HMS Venturer, a Type 31 frigate, under construction. HMS Venturer was scheduled for initial delivery in 2027, but has been delayed due to construction errors. (UK Ministry of Defence)

The Royal Navy’s Newest Nightmare: It Built Its Frigates the Wrong Way

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British shipbuilder Babcock acknowledged that it had assembled two Type 31 frigates “out of sequence,” necessitating extensive rework and delays.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the UK’s Royal Navy was a much-feared fighting force. In the 21st century, it is somewhat less so; the Royal Navy has become a shell of its former self, with more admirals than active duty warships. Setting the course right has been no easy task.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that the first two of the senior service’s much-hyped Type 31 Inspiration-class frigates, meant to be the workhorses of the fleet, had been assembled out of sequence. That isn’t a simple misunderstanding, either. It has resulted in months of delays, with the costs expected to be as high as £140 million ($187 million) to........

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