Defence Minister Stuart Andrew reveals HMS Sheffield as new warship

Defence Minister Stuart Andrew has announced the name of a future British warship as HMS Sheffield. Built on centuries of history, the state-of-the-art submarine hunter will be the fourth ship to carry the name, and will be Britain’s fifth state-of-the-art Type 26 Global Combat Ship.

The Defence Minister announced the news at Chesterfield Special Cylinders in Sheffield, a key supplier to the multi-billion-pound Type 26 programme. The company makes high pressure gas storage systems for the ships.

Stuart Andrew said: “HMS Sheffield will be at the forefront of our world leading Royal Navy for decades to come, providing cutting edge protection for our aircraft carriers and nuclear deterrent, and offering unrivalled capability at sea.

“From north to south, these ships are truly a national endeavour, built on centuries of British expertise and supporting thousands of businesses like Chesterfield Special Cylinders across the UK.

“Defence boosts the economy of Yorkshire and the Humber economy by £232million every year and it’s only right the region’s significant contribution to our national security is recognised by the naming of HMS Sheffield.”

The day after naming the new warship HMS Sheffield, Stuart Andrew credited the role Yorkshire companies play in the nation’s defence after visiting three firms in Huddersfield.

The Minister paid a visit to David Brown and Santasalo in Huddersfield, one of the world’s largest mechanical power transmission brands. The company specialises in the engineering, manufacture and support of industrial gearboxes for a variety of industries including defence. It has undertaken work in supporting the design and integration of gearboxes for the UK’s world-class Type 26 anti-submarine warships, one of which was named as HMS Sheffield by the Minister. The company is a long-term supplier to the Royal Navy, supplying gearboxes for Type 23 Frigates, Type 45 Destroyers and nuclear submarines, and also works on Army vehicle projects.

The Minister also visited the purpose-built 3M Buckley Innovation Centre (3M BIC) at the University of Huddersfield which is home to dozens of pioneering companies. It facilitates business growth, encourages business to academia collaboration and actively promotes innovation. Facilities include hot desks and individual office spaces to rent in a variety of sizes, flexible workshops and state-of-the-art laboratories, as well as meeting and conference spaces equipped with the latest audio-visual technology.