Concept Study: a European Corvette Recipe

[kato]

The question is to what extent this will actually be an OPV.

I know C3 is primarily an attempt to go towards a dual-use OPV hull with other purposes, but influx from the other navies might actually keep it even more "simple" here to some extent.

Indeed, there are already high-end warships "above" these units. Of the navies mentiones, long-term, at least 23 in the UK, 11 in Germany, 8 in the Netherlands and Belgium, 18 in France and 10 in Italy. And these - except the UK and of course Belgium - have some sort of "high-end-OPV" patrol unit already; in the form of NUMC, K130 and the Holland class, and whatever France will at some point locally pick out as successors of the Floreal and D'Estienne d'Orves classes.

Basically, we are already at the "low-end" when it comes to a patrol role. With the exception of the UK.

 

[Todjaeger]

Just wanted to re-cap what the proposal was, because it sounds as though different members had rather different ideas as to the scope/goals of the "programme".

It now sounds as though the primary objective of the programme would be for a vessel capable of limited ocean patrolling which can also perform or be fairly easily re-rolled as an MCM vessel. The ability for the vessel to be up-armed to a limited extent would also be a plus. Is this a fair assessment of the goals of the programme?

I ask this because I had interpreted the end result or target to something a bit different. I had envisioned a vessel that was at least potentially, much more capable in terms of ASuW and Air Defence. I had considered this as being important since it seemed as though the desire would be a candidate for replacing the Danish Flyvefisken-class multi-role patrol boats and/or the German Navy's Type 143A Gepard FAC. Given that the former has a fitout which is very much ASuW and Air Defence-oriented, and the latter was designed to engage in ASuW, having a larger ocean-going corvette that at least had the same potential in those roles seemed important.

Based on later posts though, it seems the focus is more on MCM operations, and ocean patrolling of the sort that an OPV would engage in, though not necessarily operating quite as far from a coastline as an OPV might. What might then be worth examining is Canada's Kingston-class MCDV. It has a MCM capability, which can be one of three different modular MCM systems, a sweep system, route survery or ROV. The vessel itself is nearly 1,000 tons (though only 55m in length) with max speed listed of 15 kts and a range of 5,000 miles @8 kts. From what I have read, the Kingston-class, though able to operate in some of the rougher areas around Canada, can be a bit rough on the crew in bad weather. If the vessel were increased in size by perhaps 20m in length, and between 400-500 tons displacement, this might allow sufficient room for a helipad (and possible hangar/ISO container space) and additional modules for more MCM equipment, weapons, etc. The sensors would likely be sufficient, though perhaps exchanging Surface Search radar for an Air/Surface Search would work, as would adding in a datalink capability (if it does not already possess it).

The sort of design I end up with begins to resemble an up-armed USN Avenger-class MHO with a helipad, as opposed to what generally comes to mind when I think of corvettes. However, if this meets the desired design criteria, that is fine.

-Cheers

 

[kato]

Effectively we would be looking at a (light) OPV hull that would for the most part be roled for MCM, with probably at least half, more likely about 2 out of 3 ships fitted for that role at any time.

Only 4 of the 11 remaining Flyvefisken in Danish service are fitted out as FACs btw. The only other ship with a AD capability in this would be the Italian corvettes, although i actually have no idea to what extent the MM sees this as a useful capability. The Gepards are slated to be replaced by a patrol/escort corvette with a likely far less ASuW focus.

 

[tatra]

Suggestions:
- an improved Hameln/Frankenthal/Ensdorf design?
- Tenix' old 80m Offshore Patrol Vessel

 

[alexsa]

After reading thsi post for some time I find one problem with the 'concept' (as both Tod and kato have indicated) and that is the mission(s) has not been defined. The vessesls capabiltity will be defined by it mission(s) and that will then drive the design.

In the thread we have ranged between well armed escort to OPV only armed as requried for that role. If we have a compromise vessel that can cover all roles may mean it cannot do some roles effectively. If you are looking at a solution for many national interests (as this suggests) then perhaps a family of vessels (as oppsed to looking at modular systems) based on a common hull and machinery with reasonable speed, good range and decent stability and weight characteristcs would be a good place to start.

 

[tatra]

If you are looking at a solution for many national interests (as this suggests) then perhaps a family of vessels (as oppsed to looking at modular systems) based on a common hull and machinery with reasonable speed, good range and decent stability and weight characteristcs would be a good place to start.

E.g. Sigma range