Partly inspired by the discussion "how to improve T26"....
1: Assessment on crew allocation for T31e.
table.png
As we see, among the 19 escorts of RN, 2 are in extended readiness (without crew), and 6 are in refit. Among the 6 in refit, 3 can be considered as in normal rotation (say, 1 out of 6), but further 3 is just because of LIFEX of T23. This fact suggests that, RN lacks at least 2 full crew (230+190=420), and even up to 3 full crew more (190x3 = 570). (Personally think the 3 LIFEX ships may retain about half of their crew, 570/2 = 285.
In short, 420+ ~285 = ~705 crew lacking.)
Among the 5 T23GPs (of which 1
can be in refit in normal cycle), there will be 190x(5-1)= 760 crew needed. But, as RN now lacks 705 crew, I'm afraid only 55 will be remaining for the 5 T31e to come, when the T23 LIFEX ends (= no need for 3 more ships in refit).
As 1 more T45 may go into refit (in addition to the 1 in normal-cycle refit) for diesel-gen addition, another 230 crew can be found. In summary,
the 5 T31e will have only 285 crew to man. Even if 1 will be always in refit, 285/(5-1) = 71 is the average crew a T31 can take. (If T45 diesel-gen addition ends, there will be virtually no crew left).
2: Logical way to go.
With this situation, logical way to go will be to buy a ship which is more cost heavy than crew heavy. In other words,
A- increase T26
B- further improve T26, to spend more money, but not much their crew
C- make T31 much lean crewed.
D- or just build 5 T31e and leave 2 or 3 of them always at Extended Readiness.
3: Cancelling or re-formatting T31e, to gain free money of 1.5B GBP.
Option-D is a total waste of money. Hoping for future man-power increase is nothing bad, but RN did try and budgeted for "500 more" and the current result is "0 more". So,
if we be realistic, RN shall better cancel T31e (if you like, say "re-structure" it),
to provide a fleet much more suited for RN tasks. This will mean 2-3 years delay, meaning 2-3 T23GP may go out before any new program takes shape.
But it does not hurt RN at all, because anyway 2 escorts are already in extended readiness.
#May be we need another General Election to cancel T31e program, but it may come soon?
4: Personal Proposal
- add 1 more T26. [allocate 650M GBP (750M - 100M efficiency savings)] :
-- Now, after hull-4, I understand "21 months" drumbeat is planned (just scaling it to see hull-8 commission in 2036).
-- Adding 1 more T26 need to change it to "18 months" drumbeat, to provide hull-9 in 2036. Doable, I think.
- improve T26 fleet [allocate 450M GBP]
-- add sensors and armaments amounting "50M GBP per hull" to improve all "9" T26s. (adding AESA? TLAM? High-density CAMM package?)
This will make the "escort" fleet 15 = 6 T45 and 9 T26. Also, the 9 T26 will be upgraded to be "more" a 1st-rate escort, as RetroSicotte-san proposes.
This will leave 400M GBP. As to compensate T31e program cancel, I think this 400M GBP shall be used in "other UK ship yards" to build 3 "Floreal-like" large OPVs, i.e. a 3000t ship with a helo hangar, a CIWS, and maybe a 5 ing gun. (Call it T32.) Or, any other ships.
Also, to compensate the other 1.1Bn GBP going into T26 program, I think "other UK ship yards" must join T26 build program, such as building funnel, bow, or hangar sections. Even as a sub-contractor, a steady flow of welding job sustained until 2036 will be much more fruitful for those shipyards, compared to a sudden 1.5B GBP investment with nothing coming later.
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