Redlands18
Well-Known Member
Would probably take at least a decade and fair bit of money to get back to where they were in the early 2000s before the Sea Harriers were retired.
The Royal Navy Discussions and Updates
- Thread starter overlander
- Start date
Thing is, right now, the FAA don't have the staff (pilots, maintainers, planning and ops people) to support B by themselves, so from an efficiency point of view, it's better that the UK points the right resource at running F35 and worries less about the badge or unit associated with the process.
There's no indication that the RAF will get the A model either.
Living 'locally' to the area, THIS is BIG news....
HMS Queen Elizabeth visits Western Scotland for the first time
However....
THIS is what made me smile.....
HMS Queen Elizabeth visits Western Scotland for the first time
However....
THIS is what made me smile.....
Under the RN thread as it's CASD/Subs:
Did not expect to see that happen.
There's talk about "buying more warheads" but I *think this is just bringing more of the existing stock into maintenance?
Integrated review: UK to lift cap on nuclear stockpile
The UK will also shift focus towards Indo-Pacific countries, following a year-long foreign policy review.
www.bbc.co.uk
Did not expect to see that happen.
There's talk about "buying more warheads" but I *think this is just bringing more of the existing stock into maintenance?
Yep, I put the link to the whole document here in the UK Defence Force General Discussion thread earlier this morning NZDT. Since then I have read that the Defence portion of the review will be released next week.Under the RN thread as it's CASD/Subs:
Integrated review: UK to lift cap on nuclear stockpile
The UK will also shift focus towards Indo-Pacific countries, following a year-long foreign policy review.www.bbc.co.uk
Did not expect to see that happen.
There's talk about "buying more warheads" but I *think this is just bringing more of the existing stock into maintenance?
John Newman
The Bunker Group
Have a listen to this, starting at about the 40 sec mark:
Boris says: “By the end of this decade 24 frigates as opposed to the 15 today”.
What the??
As at today the RN has 13 T23 frigates, and 6 T45 destroyers, total of 19.
When Boris said “24 frigates” he must have meant both frigates and destroyers, eg, escorts.
This one needs a bit of clarity, to say the least, but it would appear the plan is to increase the destroyer/frigate fleet from 19 to 24.
Cheers,
Boris says: “By the end of this decade 24 frigates as opposed to the 15 today”.
What the??
As at today the RN has 13 T23 frigates, and 6 T45 destroyers, total of 19.
When Boris said “24 frigates” he must have meant both frigates and destroyers, eg, escorts.
This one needs a bit of clarity, to say the least, but it would appear the plan is to increase the destroyer/frigate fleet from 19 to 24.
Cheers,
We'll find out next week what he means, when the Defence part of the review is released.
Rumours have the replacement frigate program at 8 Type 26 + 5 Type 31 + 5 Type 32, which would bring total escort numbers to 24.
The mention of the current '15' may reveal an intention to retire four of the Type 23 frigates early.
The Defence Command Paper will be released next week, that should provide the clarification.
John Newman
The Bunker Group
Yes I read that too, the maths adds up.
What doesn’t add up is the suggestion by Boris that the RN will have 24 frigates (frigates and destroyers) by the end of the decade, eg, 2030.
That part needs a lot of clarification.
Cheers,
John Newman
The Bunker Group
Yes I know, another week before that document is released, then we’ll get to see the winners and losers.
Indeed, it does seem quite optimistic.
IIRC HMS Glasgow and HMS Cardiff aren't due to enter service till 2027, and the Type 26 build is a frigate every two years, although only the first three have been ordered so far.
The Type 31 programme is due to deliver one frigate per year from 2023; if Type 32 uses a common hull could this be extended?
Maybe that will be the trade-off; early retirement of some Type 23 for a faster build drumbeat.
I think that you are reading to much into it and creating confusion by bringing the DDG into it. Don't forget that the Pommies are very easily confused as it. They aren't as agile as us Antipodeans.
By the time the pollies change their mind multiple times and the UKMOD balls everything up it will consist of a half fleet and waste twice as much money.
I think achievable only if the retirement of T23s is delayed, so some of the T25 & T31 operate simultaneously with their scheduled replacements.
Well. regardless of the language, the suggestion that numbers will climb is a welcome one. It does tend to suggest that Type 32 will be a half sister of 31 at the least as there's no chance to push another hull into the mix (and the yard will benefit from repeat orders driving down construction time)
I believe the Type 31 yard is intended to be capable of constructing two frigates at a time (personnel and materials permitting)
It'd be ideal if the 23's were not extended - they're good ships but we've had our money out of them and experience shows that the longer you keep ships in service, the faster their sustainment costs rise,
I'd surely love to see hull numbers rise, particularly if it meant that the bulk of the fleet were new hulls - getting taskings fulfilled would be surely much easier?
We'll see what Boris actually should have said in a bit I expect.
I believe the Type 31 yard is intended to be capable of constructing two frigates at a time (personnel and materials permitting)
It'd be ideal if the 23's were not extended - they're good ships but we've had our money out of them and experience shows that the longer you keep ships in service, the faster their sustainment costs rise,
I'd surely love to see hull numbers rise, particularly if it meant that the bulk of the fleet were new hulls - getting taskings fulfilled would be surely much easier?
We'll see what Boris actually should have said in a bit I expect.
I wonder if Chile might put their hand up for another Type 23 if available soonish, noting the Almirante Williams is starting to get a bit longer in the tooth. Cheers.
Musashi_kenshin
Well-Known Member
Not for the two that are apparently going to be retired - HMS Monmouth is effectively a training ship now, and the fact that HMS Montrose has been proposed for retirement suggests it's been worked out.
If you think about it, the Type 23s that were sold to Chile had only been commissioned for around 10-15 years. Whereas the ships still in service with the Royal Navy have been commissioned for up to 30 years. If Chile really thinks it can get something out of old decomissioned Type 23s it's welcome to bid for them. However, it might be more sensible if it placed an order for new Type 32s when the design is finalised.
Chileans have a pretty decent navy, they just acquire the two ex-Australian FFG's as well. Maybe they are just after spares. I would be suprised if they were looking at operating more frigates than they already have.
The Chileans are looking to build new frigates in their own yards, IIRC to a foreign basic design but tweaked for them. Type 32 or an up-armed Type 31 might suit them.
They currently have eight frigates of four classes, all second-hand & commissioned by their first owners from 1988 to 1997. Replacing all of them would be a nice bit of business.
I wonder if they are aiming to pick up systems etc on cheap. New builds but refitted with some older systems. Type 31/32 would seem to be the kinda thing they are after, but perhaps with a bit less sticker shock through using older weapons/systems.
UK could strike quite a deal on that. Also a strong Chile, helps keep the south American region secure, and the UK always gets weird about Argentina rearming, for some reason.