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  • Changes to Royal Navy's surface fleet announced

    Changes to the Royal Navy's surface fleet, including the withdrawal from service of HMS Illustrious and the four remaining Type 22 frigates, have been announced today by Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox.

    HMS Illustrious will be withdrawn from service in 2014 and HMS Ocean will be retained to provide the landing platform helicopter capability for the longer term.

    Four frigates are also to be withdrawn from service. These are the remaining Type 22s: HMS Chatham, Campbeltown, Cumberland and Cornwall.

    Chatham will be withdrawn from service at the end of January 2011, Campbeltown and Cumberland will follow on 1 April, and Cornwall at the end of April.

    HMS Ark Royal will be finally withdrawn from service at the end of this year.

    The Bay Class amphibious support ship to be withdrawn from service will be RFA Largs Bay, in April 2011.

    The Auxiliary Oiler RFA Bayleaf and the Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment vessel RFA Fort George will also be withdrawn from service in April next year.

    Other changes affect the Navy's amphibious ships. One of the two Landing Platform Dock ships will in future be placed at extended readiness while the other is held at high readiness for operations.

    From November 2011, the high-readiness ship will be HMS Bulwark, and on current plans this will change to HMS Albion in late 2016 when Bulwark enters a refit period.

  • #2
    I think rather than telling what is being withdrawn, they should tell what remains.
    The MoD seem to forget that one ship, no matter how advanced its equipment, can only be in one place at the time. They also forgot to mention that though they are retiring the frigates from next year, there are as yet no concrete plans to replace them. There are ideas and fancy graphics, but no contracts to build or quantities.
    I can see NZ snapping up Fort George. The Frigates too will probably see a lot more life elsewhere before their final visit to the Breakers yard.


    Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

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    • #3
      Yes it would be a nice replacement for the Endeavour, would need to get more helicopters thou to fill all those hangar spots

      Perhaps the UK would like to gift it to the RNZN in return for the gifting of the HMS New Zealand in 1912, probably more than a fair deal

      Comment


      • #4
        Australia to buy amphibious military transport ship, aircraft
        CANBERRA, March 17 | Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:54pm EDT


        (Reuters) - Australia will buy a large amphibious warship from Britain and a C-17 wide-body military transport plane from Boeing to expand its fleet, which is currently on earthquake relief operations in Japan, the defence minister said on Thursday.

        Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the navy would buy a surplus Royal Navy Bay Class heavy amphibious lift vessel, to complement two 27,000-tonne helicopter assault carriers on order from Spain and entering service in 2015.

        Australia's air force would also buy an extra Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport because of its usefulness in disaster relief, both at home and after the recent earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan, Smith said.

        The 16,000-tonne Bay Class landing ships are capable of carrying 350 troops and large military helicopters. Britain recently noncommissioned one vessel in its fleet under the government's 2010 Strategic and Defence Review.

        Two carriers already under construction by Spanish shipbuilder Navantia for Australia's navy will each be capable of carrying 1,000 troops and up to 24 helicopters, as well as armoured vehicles and tanks.

        They are part of a multi-billion-dollar upgrade of Australia's military that includes new air defence destroyers, up to 100 stealth fighter aircraft, helicopters, tanks, long-range cruise missiles and 12 new submarines costing $25 billion. (Reporting by Rob Taylor; Editing by Ed Davies)


        Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

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        • #5
          We tried to flog them one or more of the Albion class in 2009, but they saw through our attempts to pull the wool!!

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          • #6
            Wonder if the RN will find a buyer for some or all of the Type 22s.

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            • #7
              Chile or Brazil would be my bet.
              Covid 19 is not over ....it's still very real..Hand Hygiene, Social Distancing and Masks.. keep safe

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              • #8
                Pretty good bet I'd say, but the best decision would be to keep them.

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                • #9
                  Keep them until they begin building a replacement at least!


                  Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Formal bid lodged for purchase of Larg Bay
                    31 Mar 2011


                    Having earlier held discussions with Defence Secretary Liam Fox on the subject, defence minister Smith announced on 17 March that a formal bid to purchase the ex-RN ship Largs Bay had been made to the UK government.

                    The UK Bay class are based on the Royal Schelde Enforcer design, similar to Dutch HNLMs Rotterdam (L800) and Spanish SPS Galicia (L51) LPDs.

                    Originally classified as Alternative Landing Ship Logistics (ALSL), they were reclassified as Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) [LSD(A)], as they developed into a form very much more like an LSD, with a large flight deck aft and a docking well in the stern capable of operating a LCU Mk 10.

                    The large flight deck can accommodate two Merlin or Chinook helicopters.

                    The military lift includes the capacity to load and transport up to 32 challenger 2 tanks, or 150 light trucks.

                    They can carry a normal load of 356 troops, or overloaded with 500.

                    They are designed to operate over the horizon using helicopters and landing craft, to get men and equipment ashore
                    Defence Minister Steven Smith announced on 17 March that a formal bid to purchase the ex-RN ship Largs Bay has been made.


                    Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

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                    • #11
                      Four former British warships are up for sale. The deadline for interested parties is 23 January 2013 with viewing inspections in February and March.


                      Overview

                      The Disposal Services Authority (DSA) is inviting expressions of interest in tendering for the Type 22 Frigates HMS Chatham, HMS Campbeltown, HMS Cumberland and HMS Cornwall, for the following:
                      •Further use
                      •Sinking for an artificial reef
                      •Recycling

                      At this stage the DSA does not require interested parties to specify which vessel/s they wish to bid for.

                      It is the DSA intention to award at least one vessel to a UK ship recycler. This is in part to secure detailed knowledge of the UK’s capacity to recycle vessels. Any decision to award to a UK ship recycling company will be made in accordance with transparent and objective evaluation criteria which will be issued at the Invitation to Tender stage.

                      All interested parties should note that only bidders that have completed and passed a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) will be sent an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the vessels and allowed access to view the vessel.

                      The vessels are moored at Portsmouth and will be sold from there.

                      The DSA are planning to host viewings from 25 February to 15 March 2013, Monday to Friday.

                      All bidders intending to undertake inspection of the vessels must wear the correct PPE clothing ie. steel toecap boots, high vis jackets (overalls optional). Please note, if you do not have steel toecap boots on arrival you will be refused access to the vessels.

                      Only bidders that have received a copy of the ITT will be allowed access to inspect the vessels.

                      Bidders should not book travel until they have received a copy of the ITT and understood the requirements.


                      Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

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                      • #12
                        Are the UK exempt from EU tendering regulations ?

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                        • #13
                          Royal Navy pulls out of Nato commitments
                          DEFENCE ministers have admitted the UK has been forced to pull out of key Nato naval defence groups in a sign of just how stretched the Royal Navy has become.


                          The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has acknowledged it has not provided a frigate or destroyer for Nato’s maritime group defending the North and East Atlantic since 2009.

                          Written answers also reveal the Royal Navy stopped providing either of the ships for Nato’s second standing maritime group in the Mediterranean since 2010.

                          And they show that having previously supported three of four minesweeper groups, it now provides just one minesweeper.

                          The revelations come just days after First Minister Alex Salmond was accused of talking down the navy, for arguing that its priorities are wrong.

                          In his speech last week, Mr Salmond said: “At present, what we have, we don’t need. And what we need, we don’t have.

                          “The navy does not have a single major surface vessel based in Scotland. It is absurd for a nation with a coastline longer than India’s to have no major surface vessels.”

                          The SNP said the MoD’s written answers showed the First Minister’s comments were justified and described the revelations as “shocking”.

                          Angus Robertson, SNP Westminster leader and defence spokesman, said: “These answers are truly shocking. The fact the Royal Navy has not provided a single vessel to the Nato maritime group responsible for the East Atlantic since 2009 is beyond belief.

                          “This lays bare the over-stretch of the Royal Navy and the past UK government’s over-riding concerns about projecting power instead of being good neighbourhood Nato partners.

                          “We expect that an independent Scotland in Nato would participate the same way our close friends do.”

                          Speaking about the groups, Nato Allied Maritime Command’s deputy commander, French Vice-Admiral Christian Canova, recently said: “They are not just a symbol but a real force doing real operations. Standing naval forces are the cornerstone of Nato’s maritime strategy, demonstrating the will and presence of the alliance”.

                          But the MoD said the changes to the UK’s commitment were agreed as a result of the Strategic Defence and Security Review three years ago.

                          A spokesman last night said: “The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review removed the Royal Navy’s requirement to provide a standing contribution to the standing Nato maritime group 1.

                          “But, as already stated, the Royal Navy maintains a strong relationship with Nato through the Nato maritime headquarters, based in the UK, which is permanently commanded by a Royal Navy vice-admiral.”

                          A senior source close to Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the SNP was “not being straight” with voters and under the party’s plans Scotland would only have a small navy.

                          The source said: “The SNP seem to forget under their plans they would only be able to afford 1.6 destroyers or frigates, half an Astute submarine and one sixth of an aircraft carrier.

                          “The Scottish Government’s defence budget wouldn’t allow Scotland to mount maritime tasks in the Atlantic as well as protect Scottish interests overseas. They still lack a credible defence plan.”


                          Scotland would need ‘shelter’ from stronger allies in any conflict with Russia, warn academics

                          An independent Scotland would be “at a deep strategic disadvantage” to Russia in the conflict that is expected to emerge from climate change, according to Icelandic academics.

                          Scotland would need “shelter” from stronger allies, which will “incur costs different from, and not necessarily lesser than” those of contributing to UK defence, legal and political experts from the universities of Iceland and Akureyri have advised.

                          But small Nordic states have been living with similar risks for decades while independence would allow Scotland to pursue new tactical alliances more suited to its national interests, they argue in the Icelandic Review of Politics and Administration.

                          Alex Salmond last week set out his vision for defence in an independent Scotland, which he said would take account of its size and future responsibilities as climate change opens up new shipping lanes and energy sources.

                          The academics said: “Like all Nordic states, Scotland would be at a deep strategic disadvantage vis-a-vis the main potentially problematic actor in the region, namely Russia.

                          “It would have less than a 12th of the population of, and far less military strength than, its nearest neighbour - the remaining UK (rUK).

                          “It would also be more exposed, geopolitically, than rUK to the wider Arctic zone which is expected to witness rapid development and turbulence – if not actual conflict – because of climate change.” The added small states are “disproportionately vulnerable” to external threats.


                          The Royal Navys Albion Class assault ship HMS Bulwark, which entered service in 2004. Picture: AFP/Getty



                          Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

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                          • #14
                            Future frigates unveiled as design for Type 26 nears completion
                            11 September 2013



                            The latest design for the Fleet’s frigates of tomorrow have been unveiled as the first contracts were placed for equipment to be fitted to them.

                            Thirteen Type 26 Global Combat Ships will replace the existing baker’s dozen of Type 23 frigates which have served the RN with distinction since the early 1990s.




                            Images: BAE Systems

                            THIS is the best idea yet of how the Royal Navy’s frigates of tomorrow will look.

                            Computer artists have unveiled the latest impressive imagery – and a video – of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship which show the design of the new vessel dramatically taking shape after three and half years’ work.

                            From 2020, these ships will take the place of the trusty Type 23s which have been the nation’s safeguard and protector against submarine attack – and much more – since the early 1990s.

                            The images were unveiled at the Defence Security and Equipment International exhibition in London’s Docklands by BAE Systems, as it announced the first contracts had been placed for some of the key equipment aboard.

                            Work will begin on the first – as yet unnamed – ship in the class in just three years’ time, with that same vessel due to be in service as soon as possible after 2020.

                            As things stand at present there will be 13 of these warships – anti-submarine warfare, air defence and general purpose duties such as hunting down pirates, pummelling enemy positions with its main gun, or providing humanitarian aid in the wake of disaster – replacing the 13 Type 23s currently in the service around the world with the RN.



                            A Merlin Mk2 sits on the flight deck of a Type 26

                            A combined RN-MOD-BAE 550-strong team has been working on the design of the ships since the spring of 2010 and those efforts have reached the stage where BAE are ready to issue the first contracts.

                            The ships will be powered by a combined diesel electric or gas turbine system – meaning they’ll be capable of high speeds, but also cruise along extremely quietly. Rolls-Royce have been selected to design the 26’s gas turbines; MTU will provide the diesel generator sets and David Brown Gear Systems have been asked to develop the gearbox.

                            The fourth contract has been placed with Rohde & Schwarz to work on the vessels’ communications system.

                            The Type 26 will be slightly longer than the Duke-class they replace (148m to 133m) and slightly heavier (5,400 tonnes to 4,900).

                            It incorporates many of the features of the similarly futuristic-looking Type 45 destroyers – chiefly angled sides and an enclosed upper deck for increased stealth.

                            Sea ceptor missiles will fend off incoming air attack, there’ll be a medium calibre gun on the forecastle, vertical missile silos for other weapons.

                            As with the Type 45 destroyers the new vessels are being designed with the future in mind so it will be easier to adapt them to new technology introduced to the Fleet during the course of their lifespans.

                            As for their predecessors, the oldest Type 23, HMS Argyll, is expected to serve until around 2023, while the youngest, St Albans, will be on duty until around 2036.




                            Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

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                            • #15
                              UK purchases Arctic patrol vessel HMS Protector.

                              The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has agreed to purchase HMS Protector , an icebreaker and Arctic patrol vessel currently on lease with the Royal Navy (RN).

                              HMS Protector has been bought at a total cost of GBP51 million (USD82.2 million) from Norwegian-firm GC Rieber, plus an additional GBP3 million for a one-year contractor logistic support arrangement, the MoD confirmed to IHS Jane's on 27 September.


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