So I've recently been modelling various different build schedules and escort fleet compositions for the RN. Yielded some interesting results imo. Firstly, the original 13 Type 26 at a 1.5 yr build interval winds up producing a ~15 year decline in escort numbers, down to 15 at the lowest point before...

SSN Availability has been too low for a while now, this sounds like its only going to make things worse, RN do appear to be in a bad situation with their boats. Trenchant is an old boat, pushed beyond the original design specification, so it's not surprising to see issues like this arise. A fractur...

So, for the people interested in the broad strokes of what I envision for an "austere" T-31 you'll remember my list of things on the T-26 that I consider unnecessary/to be more modest on T-31: -Accommodation for a large EMF. -Chinook capable flight deck. -Mission bay in the superstructure....

hanger for 2 helicopters thats 2 Wildcat helicopters or 1 merlin I believe it needs to be bigger than a simple Merlin-sized hangar in order to fit two Wildcats. Either way a hangar sized for two Wildcats is, frankly, excessive when we only have 28 of them in total. Type 26 is the ASW specialist, it...

Well yes, 14 sounds ridiculously low to me, but what do I know - that's why I ask. It is ridiculously low. Zero chance of sustaining a carrier group, protecting CASD and doing other key tasks concurrently. Could you flesh out what you mean by "half way credible"? The trick will be buildin...

1) is 14 high end escorts sufficient for the RN's commitments, and possible future war scenarios? If you want only 14 proper FF/DD you have to ask, can the RN do what's required of them with 13? How about 10? I ask, because during peacetime things like this happen: http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/image...

I'm not trolling anyone. A few brave Times journalists and people like myself want answers, as to why taxpayers are constantly being asked to pour unbelievably humungous sums of money into the bottomless pit that is MoD/BAe... So why exactly do you want this gigantic cock-up covered up? Who's payin...

We can compare them with the US kit if you like them more? US kit is more capable in many respects, it is also significantly more expensive and requires a lot more manpower. 40% more for a flight II Burke compared to a Type 45. They have the money and the manpower to buy and operate ships like that...

Its all true, information that is in the public domain - Daily Telegraph, Guardian, Devenport News, Washington Post, Pravda and other RN forums. Because it's written in the papers and on internet forums it's all true . Your naievity is astounding. I dont need to have security clearance to complain ...

None of the Astute class boats are currently available. This does not tally with information I have from sources I trust absolutely. The Navy has confined them to port awaiting a decision on the best way forward to fix severe quality related corrosion issues in reactor coolant pumps and pipework. T...

If you don't see that say, Mistral class has both hangers and dock, Juan Carlos/Canberra too, Trieste will too, that Rotterdam/Galicia/Foudre class have both hangers and docks, What you're missing is that all of those ships needed hangars because their respective navies had different requirements. ...

~UNiOnJaCk~ wrote:Wasn't there meant to be a fourth, previously undisclosed design submitted for the T31 proposal? If so, then maybe this was it?

There was apparently a Babcock proposal that everyone presumed was a stretched Samuel Beckett OPV. From the looks of it the Spartan is new on the scene.

Considering what the RN has got during last 2 decades LPDs without hanger for helicopters Designed to fit within a coherent force structure that put the hangar off-board in order to maximise space on the LPD for troops and equipment. helicopter carriers without dock Why would Ocean need a well dock...

This is likely to be about double the price of the BAE options(?), and this concept in particular would carry more risk, presumably. At least with the Venator the design work would be a bit more mature, but even then, if the aim is to 1) export (to the types of countries Donald listed previously), ...

Looking over that: 1x 127mm MK45 Mod4 16x Mk41 8x CAMM silos (Possibly quad silos? Picture is unclear.) 8x ASMs 1x Phalanx CIWS 2x 30mm DS30 Plus: - Artisan 3D - Towed Sonar space - Well deck area - Helo facilities Venator just got its first real competitor on the high end. That looks delicious . A...

Interesting. A new design concept for GPFF enters the fray from the Gloucestershire based naval architecture consultancy "Stellar Systems". Named "Project Spartan".

Ron5 wrote:"Plane guard" ??

Not these days. The RN will have a helo on standby for any splashes.

I think he means a ship close by to act as a "goalkeeper" for any leakers.

I agree, the Carrier Task Farce IS going to be the force the UK generates, the only one, assuming a carrier is actually available when needed and that is not a certainty yet. Any amphibious shipping is going to have to tag along using the same escort group. This is only the case if you think that w...

Hanger is actually quite cheap and the Type 22 missile only armed frigate was discredited in 82. The gun isn't actually that expensive. The hangar structure is, but the length overall that it adds isn't. 25 meters of modern warship ain't cheap. The gun takes up a space that you can't put something ...

That the crux of your argument right there. A platform similar to that description would be perfect for a focused towed array ship to listen for subs far away, and then cue a merlin from the carrier to go and investigate. The question being is it reasonable to have a platform with such a narrow ban...

I know it sounds slightly mad, but what do you make of a Type 31 with a flight deck but without a hangar? A concept carried over from the Type 82, one of the last ships we designed whose sole role was to be a carrier escort. The idea being why bother with a small hangar when you've got an enormous f...

Wouldn't it make more sense to compare to the bad guy's carriers? Not really, seeing as none are anywhere near a Nimitz in terms of theoretical maximum and actual realised capability. Frankly neither Kuznetsov nor Liaoning is a Patch on Charles De Gaulle in practice. For all intents and purposes Ru...

What are the classic attributes that define a cruiser? -long range. -ability to operate independently for extended periods. -capable of independent self defence. -command and control facilities. I'd argue that the Type 26 with a containerised command facility embarked ticks all those boxes. While th...

cky7 wrote:Surely there are a lot of allied nations out there that could really benefit from such a flexible and capable set up?

*Cough* USMC *Cough*

Why would we not include provisions for T31 to mount the most popular VLS system in the world? If the idea is to be modular and adaptable to the customer's needs the ability to fit Mk.41 cells, maybe not full length strike cells, but certainly the shorter cells for ESSM, would seem pretty important....