A fine article from the ‘Save The Royal Navy’ website on upgrading options for the RN’s Batch II River class OPVs.
Enhancing the Royal Navy’s batch II OPVs | Save the Royal Navy
Slightly larger than the RAN’s Arafura class OPV, the options depicted could free up the RN’s (too few), major combatants for employment in higher threat areas.
The Scheibel S-100 Camcopter can be fitted with 2 x LMM Martlett missiles (a future option for the RAN). The OPV Plus suggestion includes 2 x 30mm Automated Small Calbre Guns which could also be fitted with 5 x LMM.
As articles go, SOME of the various suggestions for the RN's RCB2's are 'interesting', in that they could indeed be worked into the hull form. x2, 30mm guns on the back of the bridge wings, are feasible (
knowing the the Hull design & arrangements are based on the ex-T&T / Amazonas ships that Brazil currently have). Practicalities of upgunning the current 30mm to the BAE / Bofors Mk110 / Oto Melara SR 76mm are a bit of a stretch, as while the ship does have a reasonably sized magazine in the vicinity, the practicalities of getting the rounds to the mount, aren't that easy.
The issue in all of this is that the RN / UK Plc have got what they have paid for & to make major changes to enhance the Combat System / Upgrade the Radar / up-gun the main gun / provide a hangar / aircraft weapons facilities do effectively mean a redesign to a Batch 3 format, as most of the work NEEDS to be done at a design level, before the platforms were built.
Taking HMS Forth / Medway / Trent / Tamar / Spey & attempting to integrate any one of these upgrades would effectively mean pulling the ship from the fleet for about 1 year / 18 months, to rip the area of the ship to bits that is being 'enhanced'.
For instance...
x2 30mm guns at the bridge deck - seating is a simple weld to the deck job / ready use magazines are already in the vicinity & could be added to provide more storage, but the control system for the gun needs to be added, cabling/power supplies from the gun to the ops room & from radar / EO system / technical interfaces that allow the
relevant tracking system to integrate with the guns are needed / would need to be coded / written / proven.
Radar Enhancement - is it simply a software update to the current kit ?
...or more likely a rip out & replacement of all the control gear, the radar antenna, upgraded / uprated cabling / power supplies from ships distribution system / additional HVAC capability in the radar room to cool the wild heat from a larger transmitter / interface redesign / re-write to allow the equipment to interact with the command system & every other electronic equipment that can use radar data.
THESE thoughts above are off the top of my head !
Actual, in-depth examination / costing / alignment with other systems being used across the fleet to keep commonality with spares / testing / training of staff costs down, all need factored in, so that UK Plc KNOWS how much an 'enhancement' will cost in real terms, so that benefits can be weighed up.
At this time, simplistic enhancements that take little time to do & don't tie the ships up in harbour for months are the way to go. LMM on the current 30mm mount would be relatively straight forward (yes, cabling / power supplies / cable routing / interfaces would be needed). Adding stand alone systems such as LRAD, would provide capability upgrades, but most of the meat on the bones of the changes simply can't fly...
I think you can guess where my money would be spent, If I were in charge of the RN purse strings & the RN had the funds to spare...
SA
