Article Real hope for a bigger Royal Navy

[morris]

Real hope for a bigger Royal Navy – the Type 32 frigate concept | Navy Lookout

www.savetheroyalnavy.org

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.
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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.
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The possibility of Scottish Independence also casts a malevolent shadow of uncertainty over any long term discussion about UK warship building.
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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.
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The aspiration for 24 escorts
The Type 32s are intended to strengthen the RN escort fleet with additional ships, not just replace ships being decommissioned, The RN has a long-held ambition to have 24 escorts (6 destroyers and 18 frigates) which it believes is the real minimum required to sustain a carrier strike group at readiness and fulfil its other tasks. Unfortunately, even with the increased defence spending and intention to build a new frigate class, this ambition cannot be realised until at least the late 2030s. Until then forward-deployed OPVs will have to plug the gaps.

 

[muck]

How's RN recruitment doing these days? Do they even recruit enough sailors to fill all those ships?

 

[morris]

What is the Type 32 frigate?

The Prime Minister has announced surprise plans to develop a new Type 32 Frigate to expand the Royal Navy fleet.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

Type31

What is the Type 32 frigate UK Prime Minister mentioned?

On 19 November the Prime Minister announced plans to develop a new Type 32 frigate for the Royal Navy. This was unexpected; the Royal Navy already has two new types of frigate on order. SOURCE: House ...

defence-point.com

 

[morris]

How's RN recruitment doing these days? Do they even recruit enough sailors to fill all those ships?

Artificial Intelligence and automation will help to reduced crew size and achieve lower costs or so they say.

 

[muck]

Artificial Intelligence and automation will help to reduced crew size and achieve lower costs or so they say.

Mhm. Lower crew sizes might as well be achieved that way but at what cost, I wonder? Due to automation and the redundancies required, modern warships grow bigger and bigger in size and become insanely expensive. The initial price tag isn't very meaningful, unfortunately. (Unless the Brits have discovered some sort of golden formula.)