donald_of_tokyo wrote: ↑18 Jan 2024, 14:16
On the escort power, I think it is worth while to revisit the forthcoming future. And, it is bright, actually.
RN currently mans 10 escorts with 11 crew team, each with 200 souls (including flight). This means, even with this sever man-power condition,
200x11 = 2200 souls
are assigned on escorts.
Around 2031, RN will see 5 T31 and 3 T26 already under the white ensign. And still 5 more T26s to come, replacing old T23ASW one-by-one, yearly. Of course, T45 will be there after PIP, and undergoing CAMM installation.
I think there will be
4 T45 active, 2 in refit
3 T26 active, 0 in refit
2 T23ASW active, 2 in refit/maintenance, 1 "almost decommissioned".
5 T31 active, 0 in refit [*1]
Mechanically, I think this is feasible.
This "active escort fleet" needs a manpower of
200x4 + 160x3 + 200x2 + 120x5 (all including flight) = 2280.
1If we disband 3 River B1 OPVs without replacement, it
will give 90 souls, enough to fill the 80 gap. [*2]
This means the active escort number will rise from 10 to 14. "Four more active escorts" is a great improvement, much better than any days after 2010 cut.
- FRE will be always an escort (not OPV).
- TAPS will not be gaped.
- At least one escort will be joining one of the NATO escort fleets.
- If some issue happens in Red Sea (like today), RN can deploy 3 escorts there, in addition to KIPION escort (now there are one escort in Red Sea and one near there from KIPION).
This situation will also contribute on improving retention. I guess, all naval engineers will be more happy to handle new equipment working well, than trying hard to make the 30-40 years old vintage somehow work. Also important is to prepare enough spare parts. When you know what is wrong and how to repair it, but cannot do it for a half a year because of lack of parts, you will be very very depressed and may think resigning.
Overall, escort fleet rebuild is in (so-so) good shape. It is not golden future, but it is surely not black.
MCM force, if with proper (up to) 4 MHC LSV added, and with brand new USV-MCM kits, it is also in (so-so) good shape.
Amphibious and RFA is the problem then. Much more than the escorts.
[*1] To make this happen, T31 must be built simpler. No Mk41 (complex and needing time to integrate and verify), no sonar (refrain) is needed. It is all "future improvements"
[*2] If we replace River B1 OPVs with 3 OPVs, then the active T31 number will become 4, not 5. One option, I agree.