wargame_insomniac wrote: ↑27 Jan 2022, 20:57
And just to clarify before we go too much further on what we each mean by Heavy Corvette. From the recent discussion on Russian Corvettes, I am assuming that Heavy Corvettes would be similar size to various Rivers but far more heavily armed.
Typical heavy corvette of the day, for me, is
- Damen Sigma 10514 class (e.g.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KRI_Raden ... artadinata)
- Naval Gowind-2500 class (e.g.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ENS_El_Fateh)
Both are 2300-2500t FLD, has a 76mm gun, 8-16 VL MICA, 4-8 Exocet ASM, a helicopter, AS torpedo launcher, with CAPTAS-2 sonar and HMS, SMART-S MK2 3D radar and other sensors. Omani navy Al-Khareef class (2500t FLD) is in the similar league (but without ASW capability). Typically, their hull is built to OPV standard (at least Mexican Damen 10514 is, to my understanding).
T31 as is now is very similarly equipped with those heavy-corvettes (but lacking ASW capabilities), but with very large hull with Frigate standard. "Equipped similar to heavy-corvettes (actually slightly less)" is what the T31RFI was requiring. The T31 original program cost of £1.25Bn was similar to those of these heavy-corvettes. But, its large and higher-standard hull meant it was simply impossible, and hence we have the T31 as-is with £2Bn program cost.
Coming back to River B2 OPVs, it is a 2000t FLD hull. Its hull standard is, to my understanding, NOT frigate standard but OPV standard (if it is of frigate standard, I guess Camel Laird/BAES team should have advocated it in the T31 competition). T31 also has two independent engine room, while River B2 has only one. Thus River B2 is less tolerant to flooding than T31.
As such, I do not think "up-arming River B2" will make it "a perfect replacement" for T31. But, it will do some, and it won't be meaningless. But, we all know that River B2 OPVs as currently equipped has several good places to live. So, any up-arming to River B2 shall be done for only some of the hulls, not all five, I think.