What is more, River B1 are already "more than half used". If we sell River B2s, we need to at least keep half of the money for near future River B1 replacement. We also need mid-life overhaul to them. Considering these factors, in addition to the fact that River B2 in sell will profit much less than what UK paid, I think it brings little to the fleet.shark bait wrote:Bit optimistic, Brazil bought three off us for £133 million at the beginning of the decade. Just because we paid through the roof for 5 crapply built vessels doesn't mean others will.Poiuytrewq wrote:The £400m to £500m sale price for the RB2's could be used to turbo charge the T31 programme, kick start the MHPC programme or modernise the Amphibious fleet.
On the other hand, selling "one or two of them", keeping only the other 3 for UK use, will not require River B1 to be kept. I think Brazil may be interested in? Their Corvettes are decommissioning while replacement program is not on track. (But anyway, will not be high profit. Say, 120-150M GBP in total, I guess).
It is! Never has a small, slow, noisy patrol boat made a capable ASW escort.[/quote] Not sure. But, anyway RN must try it before actually rely on it.hovematlot wrote:I think the idea mooted by some of just 'bolting on' a CAPTAS winch etc is pie in the sky.
- Being noisy is not killing on shallow water active multi-static ASW in busy water. Engaging distant cannot be long, and the environment is already noisy. See how Finnish navy and Swedish navy are trying to do shallow water ASW with a small VDS. If it is totally useless, they will not be doing so.
- Ship crack issue is real, but completely depend on "how much it is". Apparently these River B2 added with CAPTAS-1 will not be steaming at pace in a rough blue water. They will sneak around the shallow water, patrol the "entrance" of straits, and "keep the gate" of the ports.
- But it is 100% sure, these ships will never replace any T23ASW nor T26.