The Royal Navy Discussions and Updates

[Jeneral2885]

On another be RN-relevant topic

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2014/may/23/140523-wildcat-evolution

Lnyx Wildcat Structure get even more finalised. Two main squadrons: 815 NAS and a "new" 825 NAS--merger of 700 and 702. 815 will have 12+2 flights, 825 feeds the Type 23/26/45.

Not forgetting that 847 NAS is up with its 4 Lynx Wildcats.

Better outlook for the Royal Navy. Just have to wait for FASGW-ANL...

Views?

 

[RobWilliams]

I'd like Wildcat to be armed with FASGW(H) from the off but not going to happen, but keep the Wildcats on the Type 45's, they need the multi-mission capability of the dual Wildcat combo than a Merlin right now.

Get LMM on them from their ISD and that'll be something good at least.

 

[Jeneral2885]

I'd like Wildcat to be armed with FASGW(H) from the off but not going to happen, but keep the Wildcats on the Type 45's, they need the multi-mission capability of the dual Wildcat combo than a Merlin right now.

Get LMM on them from their ISD and that'll be something good at least.

I like that also but the Type 45s equally need ASW boost via Merlins. I'm not sure how much a Wildcat can work as a ASW helicopter--is it meant to be one?

 

[Systems Adict]

I'd like Wildcat to be armed with FASGW(H) from the off but not going to happen, but keep the Wildcats on the Type 45's, they need the multi-mission capability of the dual Wildcat combo than a Merlin right now.

Get LMM on them from their ISD and that'll be something good at least.

Sorry Brah, aint gonna happen.

FASGW (L + H) are still in the final design, testing & qualification stages.(to the best of the blurb I've picked up off the web).

The way I see it, Wildcat will enter service first, then the weapons, then T26. So the likelyhood is that T45 will have them before T26 - but that is purely my personal opinion & not based on any facts, so I'm open to being corrected.

Light Naval Strike: MBDA’s FASGW-H / ANL Missile

SA

 

[Astute]

Hi all , It's been I while since I've posted on this forum but I would like to hear your views on a bit of news the telegraph online is reporting * holding breath * about the red card given to the QE class aircraft carriers project by the MPA , I have to say is this type of news ever going to end , I'm not a fan of the telegraph but seeing this just months away from the naming of the first of the class beggars belief .

Full story is on telegraph.co.uk

 

[Jeneral2885]

Hi all , It's been I while since I've posted on this forum but I would like to hear your views on a bit of news the telegraph online is reporting * holding breath * about the red card given to the QE class aircraft carriers project by the MPA , I have to say is this type of news ever going to end , I'm not a fan of the telegraph but seeing this just months away from the naming of the first of the class beggars belief .

Full story is on telegraph.co.uk

The Telegraph likes to hit out and every future project. It still criticises the F-35B or the whole F-35 project. Undoubtedly, that project isn't infalliable, but to keep criticising it is way too much.

Let's not forget the UK isn't the only country with a future carrier project see USS GERALD R. FORD: Construction Of The Most Expensive Ship Ever - Business Insider

 

[RobWilliams]

Read about it being given some kind of 'red card' a few months back, but that just showed that the project is behind schedule and over budget compared to the original plan, which it is, but mainly because Brown stretched the build out by a year.

For a project like this and given how the UK usually goes about this kind of thing, i'd be hugely surprised to hear it go according to plan.

 

[Jeneral2885]

Read about it being given some kind of 'red card' a few months back, but that just showed that the project is behind schedule and over budget compared to the original plan, which it is, but mainly because Brown stretched the build out by a year.

For a project like this and given how the UK usually goes about this kind of thing, i'd be hugely surprised to hear it go according to plan.

It also means both the Royal Navy and British Army will have to wait for the missile. Well the Army doesn't need to worry so much since they don't exactly use the Wildcats as pure attack helicopters.

But that's another story.

 

[RobWilliams]

I like that also but the Type 45s equally need ASW boost via Merlins. I'm not sure how much a Wildcat can work as a ASW helicopter--is it meant to be one?

Wildcats can drop Stingrays but unless they have dipping gear installed (which i don't think we're getting, rightly so) then they'll need cuing from other assets like a Type 23 or whatever about the range, bearing and speed of a contact and drop 'em roughly in the right area and Stingray will home itself to target.

We will have 30 HM2's, combined with keeping them with the frigates (designed for ASW work including acoustically sound hulls) as well as on our carriers to conduct ASW as well as AEW work for a fleet, it's hugely in demand. Keep the Type 45's to doing GP work with a GP asset like the Wildcat and let the world beating sonar combination (Type 23 + Merlin) together.

Two types of ASW work occurred in the Falklands, the first method was mainly a small ship flight style where a surface escort got a sonar contact and then deployed a Merlin to investigate before target prosecution, the second was from the flat decks which kept a pair of Merlins dipping 24/7 ahead of the task force.

If the same thing is done today, the Type 45 would not be good at finding it's own sonar contacts considering the type of hull mounted sonar it has.

When I was aboard Dragon in 2011, an officer told me he said that Lynx will be the main bird for the Type 45 because it could do far more than a Merlin could for the ship and you could get a pair in compared to a Merlin.

 

[Jeneral2885]

Wildcats can drop Stingrays but unless they have dipping gear installed (which i don't think we're getting, rightly so) then they'll need cuing from other assets like a Type 23 or whatever about the range, bearing and speed of a contact and drop 'em roughly in the right area and Stingray will home itself to target.

We will have 30 HM2's, combined with keeping them with the frigates (designed for ASW work including acoustically sound hulls) as well as on our carriers to conduct ASW as well as AEW work for a fleet, it's hugely in demand. Keep the Type 45's to doing GP work with a GP asset like the Wildcat and let the world beating sonar combination (Type 23 + Merlin) together.

Two types of ASW work occurred in the Falklands, the first method was mainly a small ship flight style where a surface escort got a sonar contact and then deployed a Merlin to investigate before target prosecution, the second was from the flat decks which kept a pair of Merlins dipping 24/7 ahead of the task force.

If the same thing is done today, the Type 45 would not be good at finding it's own sonar contacts considering the type of hull mounted sonar it has.

When I was aboard Dragon in 2011, an officer told me he said that Lynx will be the main bird for the Type 45 because it could do far more than a Merlin could for the ship and you could get a pair in compared to a Merlin.

30 Merlin HM2s divide between ASW and AEW...that means some of the ASAC squadrons will disband in the future right?

Yeah, the Lynx Wildcat doesn't have a dipping sonar.

 

[RobWilliams]

10 sets of AEW gear, 8 operational 2 trainer, so could theoretically keep 2, squadrons of 4 birds flying but because they're designed to be RoRo then it could be ASW squadron HM2s flying with AEW gear and operators

 

[Jeneral2885]

10 sets of AEW gear, 8 operational 2 trainer, so could theoretically keep 2, squadrons of 4 birds flying but because they're designed to be RoRo then it could be ASW squadron HM2s flying with AEW gear and operators

But that still would reduce the number of Merlin Mk2 squadrons to 3 at most? or 4? Currently there's 4 Merlins--1 Training/3 frontline--for assault ships and small ship flights and 1 training, 2 ASAC fronline. Future number of squadrons with Merlins?

 

[RobWilliams]

NFI about squadron numbers mate, if anything I doubt there's any change because effectively the ASW squadrons will be reduced as they have another role to do and there's no increase in HM2s to offset that (unless we decided to upgrade the 8 extra HM1s)

 

[Jeneral2885]

NFI about squadron numbers mate, if anything I doubt there's any change because effectively the ASW squadrons will be reduced as they have another role to do and there's no increase in HM2s to offset that (unless we decided to upgrade the 8 extra HM1s)

Thanks alot for your input. Will be sad to see squadrons go...

 

[alexsa]

It still could head in a different direction given changing political and economic environments. But we'll just have to wait and see as is the case with so many other pieces of hardware.

Seriously, you have been reminded about one liners on a number of occasions and now we get multiple 2 line posts about changing political and economic impacts. Not a shock, they are always an issue ......... but you are adding very little to the discussion.

The you follow with another one liner ............... you are really a slow learner.

 

[Jeneral2885]

Seriously, you have been reminded about one liners on a number of occasions and now we get multiple 2 line posts about changing political and economic impacts. Not a shock, they are always an issue ......... but you are adding very little to the discussion.

How is that little to the discussion? What have you added in return--my posts were about the Type 26 which will have limitations, Lynx Wildcat Structures, and Merlin ASW.

What shocking events do you want to write? Does this have to be an essay?

 

[Jeneral2885]

If you want

I have a sort of related post to the Royal Navy in the Missile WMD site on the occasions where nuclear weapons could have been detonated. It is relevant since the V-Boats will be replaced.

 

[alexsa]

How is that little to the discussion? What have you added in return--my posts were about the Type 26 which will have limitations, Lynx Wildcat Structures, and Merlin ASW.

What shocking events do you want to write? Does this have to be an essay?

Actually I normally avoid posting unless I can contribute but repetitious and pointless posts of the type that make up the majority of your effort detract from the work of others,

The 'shocking' issue is that you do not seem to get it. Read to rules.

 

[Jeneral2885]

Actually I normally avoid posting unless I can contribute but repetitious and pointless posts of the type that make up the majority of your effort detract from the work of others,

The 'shocking' issue is that you do not seem to get it. Read to rules.

Well you aren't contributing either now.

That's also quite a shock if you have not seen my other posts.

Aren't getting back to RN topics or not? If you think political environments are small, then what about what is mentioned on other websites?

 

[Preceptor]

Thanks alot for your input. Will be sad to see squadrons go...

2nd Warning Issued. Read the forum rules before posting further. The rule about "one-liner" replies is because forum members are expected to contribute to the discussion either with information, ideas, or questions, that advance the discussion. Single line commentary and/or multiple posts each containing a small blurb that instead of consolidating such commentary into a larger post do not advance discussion. By now it should be clear that the Mod Team is keeping a watchful eye,
-Preceptor