Search found 1029 matches

by Aethulwulf
09 Dec 2020, 20:15
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: RN anti-ship missiles
Replies: 1030
Views: 242167
United Kingdom

Re: RN anti-ship missiles

The NSM is being integrated onto the Seahawk MH-60R helicopters for India. The NSM and a number of the other possible anti-ship missiles could be integrated on Merlin. Last year it was reported that the RN requirement included a terrain following precision land attack capability.. I don't think the ...
by Aethulwulf
01 Dec 2020, 22:17
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1464783
United Kingdom

Re: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]

"The Canadian navy's new frigates will get a cutting-edge radar system that has never before been installed on a warship — a recent decision that quietly ended a heated debate within the $60 billion warship program. The Lockheed Martin-built AN/SPY-7 radar will be installed on the new warships...
by Aethulwulf
25 Nov 2020, 21:50
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056717
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

With 8 ASW frigates, the RN has the minimum number it needs for carrier groups and TAPS. With 9 P8 Poseidon, the RAF does not have the minimum number it needs to protect the SSBNs and the carriers. Any investment in additional ASW capability is more likely to be in ASW aircraft than frigates. Given ...
by Aethulwulf
25 Nov 2020, 21:00
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056717
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

I believe that the T32 will possibly be a somewhat shorter ranged ASW oriented Frigate than the T26. It will probably also have a Mk 45 Gun and be fitted with a reasonable sized CAMM Silo. What will it be used for? I would say primarily for N. Atlantic & Home Waters Taskings, where a larger ASW...
by Aethulwulf
22 Nov 2020, 12:24
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056717
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

IF the primary role of the new Type 32 were to be escort to the LRG, what capabilities would the T32 require? If the Littoral Strike Ship is still a thing (maybe it should now be called Littoral Response Ship), then it was to be forward based and deployed with an escort. As and when required for ex...
by Aethulwulf
21 Nov 2020, 22:52
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056717
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

3. Babcock's burned through two designs in order to end up with A140. The delay inserted into the program last year was clearly to allow Babcock's more time to take direction from the MoD that their initial designs were not good enough, so they could scrabble around to end up with A140. It's not fa...
by Aethulwulf
21 Nov 2020, 09:09
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)
Replies: 6067
Views: 1724167
United Kingdom

Re: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)

If it is capped at 69, that would most likely mean just 3 front line squadrons of 12, plus an OCU of 12.
Other 12 aircraft would be in deep maintenance and 6 war reserves/replacements + the 3 test aircraft.

To operate 4 front line squadrons, the total number would need to be around 80 to 90 aircraft.
by Aethulwulf
20 Nov 2020, 18:09
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ship (MROSS)
Replies: 32
Views: 8953
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Research Vessel

A problem with a hanger with forward facing doors is that wind and turbulence makes life inside the hanger very difficult if the doors are open while the ship is underway. Not a problem for RRS Sir David Attenborough, as she will mostly be using her helicopters while stationary. But more of an issue...
by Aethulwulf
19 Nov 2020, 21:10
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2142605
United Kingdom

Re: Type 31 & Type 32 General Purpose Frigate [News Only]

From what I have heard today, the intention is to bring the total number of UK escorts up to 24. I believe the RN pitched for 26, but will no doubt be quite happy with 24. It also appears that the 5 extra ships will be GP frigates, not ASW frigates and not AAW destroyers (either of which would cost ...
by Aethulwulf
09 Nov 2020, 12:12
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: River Class (OPV) (RN)
Replies: 5411
Views: 1420328
United Kingdom

Re: River Class (OPV) (RN)

Scimitar54 wrote:Er the ‘Belfast’s main armament consists of Four x TRIPLE Gunned Turrets, Not Twin Guns. :crazy:
Only four turrets! What is going to be fitted to the fifth River B2?
by Aethulwulf
08 Nov 2020, 10:54
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: River Class (OPV) (RN)
Replies: 5411
Views: 1420328
United Kingdom

Re: River Class (OPV) (RN)

I wonder if HMS Trent will ever formally be based in Gibraltar? The Brexit politics will prevent it in the short term, but surely longer term it makes sense, as constantly sailing from the UK to the Mediterranean must reduce availability by about 20%. It takes just over 3 days to sail from Falmouth...
by Aethulwulf
05 Nov 2020, 22:25
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1464783
United Kingdom

Re: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]

My mistake; it appears to common across T26 designs.

It is shown and mentioned in this article...

https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/poweri ... -in-focus/
by Aethulwulf
05 Nov 2020, 21:44
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1464783
United Kingdom

Re: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]

If you look at the stern of the model it has a ledge similar to the one on QE. Is this the extra bit of length quoted in the specs. That looks like a Transom Flap, a kind of underwater spoiler that reduces the wake and drag, and increases top speed. I don't remember seeing it on models of UK or Aus...
by Aethulwulf
23 Oct 2020, 08:25
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future Solid Support Ship
Replies: 1972
Views: 547383
United Kingdom

Re: Future Solid Support Ship

Beware, as I said, those were crude calculations.

Clearly not every load that is RAS'ed will be at the maximum 5 t or 2 t limit. Many will be below the weight limit, but limited by their bulk instead.
by Aethulwulf
23 Oct 2020, 05:16
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future Solid Support Ship
Replies: 1972
Views: 547383
United Kingdom

Re: Future Solid Support Ship

A few crude calculations... Original requirement was to be able RAS 5 ton loads at 25 loads per hour (per rig), over 5 hours to provide 36 F35s with stores for 5 days. = 5 x 25 x 2 x 5 = 1250 tons But what if we assume 24 F35s are provided with 3 days worth of stores... 1250 x 24/36 x 3/5 = 500 tons...
by Aethulwulf
22 Oct 2020, 15:19
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future Solid Support Ship
Replies: 1972
Views: 547383
United Kingdom

Re: Future Solid Support Ship

The requirement for HARS and the associated ship handling system for FSS was always based around the requirement for a 5 hour RAS window to restock the carrier with stores to last 5 days based on high intensity operations with 36 F35s on board. Clearly, this has proved to be too expensive and was wh...
by Aethulwulf
19 Oct 2020, 19:05
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future ASW
Replies: 560
Views: 177288
United Kingdom

Re: Future ASW

MAD systems normal require quite low flight altitudes. This could be the reason why it is not a standard feature on the P8, which has a high altitude concept of operations.
by Aethulwulf
15 Oct 2020, 13:26
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056717
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Would be interesting to see the damage 3 spear cap 3 and 1 ew could do to an enemy frigate. Would the jamming be significant enough to overwhelm a ships radar? Or is this why it hasn't happened. I believe people underestimate the operational impact of a number of small warheads (30kg) accurately pl...
by Aethulwulf
13 Oct 2020, 02:25
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
Replies: 846
Views: 301085
United Kingdom

Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)

It also depends how close to the surface target a submarine can get before being detected. If the answer is many 10s or even 100s of km, then a sub-launched anti-ship missile may be your best bet. However, RN sub captains like to get close enough for visual contact with the target in their periscope...
by Aethulwulf
12 Oct 2020, 15:01
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2142605
United Kingdom

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate [News Only]

Oh yes that's Babcock's for handover, RN commissioning is another thing ofc, especially if they want to bolt on a few A/C units themselves. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/our-ships-will-lead-new-era-of-exports-says-babcock-boss-lgr6qsdd2 Above says no chance of them all being commissioned by 20...
by Aethulwulf
10 Oct 2020, 16:51
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056717
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Ship's speed is also dependent on how clean is the hull. RN standard is based on a dirty hull, in near worst case conditions. So when the RN states that a ship's top speed is 26 knots, it means that towards the end of its 25 year(?) service life, when the extra weight allowance in the initial design...
by Aethulwulf
10 Oct 2020, 09:51
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2142605
United Kingdom

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate [News Only]

Roders96 wrote:Will be very surprised if the start of significant sino patrols in our backyard doesn't deliver significant additions relatively early in their life.
Agreed. I think post-build additions are likely before a T31 is forward based in Bahrain.
by Aethulwulf
07 Oct 2020, 20:05
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056717
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

HMS Belfast. There is definitely no room at Govan with Glasgow and Cardiff underway. TOBA runs until July 2024, so if the pipeline (of work/ capacity) is full until then, TOBA would be history already today. TOBA is already history. It was cancelled when the contract for the first 3 T26 was signed.
by Aethulwulf
05 Oct 2020, 19:00
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15444
Views: 4409376
United Kingdom

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

Of course the yards can conduct such repairs while in dry dock It is just bread and butter maintenance work that all ships undergo. With the plan only calling for the ships to be in dry dock for 6 weeks every 6 years, it doesn't make any sense to build a new dock for this work. The dock would be unu...