For the T31 programme, I would be very happy with: • 6 x T31, based on Venator 110 design. • 3 built as General Purpose frigates with 5" gun, 48 cell CAMM, 2 x Seahawk Sigma, Artisan radar, KingKlip HMS, CAPTAS 2 TAS, etc. • The other 3 built as patrol frigates, with reduced weapon and sensor ...

For the T31 programme, I would be very happy with: • 6 x T31, based on Venator 110 design. • 3 built as General Purpose frigates with 5" gun, 48 cell CAMM, 2 x Seahawk Sigma, Artisan radar, KingKlip HMS, CAPTAS 2 TAS, etc. • The other 3 built as patrol frigates, with reduced weapon and sensor f...

The real value of the maritime "presence" task is much debated. It is normally included within the defence diplomacy category, on the mid-point along the scale of 'degree of force' required. All maritime military tasks rely upon the use or threat of violence. Classic RN presence tasks incl...

There are a large number of maritime tasks. A General Purpose Frigate should be able to contribute to most, if not all.

True. Their saving grace has always been they could be upgraded quickly if we needed to. While it might be possible to fit the extra kit in short-ish time frames, it would take years to train up the extra ASW specialist crew members. The ability to quickly upgrade the 5 GP T23 to ASW is one that ex...

Zero chance. The Government have stated that they want the Type 31 to be exportable. Not going to happen if the RN just buy French.

(Assuming that the UK still has the same Government in 10 days time.)

People here are putting a lot of faith in a speculative press report. But: 1. If BAe and Babcock are favourites, it could mean that they are favourites for the role of lead contractor/ship Integrator. It does not have to mean that their designs are also favourite. 2. The £2b figure may not be the co...

The US have two different competitions for anti-ship missiles. The first is the Over-the-Horizon Weapon System (OTH-WS) competition, to equip LCS and frigates. Hence the desire for deck launchers.This has seen Harpoon II and LRASM drop out, leaving only NSM in the field. The second is the Offensive ...

Reading between the lines, the others have dropped out because they think the USN is writing its requirements to favour the NSM. I'd like to see a deck launched NSM equip the Type 45 and 31. And NSM integrated with Merlin HM2 to cover Type 26. However, unless they become very cheap through FMS from ...

It is being reported by Defense News that Lockheed Martin have pulled LRASM out of the US Navy competition for a over the horizon cruise missile for LCS and frigates. That now leaves just the Kongsberg NSM left in the race. http://www.defensenews.com/articles/lockheed-drops-out-of-us-navy-missile-co...

During the high tides around the 26th June, they have 5 hour(ish) periods when the tide is high enough to open the gate to the basin, and navigate over the sill, through the gate and the approach channel into the Forth's deep water. If they opt for around the 11th June, they might only have a 4 hour...

The Rosyth spring tide around the new moon in late June looks stronger... (times in GMT) Sun 25 June Hi 0312 6.0m Low 0934 0.4m Hi 1539 6.1m Low 2146 0.7m Mon 26 June Hi 0404 6.1m Low 1023 0.3m Hi 1631 6.1m Low 2228 0.8m Tue 27 June Hi 0456 6.0m Low 1109 0.4m Hi 1723 5.9m Low 2305 1.0m I assume the ...

There is a full moon on 9 June. So there should be spring tides 10 - 12 June.

It used to be 6 tankers, 2 Fleet Solid Support, 3 Joint Sea Based Logistic vessels. Tanker requirement shrunk, JSBL was reabsorbed into FSS. That's how it went from 2 to 3 ships and well dock / steel beach began to be part of the picture. And when the concept of Sea Basing fell out of fashion, any ...

I think RichardIC might get his wish. Regarding the Type 26 mission bay modules, apart from ship's boats, ever other concept for a module I have seen has been based on a standard 20 foot ISO container. There are no end of ships able to transport an ISO container. I'm trying to remember why a RoRo de...

As I said NDP have been producing various different design concepts during the assessment phase. These are not intended to be the final design but are used to inform the debate about different options. For example, one design could included a RoRo deck and another without. This would allow an assess...

The image from the BMT paper and the concept were both posted by Shark Bait at start of this thread 2 years ago (and they were a few years old then). The Naval Design Partnering team have produced quite a number of designs since then - as exercises in exploring different options during the assessmen...

I think the cost/benefit debate is probably ongoing at the moment. At one end of the scale, the FSS could end up with the same type of aviation facilities as the Tide class. Or it could end up with something akin to Fort Victoria. The chances of getting something significantly above Fort Victoria's ...

If we come back to everyone’s favorite support ship, the Karel Doorman, that has the capacity to house 2 Chinook without folding blades, which could remove the issues highlighted above. If the Dutch a capable of such thing, there’s no reason the RFA can’t be. I think the HNLMS Karel Doorman is a gr...

It should be designed Chinook capable, but for different reasons. The ability to transfer an F135 engine was one of the drivers behind the new 'heavy replenishment at sea' rig, so the RFA will have the capability to deliver an engine without helicopter support, something the USN wont be able to do,...

In response to a parliamentary question, on 24 April Harriett Baldwin stated: "The supply chain solution for the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers will vary according to the nature of the demand. The Department is currently developing plans for Maritime Intra Theatre Lift (MITL) based upo...

I was recently told that whether blade folding is possible depends what versions/model of Chinook. For UK Chinooks, only the most recent HC6 models can have their blades manually folded. Even then, it takes 1 to 2 hours to complete and only 5 of the six blades are folded over the fuselage; the remai...

It is clear to me that the RN just cannot afford the a new T31 which is ironic given its purpose is to save money. The cost of design and cost inflation will result in too few ships. There would appear to be a lot of counting chickens before they have hatched going on here (or rather looking at the...

One of the ways of dramatically increasing the utility of the Type 31 would be a combination of forward basing and 3 Watch manning (i.e. 150% crew level). By forward basing one T31 in the Gulf and one in the South Atlantic and using the 3 Watch system for these two ships, a presence could be maintai...

In the Sun today, Army chiefs and wounded war heroes deliver damning letter to PM demanding she save forces from cuts.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3522766/a ... from-cuts/