UK Defence Forum

XV Patrick Blackett due in to Portsmouth c1415 today..

XV Patrick Blackett

(Royal Navy) 29th July 2022

XV Patrick Blackett is an experimental vessel and will enable us to test new kit and technology pushing us even more to the forefront of warfare.

Nice looking ship, and a size that I think the RN is missing. Ignoring the need for “Small Ships” has always been a weak spot for the navy, and even a small class of Inshore Multirole Patrol Motherships would give value and options that aren’t there currently.

Perhaps a fleet of 6 plus 2 B2 Rivers cover the gap after the B1 Rivers and MCMs are decommissioned. This would also support training and giving young officers command experience early in their careers.

Well, at some point both the B1s and the Archers will need replacing in approximately the same time frame, so maybe that is the point at which we rationalise both Home waters patrol and URNU into two better-suited classes. My thoughts were fourteen 15m (or possibly 18m) SEA-class boats with an adapted Officer training Module for URNU and (say) five to ten inshore patrol vessels somewhere between 40 and 60m).

Perhaps operational experience of this vessel will also inform that decision. My feeling is that 40 x 8m is too small for the conditions that might be encountered in British waters

(Forces News) 22nd August 2022

The Royal Navy's new testbed ship, XV Patrick Blackett, has been welcomed into the service with a ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base.

The 42m, 270-tonne ship is named after the former Royal Navy sailor and Nobel Prize winner, Patrick Blackett.

Not sure why it took so long for her first sailing. Some defects found and rectified?

Maybe interesting movie?

The XV's getting a new 3D surveillance radar to trial.

https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press-rel ... nce-orders

One of these would be a decent upgrade for the River B2s. People are always talking about upgunning them but giving them a decent radar would probably be as useful.

RichardIC wrote: ↑02 May 2023, 14:47 The XV's getting a new 3D surveillance radar to trial.

https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press-rel ... nce-orders

One of these would be a decent upgrade for the River B2s. People are always talking about upgunning them but giving them a decent radar would probably be as useful.

For what perpose are they trialing giraffe 1x?
I think in general we need more OPV's

RichardIC wrote: ↑02 May 2023, 14:47 The XV's getting a new 3D surveillance radar to trial.

https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press-rel ... nce-orders

One of these would be a decent upgrade for the River B2s. People are always talking about upgunning them but giving them a decent radar would probably be as useful.

Quite right give the B2's a 3D radar they could use CAMM in POD's not bad for £1.85 million a pop

RichardIC wrote: ↑02 May 2023, 14:47 The XV's getting a new 3D surveillance radar to trial.

https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press-rel ... nce-orders

One of these would be a decent upgrade for the River B2s. People are always talking about upgunning them but giving them a decent radar would probably be as useful.

3D radar to River B2 is an interesting option, I agree. But, I also think some short-range anti-UAS AESA radar shall be added to T26. How about Leonardo TMMR.

https://electronics.leonardo.com/docume ... )+2022.pdf

Four of them as a fixed AESA around the bottom of the T26's mast?
If this system is cheap, also shall be added to 3 of the 5 River B2s, who may confront UAS threats, HMS Tamar, Trent and Spey. (no need for Fourth and Medway). Anti-UAS can be short range but high resolution. A bit different capability from that of Artisan 3D.

new guy wrote: ↑02 May 2023, 14:55 For what perpose are they trialing giraffe 1x?
I think in general we need more OPV's

Drone UAV handling. If we add a guns with air-burst and/or proximity fuses, the asset can handle these threat so so good.
- 30 mm Bushmaster can fire BOTH air-burst and proximity fuses ammo (although the proximity fuses blast looks a bit small).
- 40 mm Mk.4 (Bofors) 3P can do BOTH air-burst and proximity fuses ammo.
- 57 mm Mk.3 (Bofors) 3P can do BOTH air-burst and proximity fuses ammo. It also has ALaMo guided rounds for anti-surface roll, and MADFIRES under development as a direct-hit anti-air guided rounds.

For this, Damen 5009 can do good job already (if added with a 30mm turret). Adding such radar to River B2 is also a good idea.

POD Progress!

What does it contain?

Poiuytrewq wrote: ↑09 May 2023, 20:49 POD Progress!

Royal Navy have an innovation breakthrough and put a shipping container on a ship.

Ian Hall wrote: ↑30 Aug 2023, 11:48

great stuff what we see here is one system package for one ship i.e ground support package and 2 UAV's so we can see what a differants this will make to a frigate or a RB2

A few interesting images

The torpedo drone looks very cool. I can't imagine the range is great, but the concept is good. Wonder if it could be extended to use a dipping sonar?