Real hope for a bigger Royal Navy – the Type 32 frigate concept
As part of the Integrated Review announcements on 19th November, the Type 32 frigate concept emerged blinking into the light of public gaze for the first time. In this speculative article, we consider the possible design of this vessel and when it may enter service.
There are plenty of theories doing the rounds about the purpose of Type 32 which include; motherships for mine warfare USVs, an anti-submarine specialist or a replacement for the Type 45 destroyer. It is very early days and the RN is still working to define its requirement in more detail but official sources say the vessel will primarily be a general-purpose frigate. It will play a similar presence and maritime security role as the Type 31 and will not be a high-end combatant like the Type 26.
‘The Type 31 Batch II’
Delivery of the Type 31 is a fixed contract between Babcock and the MoD that does not allow the customer to make changes to the design or equipment fit during construction. Although there is plenty of margin for additions, any upgrades will have to be made after they enter service. As embodied by the RN’s transformation programme, there is a recognition of the increasing pace of global change and the main difference between Type 31 and Type 32 will be to incorporate a decade’s worth of technological advances.
There are no guarantees but logic dictates Type 32 will almost certainly be a development of the Type 31. There are many good reasons for this. It would be expensive and take time to develop a new combatant design from scratch and if there is already an open production line for Type 31 up and running, it would make sense to sustain the drumbeat of work and utilise the experience readily available from building a similar platform. This approach would keep costs down and allow manufacture to start sooner. Assuming the Type 31 hull is used as the basis for the platform, commonality of propulsion and other systems could be maintained, simplifying both the design, logistic support and training requirements.
Besides BAE Systems in Glasgow fully occupied with Type 26, there are no other UK shipbuilders with recent experience of warship construction. Theoretically, Cammell Laird could build a Type 32 design based on the BAES ‘Leander’ candidate that failed to win the Type 31 competition but this would appear to be a much higher risk option.
There are a few wrinkles to iron out in any proposal to just continue production at Rosyth. Competition is a central tenet of the National Shipbuilding Strategy which could make it politically awkward simply to award the Type 32 contract to Babcock, even if this makes most industrial and economic sense. Other UK consortiums will want a chance to be involved despite the Fleet Solid Support Ship action and other work in the promised shipbuilding renaissance. The possibility of Scottish Independence also casts a malevolent shadow of uncertainty over any long term discussion about UK warship building.
A combatant fit for the 2040s
Automation and off-board systems are the are two key areas where Type 32 is likely to differ significantly from Type 31. Artificial Intelligence and automation is likely to have a greater role, in the combat management system, navigation systems and maintenance management. Continuing the trend of reduced crew size places fewer people in harm’s way, lowers costs and may offer a quicker response to complex threats. The entirely uncrewed warship may not yet be viable by the 2030s but that is the direction of development.
While further automation can primarily be achieved with software and may have a less visible effect on ship design, increased reliance on hosting off-board autonomous platforms will have a bigger impact. One of the weaknesses of Type 31 is that its mission bay is below the flight deck. Useful for storing containerised equipment but it has to be loaded or unloaded by crane in harbour. There are 4 boat bays but these are limited to launching RIBs or small/lightweight UUV and USVs.
With no significant effort to reduce its acoustic signature for simplicity and cost reasons, Type 31 is a poor ASW platform. By deploying a medium-large size UUV equipped with its own sensors that can dive deep and get away from the radiated noise of its mother ship this situation could potentially be remedied. The 4-tonne USVs that the RN is acquiring for the autonomous mine hunting and similar vessels that may be used for patrol and surveillance would also need robust handling systems if they are to be deployed from a frigate in the open sea.
Continues at?
https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/real-h ... N_LdpT7WXA
