Poiuytrewq wrote: 25 Jul 2024, 12:45
Repulse wrote: 25 Jul 2024, 08:37
Something that’s needed and if there isn’t anything nothing.
I simply can’t agree. Stopping the construction pipeline to convert commercial hulls isn’t the answer in an increasingly dangerous world.
The T31 direction of travel is sound provided the vessels are decommissioned after 12-15 years. Building 10 vessels every 12 years ensures viability for Rosyth. Personally I would forget the T32 and build another 6x modernised Iver Huitfeldt with as much commonality with existing RN vessels as possible but only if the new funding is secured, if it isn’t then it’s clear the new administration in No10 has no interest in rebuilding the mass that has been lost since 2010. That would result in HMG wilfully disregarding a clear requirement for a minimum of 24 escorts. Not smart.
Govan and Scotstoun are now viable and any orders from Norway would just be a bonus.
Therefore, H&W (Belfast) would have a clear run at everything above ~160m ensuring long term viability.
H&W (Appledore) could become the UK’s small vessel centre of excellence constructing all OPVs, IPS, LSV, Survey, fishery protection and border force vessels plus landing craft and updated mexefloates etc.
This would give HMG the ability to build 3-4 escorts a year in a prolonged crisis, dry dock both CVFs concurrently without disrupting the construction pipeline and ensure competition by encouraging bids from different yards to construct blocks for the main assembly yard.
The stop-start bean counting approach doesn’t work and unpicking the National Shipbuilding Strategy now would be extremely reckless.
Sorry, I cannot agree here.
1:
"The T31 direction of travel is sound provided the vessels are decommissioned after 12-15 years. " The same was said for T23. It failed. The same was said for HMS Ocean. Failed. Thus, T31 will failed to be replaced within 12-15 years. Note that there is not such saying anymore anywhere. It is already old plan. One of the many ideas, the original SBS had, but lost later.
2:
"Govan and Scotstoun are now viable and any orders from Norway would just be a bonus." Agree. But, it can expand.
3:
"H&W (Belfast) would have a clear run at everything above ~160m ensuring long term viability." Why not Rosyth. Why invest on Belfast, and not on Rosyth?
4:
"H&W (Appledore) could become the UK’s small vessel centre of excellence constructing all OPVs, IPS, LSV, Survey, fishery protection and border force vessels plus landing craft and updated mexefloates etc." All of them shall go to Rosyth for it to survive and become healthy. Even if Rosyth gets T32, it can relatively easily handle all of these order. Some of them can go to BAES with Cammel Laird, Furgason, etc. out sourced.
This idea will make UK shipbuilding much more stronger, solid, durable and high tech. Distributing investment will just make it worse. None of the UK shipbuilder is large. They are small industries in global point of view. If they were kept smaller and weaker, they will lose, lose and lose.