Type 23 Frigate (Duke Class) (RN) [News Only]

[ArmChairCivvy]

That is probably it. The center rows, even though not at an angle, have caps on the silos that are not centered, either.

Isn't the soft launch mechanism just a capsule for Soda Siphons, for Homemade Fizzy Water, taken one step further?

[whitelancer]

I think you will find the inner rows are also angled outwards. The missiles are ejected by a piston, not sure what the medium is that activates the piston. Some sort of rapid gas generator producing CO2 probably.

[Gabriele]

I suspect that the launch tubes are angled outwards so that should the missile fail after it has been ejected it does not fall back onto the ship. Note the VLS on the land launched version are also at an angle. It may also allow the missiles to be ejected overboard if their is a threat to the VLS. Just my speculation.

I've thought about this possibility, but i'm not sure. On Type 26 it would require different cells from those seen so far, and anyway other VLS systems (Sylver, MK41) do not deem such measures necessary.

[bobp]

Could it have anything to do with Aerodynamics of the missile, to keep it airborne until the rocket motor kicks in.

[whitelancer]

The difference is that MK41 etc. are hot launched. If the booster fails the missile just sits in the launch tube if it activates the missile is far enough away not to be a danger to the ship. However with a soft launch, the missile could be ejected but if the missile then fails it will be only some 30m or so from the launch tube and if that's straight up its quite likely to fall back on the ship. Angling the launch tubes outboard gives you a degree of security against such an eventuality.

[donald_of_tokyo]

The difference is that MK41 etc. are hot launched. If the booster fails the missile just sits in the launch tube if it activates the missile is far enough away not to be a danger to the ship. However with a soft launch, the missile could be ejected but if the missile then fails it will be only some 30m or so from the launch tube and if that's straight up its quite likely to fall back on the ship. Angling the launch tubes outboard gives you a degree of security against such an eventuality.

Good point I agree. But, I am not sure the tube shall be inclined. For example, if the ship is rolling by 10 degree, inclining the tube by 10 degree is not enough.


Around 0:40, we can see
1- the soft launch throughs away the missile may be by 20m or so.
2- then attitude control TVC motor ignites and controls the missile
3- then main booster ignites
I guess , step 2 and 3 are "redundant safety", so if either the attitude control TVC motor or main booster ignites, the missile will be cleared off from the launch site. But I agree this is all guess.

Looking at the photo I've up-loaded, I think the tubes are not inclined. Also, the BEA's Westminster brochure showed that the tubes are right-up.

# By the way, after 0:56 of the video is apparently SeaWolf. Hot launched, shows TVC "bending" flame seen in typical VL-SeaWolf video.

[marktigger]

hot launch also generates allot of toxic gases to. Thats one of the drawbacks of ASTER.

[whitelancer]

Roll could obviously negate the advantage of angling the tubes outboard, however I suspect this will only be a factor in fairly bad weather or when the ship is healing over during hard manoeuvring. It would be possible to overcome it by either timing the launch to match the ships roll, or selecting a missile from the appropriate bank, port or starboard depending on the direction of the ships roll. It is curious that all the CGIs I have seen always show the launch tubes as vertical even the video by MBDA showing how Seaceptor was to be fitted to T23 showed the launch tubes as vertical. But then it also showed the Sea Wolf launch tubes being removed entirely, with Seacepter being in 8 sets of 4 launch tubes located just on the starboard side. Not how its turned out at all. Their is also the problem of quad packing in MK41 cant see how this could be done other than vertically. I think we will have to wait for a definitive answer!

[ArmChairCivvy]

also the problem of quad packing in MK41

Has such a combo been deployed, or is it just one of those things that "could be done"?

[whitelancer]

Certainly MBDA claim it can be quad packed in Sylver and MK41, not sure its been fired from either though.

[Gabriele]

It has been test fired from a MK41 with EXlS quad-pack adapter back in september 2013.

[ArmChairCivvy]

Thanks.

Looking at the photo, would seem that not 4 but 2 at the most have been put into the VLS for the test?

[abc123]

HMS Monmouth starts nine-month deployment

His Commanding Officer, Cdr Ian Feasey, said after 18 months of preparations and intensive training, the Black Duke was ready to show her mettle on the front line.

“We leave Devonport ready for operations, and with a keen fighting spirit, supported by the families we leave behind until December.”

https://navaltoday.com/2017/03/07/hms-m ... eployment/

Anyone else thinks that 9 months long deployment is a perversion?

[jonas]

HMS Monmouth starts nine-month deployment

His Commanding Officer, Cdr Ian Feasey, said after 18 months of preparations and intensive training, the Black Duke was ready to show her mettle on the front line.

“We leave Devonport ready for operations, and with a keen fighting spirit, supported by the families we leave behind until December.”

https://navaltoday.com/2017/03/07/hms-m ... eployment/

Anyone else thinks that 9 months long deployment is a perversion?

I note that she is the first T23 to be fitted with "50 cals" on her bridge wings for this deployment :-

http://navaltoday.com/2017/03/13/hms-mo ... irst-stop/

[Gabriele]

My eyesight is bad and might be failing me, but i only see the usual miniguns and what looks to me like GPMGs...?

[S M H]

My eyesight is bad and might be failing me, but i only see the usual miniguns and what looks to me like GPMGs...?

They looked a bit big for G.P.M.G.s when it passed on Thursday war.

[Caribbean]

Interesting to note that Scan Eagle is still there. I thought the contract had finished

[ArmChairCivvy]

Interesting to note that Scan Eagle is still there. I thought the contract had finished

Is "it" there, or is the hardware simply in place (as in : has been left unremoved as a cost avoidance measure) to facilitate a quick reactivation of the contract, should a need arise?

Having read about the add-ons to these excellent (but aging) frigates over the years, they do look like swimming quite deep (which would equate to buoyancy reserve issues) and every bit of kit put on and taken off again would draw unwanted attention to that (except CAMM - a like for like replacement with performance in a wholly different league - and .50 cal - you just man them with thinner gunners and the sum of weapon and gunner stays "a constant").
- are the Seahawk anti-surface autocannons only on bigger vessels, or is this a move to make it easier to demonstrate to potential attackers that the ship is "at the ready" to give a warm welcome? Manned vs. unmanned (there might be still some of the older autocannon units - that were manned - in use; I do not know... just following up with the Phalanx total (are they all now B's?) and which ships they have been put on is consuming enough

[Gabriele]

Interesting to note that Scan Eagle is still there. I thought the contract had finished

"late 2017", whatever that means. Jane's says November.

[jonas]

My eyesight is bad and might be failing me, but i only see the usual miniguns and what looks to me like GPMGs...?

Should have gone to 'Specsavers'

[Gabriele]

Are we even looking at the same image, though...? Here: http://navaltoday.com/2017/03/07/hms-mo ... eployment/ i continue to see GPMGs. Buttstock gives them away. Yesterday I did see a photo on the Royal Navy website with a .50 firing, though.

[Caribbean]

"late 2017", whatever that means. Jane's says November.

Thanks, Gabriele. The article is positive about it, so hopefully that indicates that they might retain it, or something like it once the contract finishes.

[90inFIRST]

Are we even looking at the same image, though...? Here: http://navaltoday.com/2017/03/07/hms-mo ... eployment/ i continue to see GPMGs. Buttstock gives them away. Yesterday I did see a photo on the Royal Navy website with a .50 firing, though.

I blew the picture up def GPMG

[donald_of_tokyo]

Looking at Facebook page of RN, T23 frigate rarely carries SeaWolf SAM recently. Self Correction!! mistake, it was.
HMS Portland on March, no. Self Correction!! HMS Portland on March 11 movie do carry 32 Sea Wolfs.
HMS St Alans on Feb. no. --> Self Correction!! HMS St Albans on March 10 movie do carry 32 Sea Wolfs.

Both was my "bad eye". Sorry for bothering...

[cyrilranch]

HMS Lancaster was towed out of Portsmouth this morning - for major refit in Devonport, before being returned to service https://t.co/srwJZRjrl3

Noticed that the main radar, scot ,and 4.5 gun ae missing,looks as if she going to a turkish shipyard instead