Poiuytrewq wrote:donald_of_tokyo wrote:Arrowhead 140 cannot do ASW, T26 is the world best at ASW.
It has the potential, there is just no willingness to equip it to that level. Could an Arrowhead 140 be as capable as an FTI if equipped with 2150 and 2087? Maybe.
donald_of_tokyo wrote:Arrowhead 140 cannot do land attack, T26 has 24-cell VLS for TLAM or alike.
Arrowhead is TLAM capable. With 32 Mk41 cells, 16x Harpoon, a Mk45 and embarked Wildcat(s) it could be argued that Arrowhead has the potential to be as capable if not more capable than a T26. That potential capability could be important down the line.
donald_of_tokyo wrote:Arrowhead 140's AAW capability will be less than half of that of T26.
Given the full Iver Huitfeldt treatment would that still apply?
Sorry, Arrowhead 140 is T31e, which is 1.25B GBP for 5 hull program built in UK. It is different from Iver Huitfeldt class. For me, it is not much different from saying, "US Spruance DD can be a Ticonderoga AEGIS CCG". Yes they can, only if we pay a lot. So no Arrowhead 140 do not have good ASW, AAW nor land-attack capability.
shark bait wrote:I recognise there are simpler tasks that don't require a combat frigate, and the RN have just bought 5 new patrol boats, plus planning 2 multi-mission ships, and already posses 3 Bays.
The RN already plan to have 10 ships at its disposal for the simple tasks, why does it need another 5?
I understand your point. So the big difference is, you are ignoring T31e is much much fighty than River OPVs or Bay LSDs. Yes, T26/T45 is also much much fighty than T31e, but it does not mean T31e is the same to OPVs and LSDs. No.
Modern escort has grown so high that, the distance between OPV and a frigate is large enough to hold distinct class of warships, Corvettes and Light Frigates. Modern Corvette and light frigates (such as Damen 10514, Gowind-2500, Khareef, Ada-class) is an order of magnitude capable than Corvettes in 1980s (MEKO140, A69 Aviso, or even Minerva-class), and therefore we see many Corvettes and Light Frigates worldwide.
Confusing light frigate with OPV is very similar to confusing full-fat escorts and light frigates.
RN having a class of light frigate has its own rationale. The issue is, at where? I think RN/MOD is thinking NATO fleet and Persian Gulf can be happily covered with light frigates. May be true.
It's important to remember the T23 GP still has a sonar and it is still capable of providing protection across all domains, it is an escort, not a patrol ship.
As 8 T23ASW is to be replaced with 8 T26, which is much much capable than T23ASW, T23GP replace by T31e, which is less capable than T23GP is
tolerable, I think. RN made T26 too much high-level, and now paying for it.