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Subject:
RE:Will France overtake Britain as the 2nd best navy??
Rule Britannia
10/28/2004 5:12:22 PM
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I would like to take the opportunity to clarify several points raised in regards to the strength of the Royal Navy.
The Royal Navy is the world?s second most capable, in terms of gross tonnage the second largest and to the best of my knowledge the second most numerous naval force on the planet, second only to the USN.
According to a recent Warships Magazine interview with First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Alan West reiterated this, in response to the question, ?Where does the Royal Navy rank today??
?It is the second most powerful navy in the world after the US fleet. We have 130 ships, 300 aircraft and seven-and-a-half thousand marines, including a commando brigade. The capability fielded by the RN is incredible, bearing in mind it has a total personnel strength of only 40,000.?
By the way I was and am on design teams in varying capacities for numerous vessels in service or entering service in the Royal Navy, so if you have any questions, I?ll do my best to answer them.
The current force strength and principal properties of vessels of the Royal Navy and The Royal Fleet Auxiliary:
Aircraft Carriers CV?s
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HMS Invincible
HMS Ark Royal
HMS Illustrious
DWT: 22000
Length: 209.1m
Beam: 33.5m
Speed: 28kts
Complement: 685 + 386 Airgroup + up to 500 Royal Marines in the swing LHD role
Armament: 3 x Goalkeeper/Vulcan Phalanx CIWS, 2 x 20mm Close Range Guns
Aircraft: A mix of up to 24 Harrier FA2/GR.9, Sea King ASaC?s and EH101Merlin aircraft depending on deployment requirement.
Propulsion: COGAG (Combined Gas and Gas), 2 Shafts 4 x Gas Turbines producing 72MW
Amphibious Assault Ships (LPD/LHD)
HMS Ocean
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DWT: 20700
Length: 203.4m
Beam: 35m
Speed: 18kts
Complement: 283 plus 180 Airgroup plus 480 Royal Marine Commandoes (803 at overload)
Armament: 3 x Phalanx CIWS, 2 x 20mm Close Range guns, 8 Sea Gnat 6-barrelled 130 mm/102 mm launchers. DLH off board decoys.
Aircraft/Landing Craft: Hanger and flight deck facilities for up to 18 helicopters, typically a mix of 12 RN operated Westland Commando Sea King HC.4 plus 6 Royal Marine operated Gazelle AH.1 or Westland Lynx AH.7 or (from 2003) 6 Army operated Apache WAH-64D or Chinooks or 15 Harrier FA2/GR.9, 4 LVCP (on davits), 2 Grifton hovercraft, 6 light guns, 40 light vehicles plus 34 trailers, supplies, ammunition and equipment for most of a Marine Commando (or Army Battalion).
Sensors: Radar 996 (Combined Air/Surface), Radar 1007 (Navigation and Helicopter Control), UAT Electronic Support Measures
Propulsion: 2 Crossley Pielstick 16PC2.6 V 400 diesels; 23,904 hp(m) (17.57 MW) sustained; 2 shafts; Kamewa fixed pitch propellers; bow thrusters
HMS Albion
HMS Bulwark
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DWT: 18500 (Stern Dock Submerged, 21500)
Length: 176m
Speed: 18kts
Beam: 25.6 m waterline, 28.9 metres max
Complement: 325 + up to 710 Royal Marine Commandoes
Armament: 2 x Goalkeeper Close In Weapon System (CIWS), Seagnat Decoy System, UAT Electronic Warfare System, 2 x 20mm close range guns, 4 x Machine Gun positions
Military Lift: 4 LCU Mk 10 (dock), 4 LVCP Mk 5 (on davits), 6 MBT, 6 light guns, 67 vehicles
Aircraft: One Chinook, or two Sea Kings HC.4 or EH101 Merlin
Sensors: 2 x Kelvin Hughes 1007 Radars, Type 966 Surveillance Radar
Propulsion: Diesel-electric: 2 x Wartsila Vasa 16V 32E diesel, 13MW total, 2 x electric motors (16,763hp); 2 shafts
Type 42 Class Destroyers Batch 1 and 2
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HMS Glasgow
HMS Cardiff
HMS Newcastle
HMS Exeter
HMS Southampton
HMS Nottingham
HMS Liverpool
DWT: 4820
Length: 125m
Beam: 14.3m
Speed 30kts
Complement: 287 + up to 25 Royal Marine Commandoes
Armament: Twin Sea Dart Missile launcher, 114mm (4.5 inch) Mk 8 gun, 2 x 20mm Close range guns, 2 x Vulcan Phalanx close in weapons system (CIWS), 2 x Triple anti submarine torpedo tubes, NATO Seagnat and DLF3 Decoy Launchers
Aircraft: Lynx MK 8 helicopters: Armament: Sea Skua anti-ship missiles, Stingray anti-submarine torpedoes, Mk 11 depth charges, Machine guns
Propulsion: COGOG (Combined Gas and Gas) turbines, 2 shafts, 2 turbines producing 36MW
Sensors: Type 1007 & 1008 Navigational Radar, Type 996 surveillance and target indication radar, 2 x Type 909 Sea Dart tracking radars, UAT Electronic Surveillance System, Type 2050 active sonar
Type 42 Class Destroyers Batch 3
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HMS Manchester
HMS Gloucester
HMS Edinburgh
HMS York
(Unless specified is the same as Batch 1 & 2)
DWT: 5200
Length: 141m
Beam: 15.2m
Type 23 Class Frigates
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HMS Norfolk
HMS Argyll
HMS Marlborough
HMS Lancaster
HMS Iron Duke
HMS Monmouth
HMS Montrose
HMS Westminster
HMS Northumberland
HMS Richmond
HMS Somerset
HMS Grafton
HMS Sutherland
HMS Kent
HMS Portland
HMS St Albans
DWT: 4900
Length: 133m
Beam: 16.1m
Complement: 185
Armament: 2 x Quad Harpoon Missile launchers, Vertical Launch Sea Wolf anti-missile and point air defence system (32 Silos), 4.5in (114mm) MK 8 gun, 2 x 30mm Close range guns, 2 x Magazine launched anti submarine torpedo tubes, NATO Seagnat and DLF3 Decoy Launchers
Sensors: Type 1007 navigation radar, Type 996 air/surface surveillance radar, 2 x Type 911 Sea Wolf tracking radars, UAT Electronic Surveillance System, Type 2050 active sonar, being replaced by Sonar 2087
Aircraft: MK 8 Lynx/EH101 Merlin helicopters, Armament: Sea Skua anti-ship missiles, Stingray anti-submarine torpedoes, Mk 11 depth charges, Machine guns
Propulsion: Turbines: CODLAG (Combined Diesel and Gas) - 2 x Rolls Royce Spey Turbines, Diesels, 4 x GEC-Alstom Paxman Valenta, Electric, 2 x GEC motors
Type 22 Class Frigates (Batch 3)
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HMS Cornwall
HMS Chatham
HMS Cumberland
HMS Campbeltown
DWT: 5300
Length: 148.1m
Beam: 14.8m
Speed: 30kts
Complement: 250 + 51 Royal Marine Commandoes
Armament: 114mm (4.5 inch) MK 8 gun, Goalkeeper close-in weapons system (CIWS), Sea Wolf anti-missile and point air defence system (Twin sextuple launchers), 2 x Quad Harpoon missile launchers, 2 x 20mm Close range guns, NATO Seagnat Decoy Launchers
Sensors: Type 1007 navigation radar, Type 967 and 968 surveillance radar, 2 x Type 911 Sea Wolf tracking radars, UAT Electronic Surveillance System, Type 2050 active sonar
Aircraft: 2 Lynx MK 8 helicopters, Armament: Sea Skua anti-ship missiles, Stingray anti-submarine torpedoes, Mk 11 depth charges, Machine guns
Propulsion: 2 Rolls-Royce Spey gas turbines; 2 shafts, 2 Rolls-Royce Tyne gas turbines
Antarctic Patrol Ship
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HMS Endurance (Is a Class A1 standard Icebreaker)
DWT: 6000
Length: 91m
Beam: 17.9m
Draught: 8.5m
Speed: 14kts
Complement: 112 + 14 Royal Marine Commandoes
Armament: Machine Guns, Can be fitted with a sextuple Seawolf launcher
Aircraft: 2 Lynx MK8 Helicopters, Armament: Sea Skua anti-ship missiles, Stingray anti-submarine torpedoes, Mk 11 depth charges, Machine guns
Radar: Type R84 & M34 ARG surface search E/F and I bands, Type 1006 navigation I band
Propulsion: 2 Bergen BRM8 diesels, 8160hp, 1 shaft with controllable pitch prop and bow and stern thrusters
Castle Class Patrol Vessels
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HMS Leeds Castle
HMS Dumbarton Castle
DWT: 1427
Length: 81m
Beam: 11.5m
Draught: 3.6m
Speed: 18kts
Armament: 30mm Cannon, 4 x General Purpose Machine Guns, can be fitted with a Seawolf sextuple launcher.
Boarding Craft: 2 x 5.4M Avon Searider high speed Rigid Inflatable Boats
Radar: Type 994 surface search E/F band, Type 1006 navigation I band
Propulsion: 2 x Ruston 12RKC 5640hp diesels, 2 shafts
Complement: 45 + 25 Royal Marine Commandoes
Aircraft: Lynx MK8 Helicopters, Armament: Sea Skua anti-ship missiles, Stingray anti-submarine torpedoes, Mk 11 depth charges, Machine guns, can operate large helicopters such as the Sea King Mk.4 in support of commando operations
River Class Patrol Vessels
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HMS Tyne
HMS Severn
HMS Mersey
DWT: 1677
Length: 79.5m
Breadth: 13.6m
Depth: 3.8m
Complement: 30 + Royal Maring Boarding Party
Speed: 16.5kts
Armament: 1 x 20mm British Manufacturing and Research Company (BMARC) KAA Gun, 2 x General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), can be fitted with a Seawolf sextuple launcher
Sensors: X and S Band ARPA Radars ECDIS, Data DGPS , Loran C, Gyro and Magnetic Compasses, Log and Echo Sounder, Wind Speed and Direction Data Recording Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) Tracking System GMDSS Area A3 Military communications
Boarding Craft: 2x Halmatic Jet Pacific 22 Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIB)
Propulsion: 2 x Ruston 12RK 270 Main Engines developing 4125kW at 1000rpm, Controllable pitch propellers, 280kW Bow Thrusters, 3 x 250kW main generators, 1 x emergency generator, VTC Control and Monitoring System
Ocean Survey and Hydrographic Vessels
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HMS Scott
DWT: 13500
Length: 131.5m
Beam: 21.5m
Draught: 9m
Complement: 63
Speed: 17.5kts
Sensors: Includes Kelvin Hughes ARPA navigation radar, and SASS IV - the integrated Sonar Array Sounding System - and data processing equipment
Main Propulsion: 2 Krupp MaK 9M32 9-cy diesels, 1 shaft with controllable pitch props and a retractable bow thrusters
Armaments: Manpads and assorted light machine guns
HMS Gleaner
Length: 16m
Beam: 4.55
Draught: 1.6m
Complement: 8
Propulsion: 2 x Volvo Penta TAMD 22P diesel engines
Sensors: TSS POSMv positioning system, Fugro MN8qc differential GPS, Atlas Fansweep 20 Multibeam Echo Sounder, Atlas Deso 25 Singlebeam Echo Sounder
Armament: Manpads and assorted light machine guns
HMS Roebuck
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DWT: 1200
Length: 64m
Beam: 13m
Draught: 4m
Complement: 46
Speed: 14kts
Radar: Type 1626C ARPA, I band
Propulsion: 4 Mirrlees Blackstone diesel engines 3040hp, 2 shafts with controllable pitch props
Armaments: Manpads and assorted light machine guns
HMS Echo
HMS Enterprise
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DWT: 3500
Length: 90.6m
Speed 15kts
Complement: 46 + 35 Royal Marine Commandoes
Sensors: Multi beam echo sounder, Single beam echo sounder, Survey Planning and Processing Systems, Side-scan sonar, Oceanographic Probe and sensors, Undulating Oceanographic Profiler, Doppler Current Log, Sub-bottom Profiler, Bottom Sampling Equipment, Survey Motor Boat fitted with multi beam sonar and sidescan sonar
Armament: Manpads and assorted light machine guns
Propulsion: Diesel electric propulsion system, 3 main generators (4.8 MW total) powering two 1,7 MW azimuth thrusters and 0.4 MW bow thruster.
Vanguard Class SSBN?s
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HMS Vanguard
HMS Victorious
HMS Vigilant
HMS Vengeance
Displacement: 15980
Length: 150m
Beam: 12.8m
Draught: 12m
Complement: 135
Armament: 16 missile tubes capable of firing Trident D5 Ballistic missiles (12 MIRV?s), 4 torpedo tubes capable of firing Spearfish Torpedoes
Sensors: Sonar?s including Bow, Flank, Active Intercept and Towed Arrays, Attack and Search Periscopes, Collision avoidance radar, Electronic warfare equipment
Swiftsure Class SSN?s
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HMS Swiftsure
HMS Sovereign
HMS Sceptre
HMS Spartan
Displacement: 4900
Length: 83m
Beam: 9.8m
Draught: 8.5m
Complement: 116
Armament: 5 tubes capable of firing:, Spearfish Torpedoes, Sub Harpoon Missiles and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles
Sensors: Sonar including Bow, Flank, Active Intercept and Towed Arrays, Attack and Search Periscopes, Collision avoidance radar, Electronic warfare equipment
Trafalgar Class SSN?s
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HMS Trafalgar
HMS Turbulent
HMS Tireless
HMS Torbay
HMS Trenchant
HMS Talent
HMS Triumph
Displacement: 5200
Length: 85.4m
Beam: 9.8m
Draught: 9.5m
Complement: 130
Armament: 5 tubes capable of firing:, Spearfish Torpedoes, Sub Harpoon Missiles, Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles
Sensors: Sonar including Bow, Flank, Active Intercept and Towed Arrays, Attack and Search Periscopes, Collision avoidance radar, Electronic warfare equipment
Sandown Class MCMV?s
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HMS Bangor
HMS Blyth
HMS Bridport
HMS Grimsby
HMS Inverness
HMS Pembroke
HMS Penzance
HMS Ramsey
HMS Sandown
HMS Shoreham
HMS Walney
DWT: 600
Length: 52.5m
Beam: 10.9m
Speed: 13kts
Complement: 34 + 6 man Royal Marine Commando Boarding Party
Armament: 30mm Gun, assorted small calibre machine guns, Manpads
Radar: Type 1007 I-Band
Countermeasures: 2 x PAP 104 Mk5 remote controlled submersibles (RCMDS 2)
Sonar: Type 2093 mine search and classification sonar
Propulsion: 2 x Paxman Valenta 6RP200E diesels; 1523 hp sustained; Voith-Schnieder propulsion; 2 x Schottel bow thrusters
Hunt Class MCMV?s (largest GRP Hulled vessels in the world)
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HMS Atherstone
HMS Brocklesby
HMS Chiddingfold
HMS Hurworth
HMS Middleton
HMS Brecon
HMS Cattistock
HMS Dulverton
HMS Ledbury
HMS Quorn
DWT: 750
Length: 60m
Beam: 10.5m
Draught: 2.2m
Speed: 15kts
Complement: 45
Armament: 1 x 30mm gun, 2x BMarc 20mm guns, 2 x General Purpose Machine Guns, designed for but not fitted with a Seawolf sextuple launcher
Sonar: Type 193M mine hunting sonar, Mil cross avoidance sonar, Type 2059 Pap submersible tracking sonar
Radar: Type 1007 I band
Countermeasures: RCMDS (Remote Control Mine Disposal System) Mk1 with 2 x pap Pap 104 Mk 5 remotely controlled submersibles, Combined Influence Sweep - consisting of Acoustic sweep (Mk3 Towed Acoustic Generator), Magnetic sweep, Mechanical sweep - Mk 8 conventional Oropesa sweeps with armed capability. SCARAB remote control floating mine towing device - this helps the safe destruction of moored mines that have been cut from their chains. Propulsion: 2 x Ruston-Paxman deltic 9-58K diesels developing 1900hp, 1 Deltic 9-59 diesel for pulse generation and auxiliary drive. 2 shafts + bow thruster.
Archer Class P2000 Fast Patrol Vessels
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HMS Archer
HMS Biter
HMS Blazer
HMS Charger
HMS Dasher
HMS Example
HMS Exploit
HMS Explorer
HMS Express
HMS Puncher
HMS Pursuer
HMS Raider
HMS Ranger
HMS Smiter
HMS Tracker
HMS Trumpeter
DWT: 54
Length: 20m
Beam: 5.8m
Draught: 1.9m
Complement: 17
Top Speed: 24kts
Armaments: Assorted light machine guns and Manpads depending on mission
Propulsion: 2 Perkins (RR) CV12 Turbo Diesels/2 MTU V12 Diesels
Gibraltar Squadron 16m Fast Patrol Class
DWT: 24
Length: 16m
Beam: 3.1
Draught: 1.2m
Complement: 5 (inc boarding party)
Speed: 30kts
Propulsion: 2 x Man 2480LXE Diesel Engines
Strategic Sealift Ro-Ro
RFA Sea Crusader
DWT: 18031
Length: 161m
Breadth: 25m
Draught: 6.5m
Speed: 18kts
Complement: 17
RFA Sea Centurion
DWT: 22000
Length: 183m
Breadth: 26m
Draught: 7m
Speed: 22kts
Complement: 17
Point Class Strategic Ro-Ro Vessels
RFA Hurst Point
RFA Eddystone
RFA Longstone
RFA Beachy Head
RFA Hartland Point
RFA Anvil Point
DWT: 10000
Length: 193m
Breadth: 26m
Draught: 7.4m
Speed: 22kts
Kinds of Cargo: Road trailers, General Ro-Ro cargo, Mafi trailers, TEK/FEU Containers, Tanks
Trailer Decks: 3 decks, 189 Trailer (each 12.6 m long)
Lane Meters: Tank Top - 485 m; Main Deck - 975 m; Total 2,606 m, including normally 25 Challenger 2 main battle tanks, 24 Warrior Armoured Personnel Carriers, and an unspecified number of 155-mm self propelled artillery guns, vehicles and trailers.
Complement: 22
Propulsion: Two 4-Stroke Medium Speed Diesel Engines 7M43, each 6,300 KW; total 12,600 KW (16,900 shp); 2 shafts
Aviation Training and Primary Casualty Reception Ship
RFA Argus
Displacement: 28,081
Length: 175.1m
Breadth: 30.4m
Draught: 8.1m
Speed: 18kts
Armament: 4 x BMARC 30mm guns, 4 x 7.62mm MG's and assorted small calibre machine guns and Manpads
Complement: 80 RFA + 35 RN (additional 137 RN Air Sqn persnl.)
Aircraft: 5 spots for Chinook, Sea King, Merlin, Lynx or Harriers
Fleet Support Stores Ship
RFA Fort Austin
RFA Fort Rosalie
DWT: 23,482
Length: 185.1m
Breadth: 24m
Draught: 9m
Speed: 21kts
Aircraft: 2 spots for Sea King/Lynx
Complement: 114 RFA + 36 RNSTS (additional 45 RN Air Sqn persnl.)
Armament: 2 x Oerlikon 20mm guns, 4 x 7.62mm Mug?s + Manpads
RFA Fort George
RFA Fort Victoria
DWT: 32300
Length: 203.9m
Breadth: 30.3m
Draught: 9.7m
Speed: 22kts
Aircraft: 2 spots for Sea King/Lynx
Complement: 95 RFA, 15 RN, 24 RNSTS (additional 154 RN Air Sqn personnel)
Armament: 2 x Phalanx CIWS, 4 x BMARC 30mm guns + Manpads
Small Fleet Tankers
RFA Grey Rover
RFA Black Rover
RFA Gold Rover
DWT: 11485
Length: 140.6m
Breadth: 19.2m
Draught: 7.3m
Speed: 19kts
Aircraft: 1 spot for Sea King/Lynx
Complement: 54
Armament: 2 x Oerlikon 20mm guns, 2 x 7.62mm Mug?s + Manpads
Forward Repair Ship
RFA Diligence
DWT: 10765
Length: 112m
Breadth: 20.5m
Draught: 6.8m
Speed: 10.5kts
Aircraft: 1 spot for Sea King, Lynx, Merlin or Chinook
Complement: 38 (additional 147 RN personnel)
Armament: 4 x Oerlikon 20mm guns, 4 x 7.62mm Mug?s + Manpads
Fast Fleet Support Tankers
RFA Wave Ruler
RFA Wave Knight
DWT: 31500
Length: 196.5m
Breadth: 28.25m
Draught: 9.97m
Speed: 18kts
Flight Deck: 1 spot for Sea King, Chinook, Lynx or Merlin
Complement: 80 RFA + 22 RN
Armament: 2 x Phalanx CIWS, 2 x BMARC 30mm guns + Manpads
Fleet Support Tankers
RFA Brambleleaf
RFA Bayleaf
RFA Orangeleaf
DWT: 40870
Length: 170.7m
Breadth: 25.9m
Draught: 11m
Speed: 15kts
Complement: 56
Armament: 2 x Oerlikon 20mm guns, 4 x 7.62mm Mug?s + Manpads
RFA Oakleaf
DWT: 49377
Length: 173.7m
Breadth: 32.2m
Draught: 11.2m
Speed: 14.5kts
Complement: 35
Armament: 2 x 7.62mm Mug?s + Manpads
Landing Ship Logistics (LSL)
RFA Sir Bedivere
DWT: 6700
Length: 137m
Breadth: 20m
Draught: 3.98m
Speed: 17kts
Complement (crew): 49
Aircraft: 2 spots for Lynx, Sea King, Merlin or Chinook
Armament: 4 x Oerlikon 20mm guns, 4 x 7.62mm Mug?s + Manpads
Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (LSD-A)
RFA Mounts Bay
RFA Largs Bay
RFA Cardigan Bay
RFA Lyme Bay
DWT: 16,190
Length: 176.6m
Breadth: 26.4m
Draught: 5.1m
Speed: 18kts
Armaments: Phalanx CIWS and possible fit of Seawolf, 4 x Oerlikon 20mm guns, 4 x 7.62mm Mug?s + Manpads
Complement: 59
Load: 356 troops, 1200 Linear metres of vehicles (e.g. 24 Challenger 2 MBT's or 150 light trucks), 12 x 40 TEU or 24 x 24 TEU containers, 2 Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVP) Mk.5 and 1 Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Mk10, two Mexeflote powered rafts.
Aircraft: Twin spot flight deck with limited facilities to transport and operate Merlin, Chinook and V22 Osprey.
Nowadays we offload at sea, ?over the horizon? and protected by the task group. As the design brief states how the vessels will be utilised as part of an Amphibious force, the Royal Navy Amphibious Task Group (ATG) will include at least one Albion Class Landing Platform Dock (LPD) as the command ship, one Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH - either HMS Ocean or an Invincible Class Aircraft Carrier in its secondary LPH role), and normally two Bay Class Auxiliary Landing Ship Dock (LSD?s). In an assault landing operation, the first wave of troops are landed on the beach by landing craft from the LPDs - HMS Albion and/or Bulwark and by a "vertical assault" on vital points somewhat inland by helicopters from the LPH (e.g. HMS Ocean), to establish a beachhead and landing zone. The LSD's are initially positioned about 20nm offshore and remain over-the-horizon during the first wave assault, they may use landing craft and helicopters to help offload the second wave and subsequent waves of troops and equipment from themselves. When the beach area and landing zone have been finally confirmed as secure, the LSD's will approach the landing zone and from just one or two thousand yards off-shore will deploy Mexeflotes (motorised pontoons) to assist in the quick and efficient offloading of the heavy vehicles and equipment that they carry. Once a harbour has been secured, Point Class and Sea Centurion/Sea Crusader "Ro-Ro" Strategic Transport's and ships taken up from trade (STUFT) will bring in further reinforcements and re-supply the force (although if this is not available they can offload via Mexeflotes and Landing Craft supplied from . The Bay class has a docking area able to accommodate a single LCU Mk10. The Bay class is capable of accommodating either 1 Harrier V/STOL type aircraft, 1 Chinook, 1 V-22 Osprey or 2 EH-101 Merlins. As offloading at sea is now the only practical way of conducting an amphibious operation, the Bay class offer some very prominent advantages; Able to offload in conditions up to and including Sea State 3, Able to carry more than twice as many vehicles (about 1200 Linear metres of vehicles and carry 12 x 40 TEU or 24 x 24 TEU containers.) as the Sir Class and with a stern dock for landing craft means that you are able to offload them at sea much more quickly rather than relying totally on Mexeflotes. Able to carry considerably more troops (356 fully equipped troops, although this can be increased to 500 using undesignated space, or to 700 in war "overload" conditions.) The new ships at over 16,000 tonnes full load will be much larger, more capable and flexible than existing RFA LSL's, and have more than twice their capacity. They will provide a major increase in the capability of the RFA to support amphibious operations and other military tasks such as peacekeeping duties and disaster relief around the world. Military communications and command support systems are required, along with some specific survivability and self-defence features - they will be fitted to receive military weapons. Otherwise, the ships will be built to Class 1 Passenger Ship Certification commercial standards and be classed by Lloyd's Register.
In realitity there is nowhere that the Marine Nationale is superior to the Royal Navy except in the individual merits of it?s fixed wing aircraft and even then, they are only limited to one hull which smacks of putting all of ones eggs in one basket and they are unable to maintain constant CAP?s from the CdG when it is in service. If I may quote Worcester,
?If you are facing an air threat (e.g. Super Etendards)including air launched missiles (like Exocet) you do NOT have the time to wait for your Hawkeye to spot the launch aircraft (it may not spot the missile) and then scramble your Rafale.
The Rafale must be airborne to intercept the Super Etendards before it launches Exocet or the Etendards will just turn for home and you will never see it.
The CAP operates well up-threat, well away from the missile engagement boxes of each ship. You do NOT let your Rafale fly through your SAM boxes.
If the Rafale misses the Etendards, the chance of a Rafale shooting down an Exocet is small, it cannot enter the ship SAM boxes and it is for the SAMs and CIWS and decoys to deal with it.
This is how an air defense works - hundred of miles (kilometres) from the carrier, not overhead.
To keep 1 CAP station for 2 hours requires 2 Rafale 00.00 - 02.00 h.
To replace these 2 Rafale needs another 2 which must be launched at 01.00h.
To replace the second pair requires a launch at 03.00 h by a third pair, because the first pair have only just returned.
That is 3 pairs for 1 CAP station at maximum intensity.
But a new pair launches every 2 hours. With 3 pairs, each pilot has 2 hours rest and 4 hours flying;
2 hours rest and 4 hours flying;
2 hours rest and 4 hours flying;
Eventually they will crash their planes.
Four pairs gives the crews the chance of 4 hours rest; five pairs gives the chance of 6 hours rest.
That is what you have NOW: 5 pairs, 10 Rafale, 1 CAP station.
With your ten Rafale your pilots will be flying:-
3 missions of 4 hours each every 24 hours.
Buddy refuelling does NOT help you at all.
Buddy refuelling increases the efficiency of the sortie which is refuelled, but only that sortie - buddy refuelling is a non-CAP sortie - while it increases range of CAP it will exhaust your crews faster. A buddy mission is one LESS CAP mission.
How long do you think that lasts? 48 hours? 72 hours? And then the pilots start to make mistakes or the ground crew make mistakes and the planes break and people start dying by accident. Or the pilots in the air miss their targets.
From one of our carriers we use a pool of 40-60 aircraft (F-14/F-18) to maintain multiple CAPS. During the Falklands the Brits maintained 3 CAPS west of the Falklands - please note: WEST of the Falklands - with 26 Sea Harrier and 31 pilots for five days without a break - that is serious flying.
I do not know where this talk of 26 Rafale came from - you don?t have them, you wont have them anytime soon and I hope you are not fabricating this idea based on my last CAP post that the RN had 26 SHAR in the Falklands. They also had 31 pilots and 2 carriers.?
The Sea Harrier will be withdrawn from frontline service by 2006, and they will be based at RNAS Yeovilton as part of a retasked 801 and 899 squadron where they can be redeployed on the carriers as part of Joint Force Harrier if the strategic need merits it, which the government feels it wont until the F-35 enters service. That is why they were relegated from the carriers in the first place. The picketing options are simply isolated interim scenarios as the SHAR will not be deployed constantly if ever again (depending if there is a threat). Obviously thinking logically if we are operating with the USN then they are able to provide more capable CAP?s if not then there are other options as specified above. The mainstream replacement by the Harrier GR.9A will provide a far better strike capability for the Fleet Air Arm which is a more pragmatic objective. We will need offensive support more than we need CAP?s at the moment and the option is there to redress the balance if necessary. It was deemed that the Harrier GR.9A was more suited to the now ubiquitous ground attack role that had become pretty much the mainstay of the naval based aircraft of Joint Force Harrier in operations over the past few years. That is to say they are available if the situation requires they be used but otherwise the more ?relevant? GR.9A will take over Fleet Air Arm fixed wing aircraft duties during deployments. Therefore I cannot see where the French Navy has a definitive advantage in BVR combat over the coming years given the flexibility of the Sea Harrier.
The SHAR F/A.2 is one of the most manoeuvrable aircraft out there and with AMRAAM amongst it?s arsenal, it has the capability take on most of the World?s air forces in the BVR Air Defence, Battlefield, Air Interdiction, Combat Air Support and Reconnaissance roles with it?s advanced GR.7/9A partner. Considering we have numerous Harrier type aircraft that can be spread across up to 11 platforms and primarily based on the 3 Invincible Class Carriers which can each carry up to 24 Harriers supported by 13 Sea King ASaC?s which can be pretty much Universally deployed, give the Fleet Air Arm unrivalled flexibility and survivability with the exception of the USN.
Look at this article about the Falklands War: During the Falklands War V/STOL capability allowed Harriers to land vertically on the crowded flight decks of the carriers HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible without the carriers turning into the wind. The Harriers operated even when the flight decks were moving vertically through as much as thirty feet due to heavy seas and when visibility was severely reduced. One Harrier recovered on the HMS Hermes in a horizontal visibility of fifty meters! To aid in recovery during reduced visibility, the carriers often dropped flares in their wakes, which the Harriers, due to the use of vectored thrust, were able to follow up slowly to the ships. The Sea Harriers also used their Blue Fox radar to assist in bad-weather recovery. With no previous experience in operating from carriers, RAF Harrier pilots flew from the container ships Atlantic Conveyor and Contender Bezant to the decks of the carriers. Other RAF Harriers used air refuelling to deploy directly from Ascension Island to the carriers, a distance of approximately 3370 nautical miles. Soon after the British landing at San Carlos, Royal Engineers built an 850-foot matting strip. This simple strip provided the Harriers with a base that allowed them to increase their endurance over the battle area significantly. They would fly air patrol from the carriers, which were located well east of the Falklands (to reduce exposure to the Argentine air threat), and land at the San Carlos strip for refuelling. Other Harriers at this strip would await tasking calls to provide support for ground forces, reducing response time without maintaining inefficient airborne alert. Once, when a helicopter damaged the matting strip, Harriers recovered vertically and refuelled on the aft platforms of assault ships HMS Fearless and Intrepid.
In regards to the CVF: The agreed specifications concluded from the January 2004 Delta 'equilibrium' design from the CVF Alliance are;
Displacement:-60,000 tonnes full load
Hull Dimensions (length x beam):-902 x 243 feet (275 x 74 metres) overall
Draft:-36ft (11 metres) full load
Speed:~28kts max
link
I am on the design coalition board for the CVF project with Thales and BAE Systems since the D&M phase of the T45 Project is beginning to mature. The CVF will be built in the UK, the proportions of the Queen Elizabeth Class to be built on the Clyde have yet to be finalised but using modular construction, they will be built in a number of different locations around the UK, like VT in Southampton but principally on the Clyde as BAE are tipped to be the prime contractor. Due to the huge size of the vessels, it is not practical to construct them on a slipway and thus they will be assembled in a dry dock and floated out instead of launched. The Bab yard in Rosyth has been selected as the preferred final assembly site for the Carriers. The final assembly activity will be undertaken in the main by the workforce from both Bab BES in Rosyth and BAE Systems on the Clyde. Inchgreen on the Clyde will remain a backup site, to ensure that a risk mitigation option is available.
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