Tempest414 wrote:As I have said before going forward into the 2040's what the RN needs is a Escort / Multi mission fleet of
8 x AAW escorts
8 x ASW escorts
8 x GP escorts
12 x Muli-mission sloops
= 36 ships
I have to say that just because a PSV could do the job for MHC it should and for me I think what the RN needs is a scalable multi mission ship which can be tailored to task with both off board systems and armament. at this time the RN has a fleet of
19 escorts
8 OPVs
12 MCM
3 Survey ships
= 42 ships
Sorry, I cannot be happy with your proposal.
1: I'm afraid, your "8+8+8 escorts" already needs
more resource/money than the "this time RN" of 42 ships.
2: The "12 MCM" currently RN has, includes both MCM kits and MCM hulls.
UUV/USV-based MCM kit will surely be much more expensive than current MCM kit. Sensor, analysis system will be at least the same level. In addition, you need USV control system, USV hull itself (much larger than PAP104 or SeaFox), and its launch/recovery system.
Making the MCM hull cheap is the key there. See how Belgium/Dutch navies are going on. Very merchant-vessel like MCM-hull with a single 40 mm gun. If you up-arm the hull, its number will dramatically decrease.
Of course, it will all depend on what a Sloop we think of. If it is just a merchant vessel hull with a 57mm gun, it will be very vulnerable to attack = sink easily. If enemy comes in, the asset must run away than stand up (I understand current Bays with 2x 20mm CIWS is operated so). If thinking of any CAMM/ReaRAM, its cost (including CMS) is very large, further reduction in hull number.
If it is a "C3" like sloop, I'm afraid the "8 OPV, 12 MCM, and 3 Survey ships" can be replaced only with "8 Sloops + 6-set (*1) of MCM kit" , or
even less. (As this number, 1-set must be as capable as two MCM kits as of now).
--> 6 AAW, 8 ASW, 5 GP (lightly armed) and 8 Sloops = 27 ship RN (+2 CV and SSN/BNs), supported by several boats (Archer-class replacement) and RFA.