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systems including renewal of two diesel engines. and Type 23 class frigates when they reach the end of
As the oldest Type 23 frigate in the fleet (HMS Argyll their service lives.
is the first Type 23 to undergo a second refit, or ‘RP2’), There are expected to be three classes of FSC
the project will involve a number of challenges, and – C1, C2 and C3 with C1 and C2 possibly sharing
significant focus will centre on the hull structure, as well a 6000tonne hull. C1 is envisaged as a class of 10
as renewal of the flight deck. Further challenges include high-intensity combatants with the emphasis on
the ventilation upgrade, which affects nearly every anti-submarine warfare.
compartment in the ship and requires careful manage- C2 is planned as eight general-purpose designs with
ment of its interface with other work. HMS Argyll is due the emphasis on a multi-role patrol capability.
to return to duty with full operating capability by the C3, which will be subject to a later contract, will
end of 2010. consists of eight vessels of 2000-3000tonnes for the mine
counter-measures and offshore patrol roles.
Naval aviation If the programme proceeds on schedule it is
Visbys undergo
hoped to launch the first C1 in 2016 with one ship a
year being commissioned from about 2020. BAE Systems
helicopter test
have said that they anticipate that by 2030 half the Royal
Navy’s frontline personnel will be in FSC vessels.
The Swedish Navy has successfully demonstrated that
the Visby class corvettes can operate helicopters. A equipment & technology
comprehensive test programme comprising about
140 landings and take-offs under various wind and
Qe class weapons
sea states demonstrated the feasibility of operating
handling system
the Agusta Westland A-109M helicopter (Swedish
designation HKP 15) for limited periods. The
reaches milestone
helicopter can be lashed to the helicopter platform
and serviced on board but a previous plan to use a An important milestone has been reached with
below-deck hangar has been abandoned. the delivery of the first component of the Highly
Naval Spyglass reported that the experience gained has Mechanised Weapons Handling System (HMWHS),
suggested a similar idea may be used with the training being designed and built by Babcock for the Queen
and support ship Carlskrona, which has a helicopter Elizabeth (QE) class aircraft carriers.
deck but no hangar. The idea would be to provide the The first pair of hydraulically operated magazine
ship with an A-109M during its planned four-month lift doors, each measuring 12m wide by 3m high and
deployment to the Aden Gulf from April 2010. weighing 6000kg, has now been delivered for integration.
Meanwhile, two Visby class corvettes, HSwMS These will be fitted within the deep magazine complex
Helsingborg and Härnösand, have been modified to adapt and are designed to operate automatically as part of the
them better to the demands of international missions. HMWHS.
The ships were upgraded in just 30 weeks from signing Delivery of the doors was required at this early stage
the contract to delivering the second vessel. in the build programme as their size and location within
the ship means that the doors are an integral component
surface Combatants of the vessel. The door insert is welded into the bulkhead
£3.4m contract
of the ship.
The QE class HMWHS provides mechanical handling
launches FSC
facilities for moving palletised munitions around the
deep magazine and weapon preparation areas, and
Work on designing the Royal Navy’s Future Surface a series of weapons lifts to connect the magazines,
Combatant (FSC) has begun with the award of a contract hangar, weapon preparation area and flight deck. This
to BAE Systems’ Surface Ships. The £3.4 million (US$5.6 innovative solution to munitions handling represents
million) contract is to develop the business case, concept the first maritime application of shore-based commer-
design and programme life-cycle cost model. cial warehousing processes using automated systems
Under a 15-year agreement signed with the with all-electric control, adapted for safe transport and
Ministry of Defence earlier this year, BAE Systems stowage of munitions in a warship environment.
will be lead contractor and systems integrator for the It is estimated to yield a 65% reduction in manpower
FSC programme. required for what is traditionally a labour-intensive,
The contract is designed to reduce risks and FSC will time-consuming and potentially hazardous process,
be designed from the outset with potential export sales thereby helping to reduce through-life costs and adopt
in mind. The new vessels will replace existing Type 22 increased safety standards.
Warship Technology March 2010 11
WT_Mar-2010_p6-7-8-10-11-12-13.indd 11 23/02/2010 15:51:34
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