Shipbucket

This is a image from old forum showning a proposal for modernization of real Hellenic Navy Gearing destroyers:



And a model of Taiwanese Yang Class "Wu Chin III" mod Gearing FRAM (link) : http://www.steelnavy.com/VeteranChienYangCCP.htm

The question is if I could ceate for my AU a more moderate "interim" modernization in late 1970's, until the Salamis Class frigates enter service. Hellenic Navy AU received 8 ex-USN Gearing FRAM DD in 1971-1973.

-From the "Themistocles" I take the idea for Albatros SAM, but the 4-cell launcher was installed instead of the Mk29. The Albatros Mk2 SAM would be recycled when the Gearing decommissioned. FCS could be something stand alone which could be connected later in a Combat Direction System (when recycled). Two MW-series seem suitable, WM-25 or WM-28.
-Two of 5"/38 guns will be retained, in "A" and "Z" position (lower front and rear). The new FCS would control the guns also, replacing the analog WW2 era director.
-The SQS-23 sonar was adequate, Hellas AU use it also in Kimon/Aristeides AAW DDG (4/2 hulls) , which were built in 1970's. Difference is the Aristeides has double ended Mk13, losing the helicopter hangar for twin AB-212.
-ASROC "Matchbox" launcher could take Harpoon, so these could be launched from ASROC (4 RGM-84 total). Real HN Gearings had anyway two double Harpoon launchers.
-I wonder if the remaining space in "Wu Chin III" hangar could take the SA-319 Alouette III helicopter (Hellas AU attained manufacture license and built around 100, among them 20 for Navy). The MD500 has fuselage width 2.07m while the SA-319 goes to 2.62m. That to install twin single 40/L70 OTO Breda.
-An indigenous ESM would be installed plus its countermeasures (CM-series chaff/flare launchers and DL-series for testing).
-"Themistocles" use italian radar, but in my scenario the LW-03 would be used, which was manufactured under license.

as an "interim" it could work, but remember you should put in factors that equipment start to get old and bad.

(Note: these vessel is build for a different climate, that basically mean they are designed to carry more weight on deck, in form of ice. for you'r Mediterranean ships, they would normally notbe designed for accurate that much ice on deck, weight that can go to equipment.)

We could in this case use Oslo class as an example since it's an ship that was in service from 1966 to 2007.

Things you can take from Oslo class:
- speed reduction due to boilers and equipment after and around boilers and turbines are getting old. (Oslo class went from a top speed of 38+- knots down to 25+- knots or lower.)
- guns replaced with something else (Oslo class had it aft 3" replaced with an 40 mm due to the twin 3" was worn out that it could hit a barn from the inside, the other twin 3" was similar condition)
- Weapon upgrade during years (Oslo class got first Penguine, then later AAW missile and new improved radar and systems.
- life boat replaced with a RHIB (Oslo class..)

Another vessel we you could use as an example, is the Danish Peder Skram-class frigates:

According to Combat Fleets of the World the Themistokles retained all three 3x2 127mm and first has 2x1 20mm added amidships, later replaced bt 2x2 30mm Emerlec with 2x1 CSEE Panda optronic directors. She also received a small hanger with a roll-up door and a flight deck for an Alouette III helicopter. The setup was very cramped. She had an SQS-10 VDS on the stern. Her ASW armament was 2x3 324mm ASW TT and 2x1 MK 10 Hedgehogs abrest the bridge. Electronics were a navigation radar, I believe a Decca TM-1226, SPS-10 and SPS-40. She had an SQS-23 bow sonar and URN-25 TACAN.

The Themistokles was apparently one of the Gearings listed on Jane's Fighting ships to reportedly be more extensively modernized in Italy with 2x1 76mm OTO, Aspide and a helicopter deck extended to the stern for an AB-212. Nothing came of this and Themistokles received the modernization listed above. She ended her life as a submarine target.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XgFCNQfWt6I/T ... x%2B13.jpg

I have ssen this photo before. It seems that the ASROC launcher was removed, although photo is not very clear.

In my scenario, all Gearings decommissioned from 1988 to 1990. Gradually they became weapons targets except one. Names were a bit different from real world.

During that program (for my scenario), Mk10 Hedgehog was removed, simply because it was obsolete.

The former Frank Knox didn't have an ASROC launcher. She was a radar picket destroyer.

The question is "Why would you bother?".

At any time the US has 100's of ships in mothball condition. A lot of which will be considerably more modern than a Gearing.

Hellenic Navy should ask US if the Gearing plus the money they would have spent on refurbishments would be enough to get a more modern set of destroyer/frigates. For NATO members the US will normally help all they can to get more modern ships into a Navy.

From mid 1970's a new domestic designed frigate started to enter service and an interim solution was needed. Gearings were given in 1970-1973, like in real world. Also 7 Flethers were given in 1950's and were modernised in late 1960's to early 1970's. Three variants were developed and decommisioned in late 1980's. An indigenous IR-guided SSM included in the program, which were use also in small frigates (corvettes) and FPBs.

Until 1981 6 indigenous AAW destroyers were in service (Kimon/Aristeides classes), using Mk13 GMLS and the electronics from Lutjens DDG.