Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 4:07:30-4:08:27

Why the Royal Navy chose a Danish-derived Type 31 design

Domestic construction does not require a wholly domestic concept when a proven foreign design offers the stronger starting point.

Naval ProcurementRoyal NavyType 31 FrigateWarship Design
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Question

Would future Royal Navy amphibious ships be home-built or use a foreign design?

Short answer

British construction was expected, while Type 31 showed that a foreign-derived design could still offer the better starting point.

Notes

In this 2020 assessment, future Royal Navy amphibious ships were expected to be built in Britain. Type 31 showed how domestic construction could use a foreign design: the Danish-derived option provided a proven, capable hull suited to cold waters. Clarke's criticism was that BAE had held back its competing design through concern about damaging Type 26 sales.