marktigger wrote:Actually donald if you read what I posted I do feel they need Phalanx
I remember you said it is rather for fast boat. With 2x 30mm RWS (has longer range than CIWS) and 2x 7.62mm gatling guns (good fire power close in), why you need more? CIWS is expensive (in maintenance = crew number). For AAW, CAMM can do much better.
3,000 tons is smaller than a type 21 which i have already said as a 70's/80's GP frigate was to small ANZAC class start at 3,500 and Type 23 at around 4000 I'd look at a minimum of 4500 -5000 tons
3000t is exactly the T21 size (it is the ballast which made them heavier later). I understand your point. But, then it will cost as much as FTI minus CAPTAS4CI, which will be 400-420M GBP, which means you need at least ~3B GBP for 5 hulls. (there is no magic there)
And yes, good comparison as a GPFF are M-class of dutch navy (3300t) and ANZAC frigates (3600t). (ANZAC is a bit heavy to handle their "modular" concept (noted elsewhere)).
Thus, we need to reduce the requirement (no magic). And I think 3300t GPFF is possible if,
- omit CIWS (weight and crew). Keep the space FFBNW for export and consider it as future growth margin for UK.
- 24 CAMM is light weight than 8-cell Mk.41 (32 ESSM) or 16 SeaSparrow
- No GT, which eliminates large intake/exhaust (modern diesel is enough for 25+ knots) and make CoG better.
- no long-range AAW radar. (Artisan is enough).
- A little or no ASW crew. M-class is an ASW-frigate (also ANZAC planned TASS). Carry only small hull sonar (i.e. BlueWatcher) or even none (only torpedo detection). Keep a small room for CAPTAS-1 (which is very compact) for export and consider it as future growth margin for UK.
- limit the range to 5500nm@15kt (5000nm@18kt for M-class (~6000nm@15kt) and 6000nm@18kt for ANZAC (~7200nm@15kt)) for smaller fuel tank.
- make the hull fatter to improve internal volume efficiency. M-class 14.4m, ANZAC 14.8m. I think Cutlass can be 1m wider than Khareef (14.6-->15.6m). In place, accept moderate top speed, say 25knots.
Among them, fatter hull and eliminating GT is the key, I think. (But yes, better with 4000t hull, I agree. But, again the cost issue comes in.)