New Navy warship emerges at Clyde shipyard

The bow of HMS Glasgow was moved slowly from the build shed

The first section of a new class of Royal Navy warship has been rolled out at a Clyde shipyard.

It took 90 minutes to move the bow of HMS Glasgow from the build hall at BAE Systems' Govan site.

The ship is the first of the new City Class Type 26 frigates being built for the Royal Navy.

The section, containing the bridge, operations room and accommodation spaces, will be joined to the rear section in the coming weeks.

The Type 26 frigates - also known as the Global Combat Ship - are designed to partially replace the Navy's 13 ageing Type 23 warships.

The front section of the ship will be joined to the aft section in the coming weeks

Their primary role will be anti-submarine warfare, although they are also suitable for a range of operations including air defence.

Simon Lister, managing director of BAE Systems Naval Warships, said: "The emergence of HMS Glasgow is a very proud day for everyone involved and is testament to the skills and passion of our workforce.

"We have now completed the construction of all units of the ship and in the coming weeks our skilled teams will bring the hull together for the first time."

Eight Type 26 frigates are expected to be built at BAE's Govan and Scotstoun yards on the Clyde, with HMS Glasgow due to enter service in the mid 2020s.

Work is under way on the second ship, HMS Cardiff, and construction of the third, HMS Belfast, will begin later this year.

Variants of the design are being produced for the Australian and Canadian navies.

The new Type 26 frigates will primarily be used for anti-submarine warfare

Pat Browning, the Type 26 programme team leader at the MoD's defence equipment agency, said: "The Type 26 is a highly capable ASW (anti submarine warfare) warship designed for joint and multinational operations across the full spectrum of warfare and will serve at the heart of the Royal Navy's surface fleet for decades to come.

"The roll out of the forward section of HMS Glasgow; the first of the Type 26 class, hails a landmark moment for this cutting-edge vessel and a huge step forward for the programme."

It was originally anticipated that 13 Type 26 frigates would be built - directly replacing the Type 23 fleet - but following the 2015 Strategic Defence Review it was confirmed there would be eight, along with five lighter, general purpose ships.

This cheaper frigate design is now known as the Type 31e, with the contract to build them awarded to a consortium led by Babcock.