I do want to take this chance to say once more than i welcome any kind of comment, feedback, suggestion and opinion, and i totally do encourage any reader to talk freely and share what he wants with me. It really makes me glad, and, like in this case, it can add a lot of new info and hints for debate to the mix.
Here is the video, peel your eyes open at around 01.15:
I think you'll have immediately noticed how differente these new images are, compared to the old and well known concept arts about the Type 26.
The old Type 26 renders showed this ship:
The new images, significantly shown in a video released in January 2012, after the Capability Decision Point, and thus almost certainly showing the current thinking lines, show a very different ship:
The changes are quite dramatic, and as The Mintcake Maker noted, the new superstructure does indeed look a bit like a stealth, modern Type 22. The feeling is there, when one looks at the image.
The lines of the new design look cleaner and, at least at first gaze, should prove far more stealthy than the previous concept. The CIWS Phalanx 1B aft has been re-positioned, and unsurprisingly it is now shown mounted atop the hangar, in center position. Many commenters, myself included, had been quick to notice that this installation is the one that makes the most sense and ensures the best overall coverage.
The missile fit has changed, too. Two small silos, probably numbering 4 cells each, are shown on each side of the CIWS Phalanx in B position. These are almost certainly quad-packed with CAMM missiles for point defence and, according to MBDA, potentially for surface-strike against fast and small targets.
Behind this "Self Defence" assembly of missiles and CIWS gun, a large number of missile cells can be seen. These are presumably Strike Lenght cells for offensive armament (from cruise missiles to, potentially, ASROC and Anti Ship missiles). I think i've counted two rows of 12 cells each, in the photo, but information about this point is murky, as is the quality of the image. Indicatively, the number of cells could go from a minimum of 16 (a single 8+8 Sylver launcher, in this case) to 24 (two 6+6 modules mounted side to side) to a maximum of 32 (two 8+8 modules mounted side to side).
No Harpoon launchers can be seen in these images, even though i assume they could be fitted aft of the mast, between the radar tower and the funnel.
The alternative is a vertical-launch anti-ship missile (and, consequently, a replacement of Harpoon, which is both needed and desirable) or, much less attractive, the lack of anti-ship armament. I'm willing to rule this last option out: it would frankly be ridiculous to remove ASMs even from the frigates. I can accept that the main RN's anti-ship weapon is the submarine service, but this does not mean that we can/should do away with missiles on the (much more numerous) surface vessels.
The hangar seem to be single, and the volume of the superstructure suggests a large one is provided. As already reported a few times on this blog, it seems more and more likely that the Type 26 will have the same hangar of the Type 45 or an even larger one (note that the ship-boat spaces are positioned ahead of the hangar, which is potentially full-width as a consequence), which means 1 Merlin + drone(s) or up to 2 Wildcat helicopters.
The dog kennel mini-hangar, specific for drones, seems to have been abandoned, and this can only make me glad.
Such small "dog kennel" would rule out the possibility of ever operating 2 helicopters, while at the same time setting hard limitations to the size of UAVs to be developed and put in service. It felt, as soon as it was proposed, like a lose-lose solution. So the change is more than welcome.
Another surprise is the provvision, apparently, of no less than 3 davits. Stealth doors in the superstructure can be seen, identical to the boat spaces on the Type 45, arranged 2 on Starboard and 1 on Port side. This makes me wonder if the Flexible Mission bay under the flight deck has been sized down further during the latest updates. After all, with the capacity of the Flexible Deck being described as 4x 12-meters RHIBs, 3 more boats make for a really impressive number of hulls.
Not that this is a bad thing at all, but it makes me stop for a moment of thinking all the same.
I think it is highly unlikely, however, that the Flexible Deck has been abandoned entirely, because the Navy seemed really pretty keen on getting it, and because such a large, reconfigurable space is excellent for mission flexibility and for ensuring the vessel has plenty of growth margin for its service life, which by design will be no shorter than a long 30 years.
Wholly new is also the placement of the small caliber guns of the frigate: the two DS30M remotely-operated 30 mm guns are mounted high up on sponsons stretching out from the hangar's sides, and giving the guns unrivalled firing arches for excellent coverage.
Overall, this new design seems very promising, but it would be very great to hear some more details about the ship design. I hope that, soon, someone will provide us with some good info!
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| I've evidenced some things and made a few observations, using Paint. Click on the image to see in larger scale. |
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| I've evidenced some things and made a few observations, using Paint. Click on the image to see in larger scale. |
The new images shown in the video seem to be a direct evolution of an earlier image shown at DSEI last year, which can be considered a midway step towards this latest design.
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| This image shown at DSEI is far closer to the latest design visible in the video than the early concept arts. Image from NavyRecognition. Click on photo to view larger |
The image showed the DS30M guns shown far back, but located low at flight deck level, but the superstructure design is already moving towards the latest lines in a very evident way. CIWS are not shown in this graphic, but the missile silos ahead are taking the shape that they have in the video.
Assuming that the general information in the graphic is still valid, core crew will be 115 plus up to 20 men for the aviation flight, with accommodation for 130 + 36. The rear mission bay is present, but unfortunately no data on its sizes is provided. The large hangar is confirmed by the specification of an embarked wing of a Merlin HM2 plus UAV, which can only mean a pretty wide and deep space even if, of course, we do not know the indicative sizes considered for the rotary wing UAV. At DSEI the RN received a proposal for a Gazelle light helicopter conversion into a UAV, though, so we might easily be looking at something pretty significant.
The graphic also contains precious info about propulsion: CODLOG, with two electric engines, one per shaft, feed by 4 Diesel Generators for cruise and by a direct drive Gas turbine for max speed.
A configuration similar to that of the french FREMM. CODLAG is almost certainly feasible, but apparently not favored, undoubtedly due to cost. Almost certainly it will be an option for export orders.
The Gas turbine could be a WR21, as on Type 45 (which has 2), or a more powerful MT30, as on CVF (2 per each carrier). I'd be inclined to indicate the WR21 as likely fit, considering the 5400 tons of the Type 26 current concept, but it is essentially speculation. MT30, would a more future-proof solution due to the greater power output, which would support service-life growth in the weight of the vessel.
As another bit of news, especially for who lives in Portsmouth or nearby:
the massive Lower Block 02 of HMS Queen Elizabeth is scheduled to leave BAE's yard in Portsmouth on May 25. Whoever has a chance to, should totally make sure to enjoy the majestic sight: if i could, i damn well would, after all!
The gigantic Block 02 will be carried by barge to Rosyth, and there will be a new "Beat the Block" initiative for charity as well, as the March edition of DESIDER reports.
Cyclists are invited to take part in Beat the Block 2, following the success of the
first event, from Glasgow round the coast of Scotland to Rosyth, last year.
The journey to Rosyth will involve 500 miles in five days and minimum sponsorship is
£250 per entry for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
Places are limited, closing date for entries is 30 March. More info from kirsty.noble@baesystems.com
