Lord Jim wrote:So what would the role of the T-31 be in a LRG? It is not an effective escort except against the lowest level of threat, so it really in peacetime it is acting as a dummy Warship to give the impression the LRG contains one, but if the LRG went to war zone the RN might as well send a T-26 and a T-45 to replace the T-31.
Really?
From my own post a few days ago, I proposed as follows
...By the way, what will make T31 "credible" will be also depend on what enemy UK consider. For top tier threat, up-arming T45/T26 will be better and efficient. May be not enough, even so. So, "credible T31" is not against top tiers. Then, how about omitting all top-tier threats?
Say, "anywhere in Indiana ocean, except for India itself" might be a good starter. (Australia), Indonesia*, Thai*, Myanmar, (Malaysia, Singapore), Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan*, Iran*, Iraq, Saudi*, UEA*, (Oman)*, Yemen, Egypt*, Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, and South Africa*.
- I understand Australia, Malaysia, Singapore (FPDA with NZ), and Oman is UK's alliance?.
- Nations with "*" has so-so good air forces, and even T26 won't be able to survive in their range, if in singleton. As LRG needs to reach the enemies' shore, these nations shall be omitted = LRG activity against these nation will call for the full CV task force.
- For other nations, it looks like LRG escort only need to handle missile boats/corvettes, and shore-base ASMs (in come cases), at most.
- Interestingly, omitting "*" nations, there might be no nations with SSK threat?
Looking around, if T31 can handle a few AShM and any fast-boat attack (not a big swarm), and a few gun-boat/missile boat at most, it can "fight" against many of the (military) lower-tier nations around Indo Pacific. What's wrong?
I agree this analysis is too simplistic. But, I think T31 distinctly differs from River B2 (as is). Up-armed River B2 might come near, but damage control standard will differ a lot.
Although I do NOT like T31, and I do hope "2 more T26 and 3 more River B2+ must have been better than 5 T31 (perfectly agree!!)", I do not think T31 as "the worlds largest OPV, with a longest range to match". No, it is much better than it.
# But still I think "2 more T26 and 3 more River B2+....", .... never ending dilemma. Trying to keep assessment independent from preference…