RN Frigates: Type 31 Inspiration Class

[ivorthediver]

Ouch Harry .... and there was me believing all that we are being told about us on the waves en all that

[Little h]

Ouch Harry .... and there was me believing all that we are being told about us on the waves en all that

Not sure what the above means Ivor.

[Pelican]

The Type 31 frigate in view

Babcock recently released a better quality rendering of the Type 31 frigate design for the Royal Navy. Below is the image annotated with the equipment fit. At this stage, the concept design process is underway with the detailed design phase due to begin in late 2020. This is only an indicative outline which may be subject to further changes.
The most significant observation is the reduction in Sea Ceptor cells from 24 to 12 compared with the CGIs that were published initially. This may constitute a modest cost-saving but seems to be hard to justify, given the loss of capability. This could be part of a strategy to get the ships to sea with baseline equipment fit within the tight cost envelope, with a view to adding capability later (“fitted for, but not with”). The central part of the ship has a considerable capacity and could accept additional Sea Ceptor or strike length Mk 41 VLS cells in future.

For a more in-depth discussion, see the earlier article (September 2019): More details of the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate emerge at - https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/more-d ... te-emerge/

[Pelican]

Thales to provide mission systems for the Type 31 Frigate

Thales, as part of Babcock Team 31, has been selected to be the mission systems integrator for the Type 31 programme, delivering the combat system, communications systems and the navigation and bridge systems.
Tacticos is the mission system and Thales say it has been designed from the outset to be open and provides access to the core data model via open published standards that can be used to enable continuous growth and evolution through life.
The Type 31 general purpose frigate programme will provide the UK Government with a fleet of five ships, at an average production cost of £250 million per ship.
“Following a comprehensive competitive process, T31, a capable, adaptable and technology-enabled global frigate will be the Royal Navy’s newest class of warships, with the first ship scheduled in the water in 2023. At its height, the programme will maximise a workforce of around 1250 highly- skilled roles in multiple locations throughout the UK, with around 150 new technical apprenticeships likely to be developed. The work is expected to support an additional 1250 roles within the wider UK supply chain.
Building on our global successes Thales is expanding its capabilities in mission systems delivery in the UK. This will generate new jobs and technical skills in Crawley, West Sussex where the new team has been established. A new naval combat management centre has also been developed to provide a space for customers, employees and end-users to train, test and see how our solutions deliver operational benefits and to continuously gain customer feedback.”
From UKDJ

[Pelican]

A BIG 'SLIP' !

Type 31 Frigate in-service date slips by four years
The Public Accounts Committee was recently informed by the Permanent Secretary for Defence that the first Type 31 Frigate will be in the water by 2023 and that the in-service date will be in 2027.

Earlier statements however indicated that the in-service date would be 2023.

According to the February 2020 update of the ‘Naval shipbuilding‘ research briefing in the House of Commons Library, the approved in-service date for the Type 31 frigates is now 2027, according to a letter written by the MOD’s Permanent Secretary to the chair of the Public Accounts Committee in January 2020.

The National Shipbuilding Strategy said the first vessel should be in service by 2023.

According to the research paper, when Babcock was selected as the preferred bidder in September 2019, the company said manufacture would commence in 2021 with the first ship “scheduled for launch in 2023”.

Noting the change in language, respected defence commentator Save the Royal Navy said in an article quoted in the research paper: “There is a big difference between the launch of the structurally complete hull and a fully functioning warship that is actually in service.”

If not for this work by Save The Royal Navy, this slippage might have gone unnoticed by most.

The research paper goes on to say:

“On 20 January 2020 the MOD informed the Public Accounts Committee the approved inservice date for the first ship is 2027: Evaluation of the Preferred Bidder’s schedule and deliverability assessment has confirmed that Ship 1 will be in the water in 2023, with all ships accepted off-contract by the end of 2028. The IAC [Investment Approvals Committee] has approved the InService Date of Ship 1 for May 2027.”

The Ministry of Defence also reportedly told the Commons Library “the competition we held demonstrated that no bidder could achieve a ship in the water before 2023” but suggested to the author that the in-service date could be earlier than 2027.

You can find the research briefing here.

Go to - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/type-31 ... AJcedPi1vM - for links in blue.

[Pelican]

Only seven years to wait until the Royal Navy gets a new frigate


Head of the Ministry of Defence, Stephen Lovegrove recently wrote another confessional letter, this time to the Public Accounts Committee admitting that the first Type 31 frigate will not be in service until May 2027. Back in the halcyon days of 2017, the First Sea Lord was expecting the lead ship to be in service fully 4 years earlier, by 2023.

2023 becomes 2027
To considerable dismay, in 2018 it emerged that HMS Glasgow, the first Type 26 frigate would not be in Service until 2027. This was much later than the “early 2020s” that had been the expectation and is the result of deliberately slowing the build rate to spread out costs and to ensure long-term workflow for BAE Systems. Until quite recently it had been the RN’s hope that the first Type 31 would be in service as early as 2023 which would help to mitigate the slow delivery of the Type 26. Admiral Jones speaking in September 2017 said: “In order to maintain our current force levels, the first Type 31 must enter service as the first general-purpose Type 23, HMS Argyll, leaves service in 2023. Clearly that’s a demanding timescale…”. This was not just the navy’s vague hope but government policy enshrined in the National Shipbuilding Strategy which stated: “We plan to make a Main Gate investment decision in Q4 2018 and commence build in early 2019. We are aiming for the first Type 31 to be in service in 2023 to coincide with the departure from service of the first Type 23.”

As we reported in November, the whole plan has obviously been sliding to the right for some time. The schedule in the NSbS proved way too optimistic. When Babcock announced they had won the Type 31 competition in September 2019 they were saying steel cutting will begin in 2021 and the first vessel will be “in the water” by 2023. It now appears it will take another 4 years to convert the structurally complete vessel into an operational warship.

By committing to such a distant delivery target, a least there is a generous margin of time to iron out the inevitable issues with the first of class. Speaking this week, Rear Admiral Paul Marshall, Senior Responsible Owner for the Type 31 programme, said all the ships should be delivered by 2028. This would imply that once the first-of-class hurdle is surmounted, the remaining ships will be brought into service during a relatively compressed period. At this stage, how the test, commissioning and trials phases may unfold is an unknown but there is a least some pace in delivery at the tail end of the project.

Bottom of the league
This gives a rough comparison of the time taken to build first of class combatants by various navies around the world. Bear in mind each programme will have its own challenges and individual political-industrial context. Some vessels may be formally commissioned before they are fully in service and trials continue for some time afterwards. The Japanese Atago class destroyers are based on a design already in service and benefit from a sensible iterative development approach and a steady drumbeat of warship construction. For the UK it does not look good, only the stagnant economy of Russia is delivering warships more slowly. Despite the intention to “do things differently”, the time needed to build the Type 31 will still be above average. Although a more complex and capable ship, the 10-year build schedule for the first Type 26 is particularly unimpressive.

Fast, Cheap or Good?
There is a project management maxim called ‘The Triple Constraint’ that says you can either have a product fast, cheap or good, but you can’t have them all. With astute management, it is usually possible to produce something that has two of these attributes but not all three. The Type 31 concept made public in 2015 was always going to be a tough challenge to build a credible warship quickly and at a very low price.

Most would agree that the selection of Arrowhead was the correct choice, the proven platform with the most room for development. Perhaps what was not really recognised was the time penalty that would accompany its selection. Although BAE Systems’ Leander candidate was an unproven design, its Kahreef core had been built before and the more experienced company was probably in a position to deliver the smaller ship more quickly in partnership with Cammell Laird. Babcock has come up with a very credible bid package but despite the experience from Denmark and Thales know-how, there are many elements that must be brought together that will take time. In simple terms, it would appear that price and quality have been prioritised ahead of speed in the Type 31 programme. The quality of the Type 31 will continue to be the subject of much discussion but if the 5 ships are delivered for a total of £1.25Bn they will certainly represent great value for money.

When tomorrow comes
Admiral Jones’ comments about replacing the Type 23 frigates are every bit as true today as in 2017. “They remain capable, but to extend their lives any further is no longer viable from either an economic or an operational perspective. Eight of those Type 23s are specifically equipped for anti-submarine warfare and these will be replaced on a one-for-one basis by the new Type 26 frigate. As such, we look to the Type 31 to replace the remaining 5 remaining general purpose variants. This immediately gives you an idea of both the urgency with which we view this project, and how it fits within our future fleet… we end up with a vicious cycle where fewer, more expensive, ships enter service late, and older ships are retained well beyond their sell-by date and become increasingly expensive to maintain. So we need to develop the Type 31 differently if we’re going to break out of that cycle.” Somewhere along the line the urgency the Admiral advocated and expected has been lost.

Shephard Media have forecast escort numbers will fluctuate and fall as low as 16 at times between 2023 – 40. The Type 23s, which were originally designed to serve for 18 years, are undergoing a programme of delayed but reasonably effective life extensions which should keep them going until around their 34th birthday. Unless they continue to have repairs after repairs and soldier on at ever-spiralling expense, dipping below the magic number of 19 escorts is now a cast-iron certainty. With narrowing options, enhancement of the Batch II OPVs, not a choice favoured by all, looks like the only alternative means for sustaining the surface fleet numbers.

We have discovered a fantastic new way of keeping on schedule, by moving planned in-service dates into the distant future, nothing will ever be delivered late.

Besides the concerns about the fall in escort numbers, perhaps the bigger worry is that the new ships could be semi-obsolete before they enter service. Technology and the geopolitical situation will undoubtedly have moved on significantly in the next seven years. Might the fleet even be tested in a come as you are conflict before 2027? Both the Type 26 and Type 31 platforms have great potential to evolve and develop in future but trying to change the design during construction or even add new capability (other than perhaps software) is to be avoided. Painful past experience dictates tight contracts that bind the supplier to deliver what was agreed at the outset and the Navy must avoid making changes during the project. This kind of client discipline was a major theme of Sir John Parker’s NSbS. The pace of technological change, diversifying threats and speeding up the procurement process is constantly being discussed by defence planners. Meanwhile, we are building frigates (and submarines) at a glacial pace.

“Pace and grip” was another theme of the NSbS. The intention was to speed up the construction of ships and keep building to a steady constant schedule, making small improvements and driving production efficiency. Sir John envisaged a scenario where Type 31s would be withdrawn from RN service after only serving for around 10 years to be sold second-hand overseas and be replaced with new-build vessels. This might still be possible but does not fit especially well with the selection of a large, slow-build platform with an initially austere equipment fit intended to be upgraded at a later date.

There now seems a good chance HMS Glasgow will enter service ahead of Type 31 ship 1 in 2027. We will then be able to celebrate an extraordinary silver jubilee – 25 years since the RN commissioned a new frigate (HMS St Albans).

See - https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/only-s ... cU3a_AfwRc
For links and a table.

[Pelican]

Britain gets a new frigate factory

As part of their successful bid to build 5 Type 31 frigates for the RN, Babcock is constructing a new module hall to assemble the ships at their Rosyth yard. Here we examine the new facility and the implications of this investment.

On 24th January 2020 planning permission was given for the development at the dockyard at Rosyth. The building will occupy land between the Syncrolift hall (opened in 1980 and used primarily for minehunter refits), and Number 1 Dry Dock where both QEC aircraft carriers were assembled. This area was previously used to fabricate and erect the 14 sponson blocks for each carrier that Rosyth contributed to the construction. A spokesperson for Babcock said this week: “Demolition work for the new module hall is now complete, with development of the new facility underway”.

The basic building design is relatively simple, a large hall where two Type 31 frigates can be assembled side by side. This will be an impressive structure measuring 160m in length, 60m wide and 40m high. A prefabricated steel-framed shed can be usually be constructed rapidly, once the foundations are in place. The main internal feature will be two rail-mounted gantry cranes each with two hooks able to provide lifting cover to the full internal floor area of the hall. The cranes will be used to lift the modules into position as the ships are assembled. Both the north and south facade of the building will have two vertical-lift ‘megadoors’. Each door is 24m wide by 30m high with a demountable column between, creating a 48m-wide opening. The building is designed with flexibility for future shipbuilding operations beyond the conclusion of Type 31 construction.

Continues with images at:
https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/britai ... 5ByLGLd3Z0

[DaveH]

It is a pity Babcocks could not reopen the Appledore yard here in the West Country for this project . Maybe if the Poison Fish gets her Independence we can shift shipbuilding of British Warships to British Yards but I won't hold my breath.

[ivorthediver]

I totally agree Dave but I suspect to many slipways have already been greased , and if we are not careful that little Cranky and she manages to convince more of her like whilst wafting through the Glens........ we will all lose ....them investment and employment ....us the option of spreading our countries defence assets around limiting any possible damage to our shores .....

I know the tower is still open , so cant she be invited to reside there

[ivorthediver]

Britain gets a new frigate factory

As part of their successful bid to build 5 Type 31 frigates for the RN, Babcock is constructing a new module hall to assemble the ships at their Rosyth yard. Here we examine the new facility and the implications of this investment.

On 24th January 2020 planning permission was given for the development at the dockyard at Rosyth. The building will occupy land between the Syncrolift hall (opened in 1980 and used primarily for minehunter refits), and Number 1 Dry Dock where both QEC aircraft carriers were assembled. This area was previously used to fabricate and erect the 14 sponson blocks for each carrier that Rosyth contributed to the construction. A spokesperson for Babcock said this week: “Demolition work for the new module hall is now complete, with development of the new facility underway”.

The basic building design is relatively simple, a large hall where two Type 31 frigates can be assembled side by side. This will be an impressive structure measuring 160m in length, 60m wide and 40m high. A prefabricated steel-framed shed can be usually be constructed rapidly, once the foundations are in place. The main internal feature will be two rail-mounted gantry cranes each with two hooks able to provide lifting cover to the full internal floor area of the hall. The cranes will be used to lift the modules into position as the ships are assembled. Both the north and south facade of the building will have two vertical-lift ‘megadoors’. Each door is 24m wide by 30m high with a demountable column between, creating a 48m-wide opening. The building is designed with flexibility for future shipbuilding operations beyond the conclusion of Type 31 construction.

Continues with images at:
https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/britai ... 5ByLGLd3Z0

Thanks David , as always well found and relayed to us who have neither your expertise or sources to search ....