So will the governments announcement today about the Steel Industry with an MOD announcement in a few days time, mean orders brought forward??? Mayvbe some more of those expensive and undera rmed OPVs or the first batch of T26, or T31 or Mars SSs?

Rec forget SSK's there isn't the manpower especially in the submarine service except you get rid of trident. The Type 31 is a job creation scheme for BaE ONLY forget the ventnor. No existing design will be used the type 31 is to keep the drawing office and ship design side of BaE going till the LPD...

Why not use the Dutch Karel Dooreman design, and build one as an Argus replacement, and one as an Ocean replacement. manning is the issue...i would suggest when Albion & Bulwark are replaced they are replaced with LPH(D)'s and 2 with the Royal Navy and a 3rd for the RFA as an Argus replacement ...

Why not use the Dutch Karel Dooreman design, and build one as an Argus replacement, and one as an Ocean replacement.

It's incredible how long this debate has been going, especially as at present there is no official Type 31 design out there. The Royal Navy is in a weak position, it is short of manpower in critical technical areas. It is short of surface and subsurface combatants, this has a negative impact on pers...

Is there any chance of leeming becoming a Typhoon base too?

Agree with you on mapower, which is the biggest issue the RN is facing.

Isn't it sensible to actually equip RN wildcats with dipping sonar and sonar bouys, so that is has some AS capability? No because that's Merlins job and if you fit Wildcat with sonar you then should fit Merlin with ASM's if you fit Merlin with ASM's you don't need wildcat. But the problem is two fo...

I think there is a need to keep all the Rivers, distrubuted thus:

1 in the Falkands
1 at Giibralter
4 committed to patroling UK waters (English Channel), anti terroism, etc
3 Committed to patrol remaining UK waters. Fisher protection etc.

The Independence class, could fulfil some of the roles of a GP T31, and it might be part of a mix with a Venator 110? Maybe 4 of the Independence and 6 of the Venator. Costs are the key Driver here, on Argus/Ocean replacment, why not buy 2 Karel Dooran class, theuy could also act as commands, ideal ...

Aren't the Samuel Bweckett clas designed by Babcocks and built in Appledore a better bet, they certainly are chepaer than the overpriced Rivers.

Isn't it sensible to actually equip RN wildcats with dipping sonar and sonar bouys, so that is has some AS capability?

I hope the T26 doesn't end up like the T45, overpriced, under armed, with not a full suite of sensors.

The main reason for it being loss making, is heavily subsidised Chinese steel. Time and time again UK governments fail to support UK manufacturing. A major factor in us getting very little equipment for our defence spending buck when compared to Japan or even France is that they have a better manufa...

The UK needs a shipbuilding strategy, if the T31 enables sustainability of more than BAE, then it will be a good thing. https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/imps-news/analysis-uk-shipbuilding/ Is it possible to produce a smaller Version of the T26, single screwed, Wildcat size hanger and flight deck, ...

Compared to what Babcok has produce for Ireland, or the Hooland class the Rivers are poorly armed and specs. If the T31 becomes a failure (BAE wise), the surely the Venator 110 or a foreign desing comes into play. Personally I would like tos ee the RN aquire some Holland class for OPV role and some ...

How can it and additional Typhoons be based at Lossiemouth, isn't time for Leeming to be reopened or Linton on Ouse used for MPa???

My first post in several weeks, and the T31 thread is still running; I think it boils down to 3 options: 1) A scaled down T26, rather like a Blackwood class 14 (was to the T12 , a poor example i kinow) , or Trbal class 81 (2nd rate GP Frigate) or Oliver Hazzard Perry Class (which were successful). S...

Unless the FLF is going to built concurrently with the Type 26, it's a long way of, maybe 10 years, and a lot can happen in 10 years. I dont think a Visby is the solution (great as a port protection and coastal vessel), it more a large fast patrol boat than a corvette. My guess it's an extended vena...

maybe a better use of defence funds, would be a further 4 Astutes and 6 of these https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotland-class_submarine

If we are to buy Sweedsish, then 6 of these would be more useful: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotland-class_submarine

Visbys would be good as a UK coastal waters protection ship, covering naval bases and London, along with Hollands that would be good for OPV role. But neither are a future GP frigate.

It would be good to keep the batch 1s, they would mnake good training ships for the RNR, and reast bed for future MCM drones?

Is it possible that the T45s may get a full refit with extra VLS and the command systems similar to T22 batch 3s? it would make sense, along with a decent sonar?

The trouble is, this is so far out from when they will be built, it is hard to see what type of ship it could be, if they are going to be built alongside (ie at the same time) as the T26s, that's one thing.If not we are talking 10+ years hence then who knows what technology will be available? In ord...