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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 |
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