To the Idea of a small and relatively cheap ship to operate in low intensity environments seems a no brainier. Although very little is known of this new concept it seem to me that it would be ideal for the Caribbean patrol and anti-piracy operations.
Heres the official statement:
"The aim of this Joint Concept Note is to act as a catalyst for a conceptually led change to both the procurement and the employment of future maritime capabilities with investment in systems not platforms.
The future ‘Black Swan’ class sloop-of-war is a manned ship that will act as the core for a group of manned and unmanned platforms which, as an integrated system, will provide the units of power required by those surface assets tasked with the protection of Sea Lines of Communication and sea control. At an acceptable financial cost, operating in groups, the sloops will provide both the quantity of platforms and the quality of systems that will be demanded of the Royal Navy in the future operating environment. In operations other than war, the increased hull numbers will provide the capabilities required to fulfil the maritime security tasks demanded by a maritime nation as well as the global presence required to engage with the international community."
In the 1930's the previous black swan class operated in the same way. Cheap and relativity powerful. The concept note* states that its a small ship, to cost around £65 million. Which for a warship is cheap. So its 4-5 of these or 1 type 26 frigate. I think that this may be the answer to the anti-drug and anti piracy operations, a ship that can cover large areas and take on anything they can throw at them.
Whilst this seems a good solution to the navies problems It remains to be seen if they will commission the ships.
* https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/joint-concept-note-1-12-future-black-swan-class-sloop-of-war-a-group-system
Tommo, TY for a good review of the suggested 'Black Swan' Class. My own idea, based on an ex-RN/RNR background from the 60s/70s, is that this class could be useful in many ways, besides simply wasting the taxpayers' money. However, the vessel's seem woefully under-manned (I have read as few as 8 'permanent' crew, rising up to 60) and a 'permanent' weapon load of 1x30mm gun, a couple of small caliber minguns and a few LMG/GPMG. I presume these weapons were selected for the sole purpose of ammusing any other threatening vessel that happened to be outfitted with heavier weaponry ... before they blow the 'Black Swan' to Hell! If that weapon load were a minimum 127mm Gun, several 40mm Twin Guns and as many 50cals Miniguns as would conveniently fit on deck, together with some form of 'permanent' short/medium range AA missile system (RAM,. for example, would be a good start), and some form of 'permanent' medium range ASW weapon, then as many 20' container loads of whatever the needs dictated, and the helicopter (with hanger), all with the necessary search/targeting/ew package; then we're cooking with gas! Anything less and you might as well buy retired North Sea cargo ships and tugs and fit them out as you wish. Ultimately, to be effective, a military ship MUST be able to content effectively with all forseeable threats it might encounter, while picking its fights very carefully. Otherwise, why bother? As to the issue of 'disaster relief'. Yes. That's nice.Soft and fuzzy! But, that's NOT why we have a Navy. If that's what's needed, then ON A SEPERATE BUDGET, run by a SEPERATE DEPARTMENT, the Government should proceed with as many large and small disaster relief vessel's it wants to operate. BUT DON'T MAKE THAT THE NAVY'S MISSION ... which is all about defeating and deterring threats and eliminating and destroying them if they emerge is reality. Indeed, figuring prominently enough to discourage them from appearing in the first place. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI'd welcome 40x 3,000t 95m long 24kt patrol ships. Minimum crew of eight means the others (up to 52?) can all work weapon systems.
DeleteMake them flexible enough that the gun mount starts as a 30mm small boat gun, but can be upgraded to an 127mm surprise package, a crane able to shift 20ft containers or a vertical launch anti-aircraft missile system.
Do we have to take out all the bells and whistles on every scouting/patrol mission?
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