Then I don't see any need for modification. You won't be able to modify it any further than 1 Merlin, no need for the hanger to hold UAV's when they have their own storage area and 2 wildcats in the hanger should be more than suffice for the operations this platform undertakes. Just for clarity. My...

Changing the approach is always inefficient. - I see no good explanation why RN shall sell 5 T31. RN has such "tier-2" level tasks to do, KIPION. NATO fleet contribution and/or FRE tasks will be also good for T31. If now is 2015 and T31 is not yet there, hoping for more T26 and banning T31...

I would like to re-arrange the superstructure a bit fatter and shorter. This will enable second heli-pad at the bow, and make the hangar capable of 2 Merlin (or 1 Merlin + 4-6 UAVs, or 4 Wildcats). a wildcat Helicopter can already takeoff at the Bow, see below. Merlin and Chinook on the back. The h...

I would like to re-arrange the superstructure a bit fatter and shorter. This will enable second heli-pad at the bow, and make the hangar capable of 2 Merlin (or 1 Merlin + 4-6 UAVs, or 4 Wildcats). What would be the advantage over a more traditional design such as a Vard 7 313 if a MALE STOL drone ...

... https://www.damen.com/vessels/defence-and-security/multi-purpose-support-ships Thanks, great info. Many discussion is already done, MRSS, not MRSS etc, which already covered most of me 1st impression. Then, my second impression. Is this the OPV+ we were discussing in other threads? - needs only...

Echo is slower than River B1. Larger and hence needs more maintenance. No merit as a patrol asset, I can find? Absolutely agree the B1 Rivers are faster, however the Echos were designed to operate off board systems and act as a MCM mothership. Given the larger underwater threat in UK waters from Ru...

Depends on your PoV - without going down another rabbit hole, my view is that the UK needs to focus on quality over mass. Outside of UK / BOT defence it needs to have capabilities that are tier one, not just replicas of most of our allies, especially given the over reliance within NATO on the US - ...

Discussion on the missile fit out is there. George knows something which we do not, or it is actually his own analysis (which shall be appreciated to some extent, he lives there and can listen to more rumors than us (or, at least me in the far east) :D ). https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-frigate-...

That's not going to be in the water anytime soon. So 3 months late and counting. PS looks like its Bob's day to work at Govan :) It looks like June/July at the earliest. According to this story, we should be amazed at the super fast progress: https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-frigate-takes-shape-...

Anyone know what the Echo Class crane could handle? Appreciate the A-frame probably isn't up to the task. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/HMS_ECHO_H87.jpg/1920px-HMS_ECHO_H87.jpg Wonder how much life we could have gotten from them if the money (and crew) was there. The cra...

May be so, but then it was not designed as a dedicated CSG/TAPS escort! It was designed as a GLOBAL COMBAT SHIP, capable of (if not mainly) singleton deployments. One of unintended consequences the cut in T26 numbers “to save money” has left expensively outfitted ships, that in practice may be rest...

All depend on what to be tasked. River OPV can handle ARCIMS MCM USV, 6t weight, with 3t cargo. But, of course, not good at. Just it. T26 can also handle ARCIMS MCM USV as well. I understand its mission bay is actually designed so…….T31? No idea. It is NOT designed to carry ARCIMS system. Of course...

... MCMs have historically always had a secondary Patrol role. The “P” bit was always covered as they had a radar, a gun and the ability to launch boats. It seems pretty stupid not to keep this secondary role unless we are going fully unarmed civilian motherships, at which point you might as well c...

Rivers can’t, t26 shouldn’t nor should t31 the paper I linked for new guy explains why. https://www.bmt.org/media/3054/rina-warship-2018-aitken-mcm-paper.pdf All depend on what to be tasked. River OPV can handle ARCIMS MCM USV, 6t weight, with 3t cargo. But, of course, not good at. Just it. T26 can...

T31 carrying two unmanned Pacific 9.5 (and one RHIB), and T26 carrying 2 RHIB and 2 ARCIMS looks just fine. Actually, if the crane remains, T31 can add a few RHIB or unmanned Pacific 9.5 on the mid deck. Also, T26 hangar can accommodate third ARCIMS, while retaining 2 RHIBs. But I think T31's boat b...

Babcock guy stated that they are 9.5 m boat bays. (in the middle of the article)

https://www.edrmagazine.eu/babcocks-arr ... 31-frigate

10 SeaSense USV systems will be covering 5 important ports/channels 24/7. I wouldn't believe so, at least not with as few as 10 USV's. I you look at project wilton (Navylookout source) ...Wilton is equipped with 3 boats that can carry REMUS 100 and 600 small-medium UUVs, Side-scan sonars and M500 R...

- "a SeaClass would be a bad choice". Why? If we take off the "training cabin" from SeaClass 15, it can be virtually a larger brother of ARCIMS USV. It can be used as USVs in war time by adding the same remote control system, and do the real job elsewhere around Britain and UK's...

Another option, Atlas Sea Sense (for ships) https://www.atlas-elektronik.com/fileadmin/user_upload/01_Images/Solutions/SeaSense/SeaSense_Brochure_Feb2023.pdf and Atlas UK ARCIMS Sea Sense (USV) https://www.atlas-elektronik.com/fileadmin/user_upload/01_Images/Solutions/ARCIMS/ARCIMS_SeaSense_Brochure...

CAPTAS-4 compact also has their own option which simultaneously replaces CAPTAS-2 because it is the same size. I believe CAPTAS-4 Compact has the same capability as old CAPTAS-4 and as such normal CAPTAS-4 production has ended. Here it is containerised: https://youtu.be/Ve9IzYRyOfo?si=mEkkfNZ9EmRyr...

HMS Tamar just left Auckland NZ. Comparison with RNZN OPV is interesting. Although HMS Tamar is not a ship to fight, it look more fighty than RNZN OPVs, which looks more bulky. https://youtu.be/2JMgaw7g8pM?t=13 PS.1 RN OPV being a frequent visitor to NZ is very good. Also, HMS Tamar steaming at sea ...

ULTRA 20-ft container ASW system. I think he is talking about Sea Lancer and its 2nd-Gen. As it is "single tow", it is very simple. May be not as capable as CAPTAS-4 (independent tow), but handling-system simplicity will be essential in "man-power limited" navy. For example, I t...

HMS Tamar, now in NZ. - RNZN frigate has just test-fired 2 CAMMs. The frigates also as SeaSentor torpedo defense kits. So, yes NZ has a good commonality with RN. - I really hope HMS Tamar crew take a visit of HMNZS Otago and Wellington, the two OPV now in extended readiness because of lack of crew. ...

ULTRA 20-ft container ASW system. I think he is talking about Sea Lancer and its 2nd-Gen. As it is "single tow", it is very simple. May be not as capable as CAPTAS-4 (independent tow), but handling-system simplicity will be essential in "man-power limited" navy. For example, I th...

But OPVs also contributes to show presence. Has an impact. Of course, it is not as much as an escort. Considering the huge huge difference in resource needed to do it, this is very natural. No one is saying an OPV can have the same influence as an escort. No argument.