Two new drawings...
Firstly, the Paladin class command frigates. Initially schemed as direct replacements for ageing Diesel Leander conversions however their sheer size dictated that they were diverted elsewhere.
Constructed between 1983 and 1990 the Paladins represent the ultimate evolution in the Cold War Galenic frigate. Capable of maintaining in excess of thirty knots in reasonable swells with excellent sea keeping and accommodation they were ideally suited to their routine deployments around and North of Iceland.
Their initial fit was a similar affair to the Batch III Type 22s in Royal Navy service with two GMLS (fore and aft) in the form SeaFlash (Navalised Skyflash in an Albatross / Aspide launcher). This was somewhat of a stopgap as design work on a new missile complex was being undertaken, this eventually came to nought and resulted in at their first CSP the fitting of Mk48 silos straddling the funnel structure. Initially outfitted with SeaFlash they quickly received ESSM. Their surface punch was provided mainly by a quartet of ASSLMs on the forecastle. Their 76mm 'B' mounting as yet remains unchanged although there is talk of incorporating DART to the remaining vessels...
Withdrawals came quite early on with the shrinking of the RGN post Cold-War. Paladin and Pandora were expended as a target in a SINKEX and as a diver training hulk. Pathfinder remains in commission as a helicopter training vessel having lost all of her armament except for her 76mm gun. Patroller was involved in a high profile collision with an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf ripping her bow off to just forward of the deck house and ergo scrapped.
The remaining vessels (Perseus, Pegasus and Paragon) have all remained in service until recently with the decommissioning of Paragon due to her replacement. Post-recession it has been decided to extend the service life of Perseus and Pegasus instead of constructing the two final command destroyers.
Paladin Class
Specifications Circa. 2014
- Displacement: 5,550 Tonnes (Standard Load)
- Length:138m (Waterline) 151.1m (Oa.)
- Beam:15.2m
- Draught: 5.8m to bottom of sonar dome
- Propulsion:
- 4 Rolls-Royce Spey in COGAG to two shafts (~26,150SHP ea.)
- 2 Ruston 8RK270M diesel-generator sets (~2,400kW ea.) <Ship Services>
- Speed:
- >30 knots (Full)
- 18 knots (Cruise)
- Complement: 240
- Accommodation: 300
- Sensors:
- Artisan 3D Radar
- Selex SASS IR observation devices
- Thales LIROD FCS
- Multiple SATCOM antennae and Link-11/16 antennae
- Thales Variant combination Surface-Nav-Helicopter radar
- STIR 180 directors
- Various band whips
- Electronic Warfare Systems:
- Improved Thales UAT
- Chemring Centurion countermeasure dispensers linked to UAT
- Thales Scorpion 2 RECM
- Surface Ship Torpedo Defence System
- Armament:
- 1x 76mm/62 SR (DART in Fairlight)
- 32x RIM-162 ESSM housed in Mk48 cells
- 2x Typhoon-MLS housing Spike-NLOS
- 2x Twin SVTT for Stingray
- 2x Seastreak CIWS
- Aircraft Carried: 1-2 Sea Lynx shipboard helicopters
- Aviation Facilities: Hangar for two Lynx or similarly sized helicopters, provision for hangaring Merlin is being investigated
Dagger & Fairlight Classes
Directly related to the BAE F2000 light frigates and corvettes the Daggers and Fairlights provide the bulk of the RGN's coastal obligations. Punching above their weight and capable of a good turn of speed they are mainly home-based on the East and North coast and routinely escort Russian and British vessels through territorial waters.
Specifications Circa. 2014
- Displacement: ~2,000 Tonnes (Standard Load)
- Length:89.9m (Waterline) 99m (Oa.)
- Beam:12.1m
- Draught: 5.3m to bottom of sonar dome
- Propulsion:
- 2 Rolls-Royce Marine Spey in CODAG to two shafts (~18,770SHP ea.)
- 2 Ruston 16RK270M diesels (~6,705SHP ea.)
- 2 Ruston 6RK215M diesel-generator sets (~1,392kW ea.) <Ship Services>
- Speed:
- >32 knots (Full)
- 15 knots (Cruise)
- Complement: 75
- Accommodation: 105
- Sensors:
- Artisan 3D Radar (not knowing off the top of my head how big or indeed how smaller the smaller versions of Artisan are I've used the de-facto standard)
- Selex SASS IR observation devices
- Multiple SATCOM antennae and Link-11/16 antennae
- Thales Variant combination Surface-Nav-Helicopter radar
- Thales LIROD FCS
- STIR 180 director(s)
- Various band whips
- Electronic Warfare Systems:
- Improved Thales UAT
- Chemring Centurion countermeasure dispensers linked to UAT
- Armament:
- 1x 76mm/62 SR
- 2x Mini-Typhoon mounts housing M3 HMGs
- 12x RIM-162 ESSM housed in Mk48 cells (24 in Dagger)
- 2x Twin SVTT for Stingray
- 2x Seastreak CIWS (LML in Fairlight)
- Aircraft Carried: 1 Sea Lynx shipboard helicopter
- Aviation Facilities: Hangar for one Lynx or similarly sized helicopter
~Mark.