SD67 wrote: ↑25 Oct 2022, 10:29Donald, I think you're being simplistic on manpower. It was not long ago there were complaints about lack of sea time leading to low morale / skill fade. All the new ships will have a lower crewing requirement. I also assume that this is part of the reason the RN is sending the Rivers around the world - they're training the next generation.
My anecdotal experience in industry is that it's never difficult to rustle up crew for shiny new kit, everyone wants to learn on the latest. But crewing an old breakdown prone maintenance hog - that's when people start finding other things to do.
May be. But, T26 crew size is 160+ aircrew, 90% of a T23. T31's is 110+aircrew, 60% of a T23.
There are 4 T23 GP listed, and only 3 of them is manned. (Argyl in long-maintenance (not manned), Lancaster on KIPION (manned with double crew), Iron Duke coming back from LIFEX (manned), Montrose to be decommissioned soon (her crew will go to another T23). ) In other words, RN can man 5 new T31, and no surplus man-power will come out. If you look at the T23 ASW, crew needed for 8 T26 is much larger than those currently assigned to T23 ASWs. In short, there is no man-power left to fill the T32 frigate.
And, this is associated with very low average sea going days, which I think RN must improve, back to the level achieved before 2010 (it suddenly dropped from ~150 days average to ~100 days after 2010). In other words, on average, modern RN escort crew "enjoys" low sea-going days, only two-thirds of the days used to be before 2010. I
think we need at least 20% increase in crew size (~2400 x 0.2 = ~500) to achieve this. Say, double crew some of them, or (like River B2) x1.5 crew some of them. Here, "500 more crew" means 1000-1500 more man-power in RN.
This approach will need a decade. This is my thought. After that, if yet another 1000-1500 more man-power be found, RN will be able to man 5 T32s.
RN was struggling hard to maintain its man-power. So, RN must much more struggle for the coming decade, including rise of salary. It needs huge money.
Fingers crossed.
I find no need to "hurry" T32 build. Brand new T31 and T26 will more than save the day. When T31 and T26 gets older and maintenance load increases, then T32 will be needed, I think. Perfect match.
[edit] Of course, another idea will be to first increase the hull number and then regain the sea-going days. But, to keep Rosyth active on escort building, I think delaying T32 has a very good rationale...