Poiuytrewq wrote:If the Belgian and Dutch Governments are confident that the technology is sufficiently mature to proceed with this MCMV programme why is the UK going to wait for at least another decade to do the same thing?
In my opinion Atlas Electronik would do very well if they incorporated many of the multipurpose features of a 21st century MCMV into their T31 proposal.
With a few modifications, could something along the lines of this MCMV design make for a perfectly acceptable and cost effective non combatant T31 alternative?
ArmChairCivvy wrote:...Which then takes me back to my more general argumentation
- BMT's Venari is just a design to express interest; to stay in the game
- a modified T-31 design is more likely
- "here" we always add a block, mid-ship, but you can also do the reverse (some allowance will need to be made in the original/ mother design for that to be straight-forward)
Speed requirement differs a lot. So, I think future MCMV being T31e variant is a bad idea. MCMV do not need to fight, in 95% of the case. MCMV do not spring in 25+ knots in 95% of the case. And, MCMV will starve in deck size, weight and center of gravity, with rapidly evolving MCM drone technology. Although just my personal idea, but it make me feel "waste of money" to merge T31e and MHC.
Poiuytrewq wrote:A multi-mission Venari type vessel is what RN needs today, not in 15 years time regardless of its MCM credentials. Why not build a Venari 85 and a Venari 95 and trail them between now and 2030? The Hunts and Sandowns are going to be 30 to 40 years old by the time their are due for replacment. When they get uneconomical to repair they will be quietly scrapped and numbers will fall further.
Because modified Hunts and Sundown is still very useful, MCM drones era has just started and RN must do good operation research before buying MHC in number.
This is one of the reasons why I believe the RB2's are badly unbalancing the fleet.
?? I think River B2 themselves are good mother ships for MCM drones.
River B2 can handle 2 or 4 Altas ARCIMS USVs with its long 15t crane and large mission deck (which can also be used as a flight deck). It can carry additional crew, up to 60-70 in addition to the core 36 crew. This number is large enough to operate those USVs. The only drawback is, if they carry 4 USV the flight deck will be lost, and with 2 USV the flight deck will be "only Wildcat capable". But, this is because they are narrow and not that bulky.
And, because of "narrow and not bulky", they can steam at 25 knots.