The Royal Navy Discussions and Updates

swerve

Super Moderator
They're refitting their Type 23s with new sensors, weapons & some other kit anyway. Just add another one to the programme, with some extra work needed.
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Mate, are you trolling or have you been living in a cave for the last 12 months? This isn't news, it was widely reported months ago with the defence review.

Even the article you posted say she'd been laid up and stripped of useful parts for years. So if anything, this is good news because it means money will no longer be wasted keeping a mostly useless hulk floating.
No need for the attitude. Not everyone keeps uptodate on everything right across the board. I for instance wasn't aware of it until I saw the post.
 
Mate, are you trolling or have you been living in a cave for the last 12 months? This isn't news, it was widely reported months ago with the defence review.

Even the article you posted say she'd been laid up and stripped of useful parts for years. So if anything, this is good news because it means money will no longer be wasted keeping a mostly useless hulk floating.
Mate, say it to the publisher. ukdefencejournal not to me. Please take a pill to relax yourself . Thanks.

Noting a Mod had intervened this was unnecessary.
 
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FormerDirtDart

Well-Known Member
THIS, may be the reason...

Autonomous Mine hunters
That does seem to be the current plan.
Does also seem to mean additional taskings for the RN frigates. Those much touted "mission bays" are going to filled with so much stuff their flexibility is going to be a bit limited, IMO.
 

kato

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
THIS, may be the reason...
Autonomous Mine hunters
France bought a similar system (not the same company) a while ago.

They plan to operate it for local minesweeping survey only from Brest and Toulon harbour for the next couple years until new "mothership" MCM vessels are procured as part fo the nominally joint British-French MCM project. With these new motherships it is planned to add about two more of these unmanned systems for either port, then deployable.

Not sure if the RN plans to procure similar motherships, or if they're so far only in the joint project for the concept. If they don't buy any then those USVs are limited to similar port-based operations pretty much restricted to British national waters. To be fair "until then" the RN does still have similar requirements for a local minesweeping survey system as France, with Faslane instead of Brest and Portsmouth instead of Toulon.
 

Redlands18

Well-Known Member
That does seem to be the current plan.
Does also seem to mean additional taskings for the RN frigates. Those much touted "mission bays" are going to filled with so much stuff their flexibility is going to be a bit limited, IMO.
Isn’t operating Autonomous Systems going to be the job of the Type 32 Frigates?
 

FormerDirtDart

Well-Known Member
Isn’t operating Autonomous Systems going to be the job of the Type 32 Frigates?
Yeah, why don't you get back with me when there is an actual "Type 32 Frigate" RN procurement program. Because there isn't one now that I am aware of. As of three months ago wasn't Type 32 still in the "determining the operational concept of the program" phase?


Edit:
This may come across with a bit more bite than was intended. Sometimes my smartass from NYC sarcastic response mode kicks in dialed all the way up to "11"
 
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spoz

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Plus, you don’t waste a frigate on lane clearance and similar MCM, nor do you take it close enough in shore to do the job for over the beach ops, or at least you don’t if you’re sensible.
 

Redlands18

Well-Known Member
Yeah, why don't you get back with me when there is an actual "Type 32 Frigate" RN procurement program. Because there isn't one now that I am aware of. As of three months ago wasn't Type 32 still in the "determining the operational concept of the program" phase?


Edit:
This may come across with a bit more bite than was intended. Sometimes my smartass from NYC sarcastic response mode kicks in dialed all the way up to "11"
Well as you said the RN is not going to have enough Frigates to be able to use them in the MCMV role as well as the more traditional Escort roles, yes i was probably a bit premature in saying going to be,
Plus, you don’t waste a frigate on lane clearance and similar MCM, nor do you take it close enough in shore to do the job for over the beach ops, or at least you don’t if you’re sensible.
It gets back to the original post concerning the fact that the RN is getting rid of the Sandown Class and replacing it with Autonomous systems but they need a Mothership to be truly effective, the only Vessel announced so far under any sort of development for the RN for operating Autonomous systems are the Frigates. Yes they may be able to use the OPVs but they only have 8.
The RN needs to invest in Motherships capable of deploying MCM Drones, whether that is the Type 32 or a smaller Vessel more specialised for the role we will just have to wait and see.
 

spoz

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
I rather suspect the intent with T32 is for surveillance in offshore areas in such things as ASW; and possibly control of minimum or un manned weapons platforms as for the USN concept. They really need to invest in a smallish platform with only self defence armament and the capacity to go inshore for the MCM task, a bit like the RAN is looking to do with a similar concept and using the follow on 8 Arafuras.
 

FormerDirtDart

Well-Known Member
I rather suspect the intent with T32 is for surveillance in offshore areas in such things as ASW; and possibly control of minimum or un manned weapons platforms as for the USN concept. They really need to invest in a smallish platform with only self defence armament and the capacity to go inshore for the MCM task, a bit like the RAN is looking to do with a similar concept and using the follow on 8 Arafuras.
You are essentially describing the future Belgian/Netherlands MCM mothership
82m, 2,500 tons displacement, 30 crew w/accommodations double that, supports 2 USV, Bofors 40m main gun and a number of RWS machine guns, and UAV hanger space for 2 Saab Skeldar (basically Camcopter class helo)
 

StobieWan

Super Moderator
Staff member
Yeah, why don't you get back with me when there is an actual "Type 32 Frigate" RN procurement program. Because there isn't one now that I am aware of. As of three months ago wasn't Type 32 still in the "determining the operational concept of the program" phase?


Edit:
This may come across with a bit more bite than was intended. Sometimes my smartass from NYC sarcastic response mode kicks in dialed all the way up to "11"

Fair commentary I feel - Type 32 is a placeholder - and I already suspect it'd just be a batch 2 Type31 order in all but name. I may be wrong however:)
 

Systems Adict

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
A better fantasy would be more T26s.:)
I'm sure i've seen somewhere, possibly even within this thread or a link on one of the pages since the beginning of July, that 2022 will be the EARLIEST that any decision will be made on Batch 2, Type 26...
 
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