Moved across,
Repulse wrote: ↑11 Apr 2023, 18:01 I think that six MRSS would be a mistake.
Really depends on the design of the MRSS.
If they were 200m LHDs with 1500m2 hanger space, 6 spot flight deck, 2 LCU floodable dock, 300pax plus crew, a Role 2 medical facility and around 1500lm of RORO who would complain?
Maybe it’s time to admit the French were actually pretty much spot on with their Mistrals.
It is based on the principle that six large ships would give flexibility to scale, which is true to a point but actually the FCF needs are more complex and there are better solutions than a one common platform fits all approach.
RN just doesn’t have the mass anymore for the tailored bespoke solution to every problem.
The Bay class are so popular because they are so versatile.
For example, an “Airborne” Littoral Strike Group (ALSG) consisting of a CVF sailing with a LPD and a FSS can arguably support a Cdo sized helicopter assault OTH, along with the ability to resupply using LCMs restocked from the support ship. Therefore, keeping two large LPDs with large flight decks is a key capability - MRSS flight decks are relatively small and there is no need for a hangar.
That sounds great and also very expensive.
The MRSS is a clean sheet design. If the budget is around £400m per hull virtually any design configuration is possible. Therefore why not spend the £2.5bn on six vessels that are truly transformational for RN. The current Amphibious fleet is a 20th century relic and although highly capable it is too expensive to operate properly which is why it has been continuously cut since 2010.
The next-gen Amphibs need to capable and cost effective with highly efficient HADR capabilities for when they are not being used for Amphibious Assault or Littoral Strike. That will save them from the chopping block regardless of how many flattops RN operates.
Add an Aviation Support Ship capable of operating six helicopters and 200 troops then adds the ability to doing large SF airborne raids. It could do this by itself when operating in low threat maritime environments, but if could also be added to a ALSG or part of an allied force.
Why not enable all of the MRSS vessels to provide such a capability? A Bay class with a 1000m2 hanger added could achieve that now. As a surge capability it’s not that expensive as the full potential of the hull is not utilised on a regular basis. Other nations Enforcer designs had a Airborne Littoral Strike capability built in from the start.
Large amounts of hanger space is going to be critically important on all logistic vessels going forward as heavy lift UAVs increasingly become one of the most important ship to shore connectors. How big will these heavy lift UAVs become? Moving large amounts of equipment ashore from an OTH position will be most efficiently handled by XL heavy-lift UAVs so something Merlin or Chinook sized is not out of the question.
What is left is the requirement to land sub company sized units directly to shore and able to support them by operating further inshore in the Littorals. This is where the T32 becomes interesting, but with the need for multiple vessels then I think the term Frigate is overdoing it.
Perhaps but a Littoral enabler that is self protecting is a sensible proposition if it can be afforded both in terms of procurement and operating costs.
Adding all of the capabilities required to a Frigate is a very expensive ambition. Probably unaffordable and highly likely the size and displacement would increase to a modest MRSS level really quite quickly.
IMO the best compromise remains to build a highly capable Littoral enabler around a High Capacity OPV design with a defensive suite that can be rapidly upgraded by PODs if required. Any offensive capability really should be on the accompanying escort(s) or via the aviation assets.
Calling in the CSG every time a LRG or LSG is formed would be massively expensive and a guaranteed way to get the whole concept scrapped.
It would be much better to build a more capable MRSS and only involve the CVF when the F35 are required. Downgrade the T32 programme to an affordable level and build a structure that can be afforded for the foreseeable.
LRG: 1x Hi Cap OPV, 1x MRSS, 1x T31+.
LSG: 2x Hi Cap OPV, 2x MRSS, 2x T31+.
ESF: 2x Hi Cap OPV 2x MRSS, 2x T31+, CSG