So this letter basically says that they are going to do exactly what they said in the SDSR - eight T26, five OPVs and 5 or more GPFFs. Who would've thunk it! Agreed, but the SDSR was not as clear as the letter in that the T45s/T26s will be focused on TAP/FRE and CCC (Continuous Carrier Capability)....

seaspear wrote:The most recent plans for the . N.Z navy are for upgrades to the 2 Anzac class frigates ,these were bought at the same time as the R.A.N bought theirs

Correct, but they will be looking again in 2030, no chance of NZ affording a couple of T26s / Fremms.

focus on supporting Continuous at Sea Deterrence and Continuous Carrier Capability means 1: TAPS (supporting Continuous at Sea Deterrence) is for T26. 2: CVTF escort is for T45 and T26. This to me is the right decision. The RFTG has been a farce and the only way the RN can remain relevant it needs ...

seaspear wrote:N.Z is more likel to get the same frigate as the R.A.N Pakistan can get Chinese ones for 100 million dollars ,Taiwan is in the market for ships and submarines but no one wants to upset China

No chance, a GPFF could be perfectly placed for the NZ requirement if done properly.

I agree this is much of speculation made of. But, still be possible. In this case, the additional 2 River B.3 are very important. I hope RN make them with retractable hangar. Better make it 5m longer, with fixed hangar and longer range/endurance. With CIWS on top of hanger as well as LMMs on the 30...

Of course the RN could cancel the T26 and build the T31 as an ASW vessel, whilst designing a T46 AAW Cruiser class of 12+ ships to ultimatrly replace the T45s also...

We should though also look to extend these capabilities for Littoral operations by adding something like the Thales BlueWatcher to the MHPCs / inshore Patrol Ships Who says T31 won't be the MHPC platform? The whole thing originated from the the current MCM fleet (mix of two types) not being globall...

To be fair, I've never really understood why we use Cruiser (T26) sized ships for ASW. But, the fact is numbers count now, it's is the last chance for the RN to reset to a larger fleet and give it something of the scale it needs to build on. Therefore, the balance has to be on numbers, though if the...

Gabriele wrote:It is the whole idea of a "GP" frigate, non ASW, that makes little to no sense.

It doesn't have to be without any ASW capabilities something like the Thales UMS4132 Kingklip could be added.

The T31 built on an extended Khreef design, could be firmly mid tier. Built to military standards and consideration given to upgrade of sensors and limited ASW capability it is enough to be an escort of RFAs or part of a CBG escort group. An escort ship is adequate only if it can face the threat, n...

Falklands war broke allot of the Frigates sent south due to the sea condition which are allot less benign that the gulf. If its optimised for the gulf can it be climatically controlled to the same degree for operations in Cold enviroments? Under NBCD? without incurring major costs. She also isn't m...

how will a kahreef stand up to the South Atlantic? Or some of the other climatic areas the Type 31 will be expected to operate in? The waters in the gulf a and the enviromental conditions are a little different? It's already designed for the Gulf, extending it to the same length as the old Leander ...

Three classes all aiming for the bottom of the capability scale, accompanied by an ever expanding gap in the number of actual escorts. Doesn't have to be that way at all. Ultimately, the 3 OPVs in build and HMS Clyde could be replaced by the tail end of a rebranded MHPC programme in late 2030s. The...

another opv order in the offing? Maybe, but the fact that the delay is relatively small and funds are moving to the right also it could be that a parallel T26 and T31 build is on the cards, which would be not a bad result in my view given the pressures on manpower and ships. I just hope now that th...

ASW requires numbers. The only platform that can do ASW on its own is a SSN. To escort a convoy, a task group, etcetera, you need to put several towed arrays in the water in the right positions around the ships you need to escort. Someone has to explain how that is remotely possible with 8 hulls. I...

But maybe 133m x 16m the size of the type 23 would be a good size My view is @110m is enough. The T31 can end two ways, the first is to be laser focused on what is needed, spend limited money on design and keep as close to what is there and real as possible. The second is to repeat history and star...

The hangar should be as large as it can possibly be. Because helicopters are the one thing that is always useful; because Wildcat is useless at ASW and because it'll be more and more commonly required having the possibily to mix UAS and manned helicopter. The Merlins will remain based on the T26s a...

Could be that the size of the T31 ends up close to the old broadbeam Leander Class:

Beam‎: ‎13.1 metres (43 ft)‎
Length‎: ‎113.4 metres (372 ft)‎
Speed‎: ‎27 knots

Having a Merlin capable landing pad would be useful, but the hangar should be scaled towards a Wildcat.

My suspicion is that it isn't so much that the T26 is running over budget (it may well be, though hopefully not so badly as people fear - I have no information on that and would be grateful if anyone has any concrete evidence), but that the T45 problems are becoming more pressing and that the money...

I'm glad they are focusing on a design of @110m, as this is of a good optimal size for what is needed. Still early days, but is the fact they are going for an off-the-shelf design a possible sign that a pre-2030 build is being considered. I'd personally like a staggered build with this and the T26 r...

http://www.janes.com/article/59643/uk-looks-to-outline-requirement-for-new-general-purpose-frigate the Janes extract on the T31 However, the review committed to eight Type 26s and unveiled plans for a new, smaller, and more exportable general-purpose frigate to maintain frigate hull numbers at 13. ...

T31 will be a T26 lite! Why redesign a design that's more than just a concept, it doesn't make sense. I agree it makes more sense than a design from scratch, but I still don't get where the savings will come from. The kit will already bought for the T23, so except removing some of the noise reducti...

the main role for the gun on British warships is Naval Gunfire support and for effect and efficiency the 5in gun is best. For T26s and T45s yes, and hopefully a future hybrid LPD+ could also get a 5" upfront also - Patrol vessels no, the gun is there for self defence (ASuW and AAW) and to stop...

If the T26 went to 5" surely the T45s would be upgraded soon after. The 76mm is interesting, but I err towards using the BAE 57mm for Patrol / MHC ships due to its shared use within the USN.

For what you envisage the River is the wrong vessel and we should be looking at something more like the the Irish Eithne class, the Spannish BAM class or New Zealand Protector class. Possibly crossed with the Irish Samuel Beckett class.. And more of the Damen patrol boats the border service uses al...