Future of the Royal Navy
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At the beginning of the 1990s, the Royal Navy was a force designed for the Cold War - with its three small aircraft carriers and a force of ASW frigates and destroyers, its main purpose was to search for and destroy Soviet submarines in the North Atlantic. The Falklands War (1982) proved a need for the Royal Navy to maintain a bluewater capability.
However the Royal Navy has had to carry out an ever increasing number of commitments while at the same time seeing the size of its surface fleet gradually shrink over the period of twenty years between 1982 and 2002. Recent cuts have seen the retirement of the Sea Harrier with the Royal Navy sharing RAF's Harrier GR7/GR9 until delivery of the Joint Combat Aircraft, as well as the early paying off of a number of Type 23 frigates. There are currently 14 ships under construction, including Astute class submarines and Type 45 destroyers.
Over the course of the 1990s and the 2000s, the navy has begun a series of projects to improve its fleet, with a view to providing enhanced capabilities, although many of these have been cut or cancelled. This has led to the replacement of smaller and more numerous units with fewer, but larger, units. The main examples of this are the replacement of Type 42 destroyers with half as many Type 45s and the confirmed replacement of the three 20,000 tonne Invincible class aircraft carriers with two 65,000 tonne Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.
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[edit] Major Fleet Units
A major source of naval power projection is the aircraft carrier. The two ships of the Invincible class have limited capabilities, due not only to their small size, but also the capabilities of the main type of aircraft on board - the Harrier GR7/GR9. In the 1998 Strategic Defence Review the Ministry of Defence announced that it would replace the Invincible class with a pair of much larger vessels of the Queen Elizabeth class, in a project that was originally designated as 'CVF' (Aircraft Carrier Future). These two ships, Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales, were ordered in 2007 and will each displace approximately 65,000 tonnes and be some 280 metres long, making them the largest vessels ever operated by the Royal Navy. They will be STOVL carriers, operating the STOVL variant of the F-35 Lightning II, which has been ordered by both the Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Air Force to replace the Harrier. It will also operate the Merlin ASW helicopter, and a platform for Maritime Airborne Surveillance and Control (MASC), among the contenders for which are a modified version of the Merlin, the E-2 Hawkeye or a modified version of the V-22 Osprey.
Since the mid 1980s, the Royal Navy has been looking at ways of replacing the small and obsolescent Type 42 air defence destroyers, which have been in service since the early 1970s. After two failed collaborative efforts - the NFR-90 project and Project Horizon (in association with France and Italy), the government announced that a new class of destroyer, the Type 45, would replace the Type 42. Type 45 will displace approximately 7350 tonnes, which is considerably larger than its predecessor, and will be the largest combat ships (except aircraft carriers and amphibious vessels) built since the Tiger class of the mid 1950s. For its primary mission, it will be equipped with the PAAMS integrated anti-aircraft system. As with the Type 42, the Type 45 will also have a limited anti-surface/anti-submarine role, being equipped with a 4.5in gun and a helicopter, which will either be Lynx or Merlin. Although it will not initially be fitted with anti-ship or land attack missiles, its size will allow upgrades to be made if required, giving it enhanced multi-role capability. It was recently announced that the Type 45 will have in the region of 190 crew, around one hundred less than the Type 42. Together with the larger size of the vessel, this will allow better living quarters. The first unit of the class, Daring was launched in February 2006.
At present, the majority of the navy's escorts are Type 22 and Type 23 frigates. Work was begun on Future Surface Combatant (FSC), to replace the Type 22 and 23; however, the project was cancelled in late 2004. Three other projects were considered in its place: the Medium Sized Vessel Derivative, the Versatile Surface Combatant and the Global Corvette. It has been suggested that the MSVD would be a multi-role variant of the Type 45 destroyer. No decision regarding these projects has been announced.
[edit] Amphibious Units
In 1990, the Royal Navy's amphibious forces were still centred on the Fearless class Landing Platform Dock (LPDs), both of which were commissioned in the 1960s. The end of the Cold War saw a re-evaluation of the navy's amphibious role - not only were replacements for the Fearless class required, but increasingly helicopter assault capabilities were recognised as vital, capabilities which the navy had not had since the 1970s. An unsuccessful attempt to use RFA Argus in this role re-emphasised the need for a specialist vessel, hence HMS Ocean was ordered in 1993. The ship's hull form is based on that of the Invincible class, but she was constructed to commercial specifications and to a modular design (meaning the ship was assembled from pre-constructed blocks). Commissioned in 1998, Ocean is the first purpose built helicopter carrier in the Royal Navy. She has space for an Embarked Military Force (EMF) of up to 800 troops and their associated equipment, or 500 troops plus up to 40 light vehicles and 6 field guns. Her air group is tailored to the operational situation, but would typically include up to 12 Sea King transport helicopters, supported by up to 6 Apache attack helicopters. However, the flight deck is rated to accommodate helicopters the size of Chinook. The Harrier jump jet can also be transported, and flown from the ship's flight deck. Troops can also be transported off the ship by one of four Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVPs) that are fitted.
In 1996, the Government placed an order for two ships to replace HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid; these ships were named HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark. Fearless was withdrawn in 2002 (Intrepid had been non-operational since 1991), being replaced by Albion in 2003; Bulwark commissioned in 2004. Both ships have an overload capacity of 700 troops, with the standard being just over 300. Up to six Challenger 2 main battle tanks, or 30 smaller tracked vehicles, can be accommodated on the vehicle decks - these can be removed by one of the Landing Craft Utility (LCUs) located in the stern docking well. This can also accommodate an Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC). Another four small LCVPs, similar to those carried by Ocean, are also carried, and there is a flight deck (though no hangar) which can support either two medium lift (Merlin or Sea King) or one heavy lift (Chinook) helicopters.
Ocean, Albion and Bulwark form the core of the amphibious force. They will be supported in their mission by the Dock Landing Ship (LSDs) of the 'Bay' class. These ships, operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, replaced four of the elderly Landing Ship Logistics (LSLs) of the Round Table class. The new ships will resemble the LPDs in having a large flight deck and stern docking well, with a capacity of over 300 troops.
Although the units mentioned will form the core of an amphibious task force, additional capacity will be provided in the form of six roll on/roll off vessels for strategic transport (as opposed to direct amphibious assault). In addition, the three ships of the Invincible class have a secondary role as an Landing Platform, Helicopter (LPH).
[edit] Hydrographic Squadron
The Navy's surveying service has responsibility for surveying and charting the oceans, the information from which goes into the numerous Admiralty produced charts and publications that are used all over the world. As a consequence, the work that the service does must be as accurate as possible, which requires the best equipment available.
The Royal Navy has a mandate to provide support to the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), which comes in the form of the dedicated Antarctic Patrol Ship. However, in 1990, HMS Endurance was over 30 years old and, having been repaired following collision with an iceberg, was found to be unsafe to return to the Antarctic. The vessel that was chosen to replace her was chartered from a Norwegian shipping company and commissioned as HMS Polar Circle. After a successful deployment, it was decided to purchase the ship outright, and she was renamed HMS Endurance in honour of her predecessor. Endurance's mission is twofold; to assist the BAS in charting and surveying the waters around the Antarctic, a task for which she is well suited thanks to her strengthened bow, and to provide a semi-permanent naval presence in the South Atlantic in support of the Atlantic Patrol Task (South) deployment.
The navy's ocean going survey needs were served by the four ships of the Hecla class, all built in the 1960s and 70s. Two were paid off in the late 1980s, while HMS Hecla left the service in 1997. She was replaced by the brand new survey vessel HMS Scott. Scott is the largest ocean survey vessel in Western Europe and, at over 13,000 tonnes, the seventh largest vessel in the Royal Navy (only the three carriers and three amphibious vessels displace more). Despite replacing four ships with only one, the Scott is able to spend over 300 days a year at sea, thanks to its crew rotation system, whereby the total complement of 63 is divided into three teams - two man the ship, while the third remains ashore on leave or in training and rotating back on board when the ship returns.
In addition to the ocean survey vessel, the navy retains a single coastal survey ship, HMS Roebuck, which performs the same tasks on the UK continental shelf as HMS Scott does in deep ocean. However, the remainder of the survey fleet has since been replaced by the two brand new multi-role ships of the Echo class, which commissioned in 2002 and 2003. HMS Echo and HMS Enterprise build on the success of the Scott by utilising similar methods of operation and technology. These ships are joined in service by the smallest commissioned vessel in the RN, the survey launch HMS Gleaner.
[edit] Patrol Forces
The navy operates patrol vessels primarily in the role of fisheries protection and guarding British interests in the North Sea. These tasks were primarily undertaken by the 'Island' class, which entered service in the late 1970s. They were supported by the two larger vessels of the 'Castle' class. However in 1997 a decision was taken to replace them. An order for three much larger offshore patrol vessels was placed in 2001. The first three ships of the 'River' class, HMS Severn, HMS Mersey and HMS Tyne (named after main rivers in England), were commissioned between 2002 and 2003. They have a large cargo deck and 25 tonne capacity crane aft, which allows them to be fitted for various roles including disaster relief, fire-fighting and rescue work. Mersey and Severn will be fitted with a flight deck for medium helicopters, giving them facilities equal to the 'Castle' class. Unusually, the three River class ships are owned by Vosper Thorneycroft, and leased to the Royal Navy until 2013.
In 2005, construction of HMS Clyde began; this is a modified 'River' class vessel which replaces the two 'Castle' class vessels as the Falkland Islands guardship. She was launched on 14 June 2006 in Portsmouth Naval Base by VT Group shipbuilders. She was named in a ceremony in Portsmouth Naval Base on 7 September 2006 and commissioned in July 2007. She departed Portsmouth Naval Base for the Falkland Islands in August 2007.
[edit] Submarines
In the early 1990s, the Royal Navy's submarine force was already in the process of being upgraded. The Trafalgar class SSNs ultra quiet pump-jet propulsion system, were still entering service, while the first of the Vanguard class SSBNs was close to completion. Today, the modernisation of the Royal Navy's submarine force centres on the Astute Class SSNs and the Swiftsure & Trafalgar Update Final Phase (S&TUFP). In 1997, an order was placed for three units of the Astute class, which was designed as the SSN replacement for the Swiftsure class, with an option for a further two. The fourth boat was ordered in 2007. The new boats will be larger and quieter than the existing SSNs. However, under the Strategic Defence Review, the five Astute class boats will replace five unmodernised Swiftsure and Trafalgar class submarines. S&TUFP will see the remaining boats of the Swiftsure and Trafalgar classes upgraded, giving them similar combat capabilities to the Astute class.[citation needed]
[edit] Fleet Air Arm
Along with the aircraft carriers, a major instrument of power projection is the Carrier Air Group. The larger the air group, the more tasks it can perform. The Invincible class, because of its small size, has only a limited capacity, and is only capable of operating STOVL aircraft, the Harrier GR7/GR9. In 2006 the Sea Harrier was withdrawn from service, with fixed wing flying from the carriers now based on the Harrier GR9. This has seen the two front line Sea Harrier squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm converting to the GR9, as part of the evolution of the Joint Force Harrier concept. The Harrier's eventual replacement in both the RAF and the FAA is the F-35 Lightning II. The Joint Strike Fighter will be a significant improvement over the Harrier, in terms of speed, range and weapon load.
The anti-surface/anti-submarine mission remains the purview of rotary aircraft; in small ships this is the updated Mk8 version of the Lynx. However, in the carriers and in later frigates, the larger Merlin helicopter is used - this has replaced the Sea King in the ASW mission. The Sea King remains in the commando assault mission from HMS Ocean.
Merlin is also being touted as a replacement for Sea King in the Maritime Airborne Surveillance and Control (formerly Airborne Early Warning) mission. However, the limitations of using a helicopter in this role are well documented - endurance is limited, service ceiling is low and vibrations from the rotors may cause distortion. Therefore, two other concepts have been put forward, a MASC version of the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and a version of the E-2 Hawkeye aircraft.
The V-22 would be an attractive option given the STOVL configuration of CVF, as it combines the VTOL aspects of a helicopter with the endurance of a fixed wing aircraft. The E-2 is already in service with the French and US Navies; the problem with the aircraft is its CATOBAR configuration; although it has been proven that it can launch successfully from a ski-jump, it would still require arrestor wires for landing, which would force CVF to be refitted to a STOBAR configuration, although the design chosen does name provision for this. It has advantages over the V-22 again in terms of endurance and ceiling; because its cabin is pressurised, it can operate at greater altitude than the Osprey, extending the range of its radar.
[edit] Addendum
In July 2004, the Government announced a restructuring of the Armed Forces as part of its new Defence White Paper, Delivering Security in a Changing World, confirming that the number of Type 45s expected to be ordered would be reduced from 12 to 8 units, while the two attack submarines due to be decommissioned would not be directly replaced, taking the SSN fleet down from 10 to 8. In addition, the existing escort fleet will lose six units, the three oldest Type 42 destroyers, HMS Glasgow, HMS Cardiff and HMS Newcastle, which will be paid off earlier than expected, and three Type 23 frigates, HMS Norfolk, HMS Marlborough and HMS Grafton, as well as a further six mine counter measures units, will be disposed of with a total of 1,500 job losses. In the same speech Geoff Hoon announced that the RAF will receive 16 BAE Nimrod MRA4s, the UK's long range maritime patrol aircraft and suggested that an eventual fleet of twelve might suffice. This is reduced from an anticipated order of 18. On 18 July 2006 BAE received a production contract worth £1.1 billion GBP for 12 MRA4s. This was justified by Ministry of Defence policy that it is not the number of platforms that is important but the capability achieved by the force as a whole.
During 2007 and 2008 various national newspapers reported that there will be serious cuts in the Royal Navy's Fleet as funds are redirected to other resources.[1][2]
[edit] References
- ^ Thomas Harding. "Navy to cut its fleet by half", The Telegraph, 2007-01-05. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
- ^ Richard Norton-Taylor. "Ministers face tough choices on weapons cut", The Guardian, 2008-01-02. Retrieved on 2008-01-02.
