UK to purchase two Littoral Strike Ships

[MartG]

It has been announced that the UK will purchase two Littoral Strike Ships - article here with more info

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-to-purchase-two...

I'm not sure if they are intended to partly plug the gap left by the scrapping of HMS Ocean

[Lurking Lawyer]

Begs two immediate questions:

1. whose budget is going to be cut to fund them; and

2. where are the sailors coming from to crew them, given the current manning issues.

Could be RFA ships, I suppose - although that still doesn't get round the funding question since I can't see Hammond having put any more money on the table.....

[citizensm1th]

ohhhh ideal for the south china sea let's hope they don't have the same problems the type 45 had with warm water conditions.

[Taffer]

The rendering looks suspiciously like a Point-Class Ro-Ro with some cut and shut/modifications made - are a couple of them laying idle at the moment?:

[MartG]

Hmmm...it does bear a certain resemblance...

[2xChevrons]

Taffer said:

The rendering looks suspiciously like a Point-Class Ro-Ro with some cut and shut/modifications made - are a couple of them laying idle at the moment?:

It looks even more like the US Sealift Command's 'Ocean Trader':



Which came off the same drawing board as the Point-class, has the same hull and is used for both the function of the Points (sealift supply) and the proposed duties of these 'Littoral Strike Ships' (supporting troop, boat and helicopter deployments).

So either a) The MoD have rendered-up an image of the 'Ocean Trader' as little more than a placeholder/artists impression since this isn't even at the design acceptance stage, just "Investing now to develop a new Littoral Strike Ship concept" b) They're looking at new-building something based on the Point-class hull along the lines of 'Ocean Trader' or c) The Point-class aren't being fully utilised and they're looking to convert a couple of them.

It also raises the question as to whether these LSSs (if they ever come to exist) will be operated by the RN or the RFA - the 'Ocean Trader' and the US's two' Expeditionary Mobile Bases' (basically militarised heavy-lift ships as the 'Ocean Trader' is a militarised lorry-carrier) are run by Sealift Command. And we're already seeing RFA ships take over some RN deployments in rather more active terms than traditional.

Edited by 2xChevrons on Monday 11th February 23:42

[andy97]

More info on the MV Ocean Trader and her relationship to the Point Class here:
https://www.maritime-executive.com/editorials/navy...

Seems like a good idea to modernise the ARAPAHO concept but does make me wonder, as some one else mentioned, what else will be cut from the budget to fund these ships and their conversions.

Also, if we want improved amphibious support capability why did we sell one of the Bay Class to the Australians.

Where are the escort ships and the manpower going to come from to have the two littoral strike groups Defence Secretary talks about, in addition to the escorts required for QEC and independent ops.

I assume the ships, if they happen, will be RFA run. Although the RFA budget is also cut to the bone.

Edited by andy97 on Tuesday 12th February 08:51

[MartG]

andy97 said:

Where are the escort ships and the manpower going to come from to have the two littoral strike groups Defence Secretary talks about, in addition to the escorts required for QEC and independent ops.

Exactly - to fulfil their intended role they will probably need to be positioned closer to the action than the typical RFA vessel, so will require protection. A few machine gun mounts may be able to see off the typical Somali pirate, but not anyone armed with a missile

[captain_cynic]

MartG said:

andy97 said:

Where are the escort ships and the manpower going to come from to have the two littoral strike groups Defence Secretary talks about, in addition to the escorts required for QEC and independent ops.

Exactly - to fulfil their intended role they will probably need to be positioned closer to the action than the typical RFA vessel, so will require protection. A few machine gun mounts may be able to see off the typical Somali pirate, but not anyone armed with a missile

The name "littoral" implies exactly that, the littoral zone is the area of a sea or lake that is closest to the shore, making them more vulnerable to land based weapons.

Also means the escorts will also need to be capable of operating in a littoral zone.

This may be a bit of confusion with the terminology on my part, but by "purchase" I assume they'll be buying them off someone else rather than building them?

[andy97]

captain_cynic said:

The name "littoral" implies exactly that, the littoral zone is the area of a sea or lake that is closest to the shore, making them more vulnerable to land based weapons.

Also means the escorts will also need to be capable of operating in a littoral zone.

This may be a bit of confusion with the terminology on my part, but by "purchase" I assume they'll be buying them off someone else rather than building them?

I think the original announcement refers to merchant hulls or ferries.
I assume the plan is to purchase (or use the Point Class as referred to above) and convert, much as was done with MV Contender Bezant to become RFA Argus etc.