.
He said: “I’m the sole project management resource within the commissioning team. I’m responsible for ensuring that we deliver our scope to costs, schedule and quality.
“At the moment we are writing all of the test forms which essentially will be used to make sure that all the systems on board work the way that we designed them to and that is from ship-required systems like fuel all the way to the toilets and the hot and cold fresh water taps.
“Our team is responsible for essentially making the ship come to life.”
Mr Lorimer also said: "We are in the preparation stage where we are writing these test forms, as of quarter four next year it will really start to ramp up for us because that is when we will actually start working on the ship and getting the systems working.
"Although we are responsible for proving that all the systems work, we are also responsible for bringing the Navy along on that journey with us, so we have to make sure that they know how to operate the systems properly and give the any training that they need, and help them with their processes."
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