Converting the Bay-class auxiliaries into littoral strike ships
The Defence Command Paper published in the wake of the March 2021 Integrated Review promised: “more than £50m will be spent converting a Bay class support ship to deliver a more agile and lethal littoral strike capability”. Here we take a speculative look at the options for the conversion.
Background
The Bay Class Landing Ship Dock – Auxiliary (LSD(A)) vessels were originally conceived to provide follow-on support to amphibious assaults, with additional troops and stores carried ashore by landing craft and mexeflote. While they are still entirely capable in this role, they have proved to be flexible and adaptable as a platform for other tasks, notably mine warfare support and humanitarian aid operations. As uncrewed systems become increasingly important they are also an ideal mothership for UAVs, UUVs and USVs.
The full history and design of these vessels is covered in depth by an earlier article but it is safe to say the three remaining Bay class are in high demand. The decision to convert at least one as an LSS is intended as a stop-gap until replaced by the promised ‘Multi-Role Vessels’ in the early 2030s. The conversion should be complete by 2023 when the first LSS is expected to deploy to the Indo-Pacific region.
A more expensive route would have been to procure a dedicated LSS using an adapted merchant vessel. Prevail Partners had developed the LSS concept and put agreements with relevant commercial shipping companies in place that could have delivered the capability without converting one or more of the precious LSD(A)s. Besides cost, limited personnel numbers, boats and helicopters available to equip additional vessels must also have factored in the decision not to go with the Prevail offering.
The LSS concept is described officially as “a forward-deployed vessel, to respond rapidly to crises, special operations-capable, ready to strike from the sea, to pre-empt and deter sub-threshold activity, and counter state threats.” The most significant difference in role between that of the LSD(A) and LSS is the requirement to loiter at sea for longer periods and be able to generate and support special forces and light raiding operations. This is in line with the Future Commando Force (FCF) concept that envisages smaller, more agile forces not intended to conduct ‘traditional’ heavier amphibious warfare. The development of a new Royal Marines operating model is a necessary adjustment to a changing and more complex battlespace, but it is also a convenient way to avoid the significant costs of recapitalising ships and equipment needed to retain the full spectrum of credible amphibious capability.
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https://www.navylookout.com/converting- ... ike-ships/
Also see -
https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 3468736516