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Royal Navy unveils Type 31 Frigate

CougarKing

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Defense News


New Royal Navy general purpose frigate to be known as Type 31
By Andrew Chuter, Defense News 10:33 a.m. EST February 12, 2016

LONDON — The British Government sprung a surprise Nov. 23 when it launched its 2015 strategic defence and security review announcing it was to build a new class of general purpose frigates for the Royal Navy.

Now, three months later, the process of launching a concept study is underway and the Royal Navy has decided on Type 31 as the number for the warship, according to sources familiar with the naming process.

Speculation the Royal Navy would opt for Type 31 for the new warship has been around almost since the SDSR was published but sources here said the decision has now been made.

(...SNIPPED)
 
Latest on RN plans:

Type 31 Frigates may ‘permanently operate’ in Gulf and Pacific
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/type-31-frigates-may-permanently-operate-gulf-pacific/

The information regarding plans for the Type 31 frigate comes to light in a speech by Admiral Sir Philip Jones, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, delivered the Lord Mayor of London’s annual Defence and Security lecture in Mansion House last week.

“Given our long standing defence relationships in the Middle East, it is certain that a Royal Navy task group – centred on a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier – will regularly deploy East of Suez.

And it will be perfectly possible, should we wish, for Type 31 frigates to permanently operate from the Gulf region or from Asia-Pacific in the decades ahead.

These are examples of what we COULD do and not yet policy, and I am never complacent about the challenges we continue to face in recruiting and retaining the very best men and women in a competitive employment market.”

The original planning assumption for the Royal Navy was for thirteen Type 26 Frigates (eight ASW and five GP), replacing the Type 23 frigate fleet like-for-like.

However, it was later announced during the November 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review by then Prime minister David Cameron that only the eight anti-submarine warfare Type 26 frigates would be ordered. The funding for the remaining five general purpose Type 26 frigates is instead to be spent on developing a new class of lighter and more affordable general purpose frigates.

Due to an expected lower cost, the government suggested it may allow an eventual increase in the total number of frigates in the Royal Navy. This general purpose frigate will be designated as the Type 31 frigate.

It is understood that the Type 26 Frigate will primarily support carrier task group operations while the Type 31 is to be deployed for a range of less high-tempo operations.

In July 2016, BAE revealed two general purpose frigate designs to meet the requirement; the Avenger-class and the Cutlass-class, we discussed them here.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/bae-unveils-potential-designs-type-31-frigate

[Cutlass]
cutlass.jpg

Note that BAE has been competing for RCN CSC:

RCN’s Canadian Surface Combatant Will be Foreign Design
https://cgai3ds.wordpress.com/2015/11/20/mark-collins-rcns-canadian-surface-combatant-will-be-foreign-design/

Mark
Ottawa
 
Chris Pook said:
Interesting procurement strategy:  adjust size and number of ships to suit budget.

Totally unrealistic. It's like someone on a limited budget would do when grocery shopping. Modern, sophisticated governments would convene a number of studies that dragged on until all the factors became outdated and the program has to be cancelled, revamped or postponed for a decade or more.
 
Old Sweat said:
Totally unrealistic. It's like someone on a limited budget would do when grocery shopping. Modern, sophisticated governments would convene a number of studies that dragged on until all the factors became outdated and the program has to be cancelled, revamped or postponed for a decade or more.

Your servant, Sir.  I yield in the face of the experienced voice.
 
Major departure from the RN's usual naming convention (I think a rebirth of the Leander/Type 12 names was expected), but I like it. Busy program with T26, T31 and Astute in various stages of build at once.
 
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