Royal Navy's latest generation of frigates ‘look too big' for West dockyard

DEVONPORT dockyard bosses are working on a long-term plan for the facility amid reports its landmark frigate complex is too small for new warships.

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Industry sources say the under-construction Type 26 antisubmarine frigates, which will be based in Plymouth, are too wide for the dry docks. The “sheds” are also reported to be too tiny for the new Type 31 general purpose frigates, which will be based in Portsmouth, so would not be suitable to refit them. Both types of warships are due to enter service before 2030.

The Frigate Support Centre's three covered dry docks were built in the 1970s and lengthened in the 1980s to accommodate the longer Type 22 frigates.