Export Light Frigate Challenge

[rbz88]

One of three guided missile frigates purchased by Neodoros from South Cordar. In 1982, a shipyard in South Cordar was experiencing financial difficulties, and the owner's home country, Neodoros, decided to come to its aid, and was able to purchase three custom-built guided missile frigates at a favourable price. Since the situation in the vicinity is stable, there is little pressure on Neodoros for national defence. Therefore, the three frigates are equipped only with short-range ship-to-air missiles and light anti-ship missiles, as well as one 100mm gun and two twin 37mm rapid-fire guns. As there is no need for anti-submarine warfare, there is no helicopter hangar, only a helideck designed for service needs, and capable of taking off and landing anti-submarine helicopters if necessary.

[H_K]

One of three guided missile frigates purchased by Neodoros from South Cordar.

Hi Rbz88, I like the extra top view. Any details on armament, helicopter type, propulsion etc? Also is it really an FFG as the missiles forward look like short range SAMs?

Reminds me somewhat of a Kortanaer or Karel Doorman FF, in terms of general arrangement, though without the ASW focus. (No helicopter hangar in the 1980s however seems like an unusual choice!) Wondering if you used any real designs for inspiration or which you would consider comparable?

[tbshift]

Vosper Mk 8 Frigate, Maehe Class


Maehe, as commisioned in 1978

The withdrawal of the raft of small escort ships leftover from WW2, The Mynoghran Navy set about acquiring a modern replacement. Eyes drew to the Royal Navy's Type 21 Frigates which were all just completed or being built. The Type 21's origins stemmed from under British political and Treasury pressure for a relatively cheap, yet modern, general purpose escort vessel. On the surface, this seemed to have been achieved with the Type 21s (The weaknesses revealed during service were not yet known.) Given all this, The navy approached Vosper Thorneycroft, designer of the T21s to create a improved, slightly smaller design more tailoured to south pacific service. Given that the navy had recently ordered a quartet of modified T42 destroyers, long range air defence was not considered - more focus was put on close range air defence and ASW capability.

6 Ships were ordered, 3 being laid down in 1974 and 3 in 1976. They would proove to be good seaboats despite their small size. They were upgraded in the early 2000s, with the obsolete seacats and .79" cannons being replaced with Phalanx CIWS and the native Fasioti Short range SAM. As of the present 3 still serve, 3 being withdrawn in 2005, 2017 and 2019 respectively.

General Characteristics
Displacement: 2,670 tonnes standard load
Length: 98m wl, 109m oa
Beam: 12.7m wl, 12.7m oa
Draught: 4.3m
Complement: 12 officers 156 ratings

Armament
1 x twin 3"/70 (7.62 cm) Mark 6 gun
4 x single 0.79") /70 (20 mm) Mark 4 cannons
2 × 4-rail launcher for GWS-24 Sea Cat
2 × 3-barrelled Knebworth Corvus countermeasures launchers
2 × triple Mark 32 torpedo launchers
1 × Westland Lynx Helicopter

Aviation facilities
Flight deck and hangar

Propulsion
CODOG on 2 shafts;
2 × Fairbanks-Morse 12-cylinder diesel engines: 4,500 hp (3,300 kW)
1 × Olympus boost turbine: 50,000 shp (37,000 kW)
Speed:
30 knots (56 km/h; 34.5 mph) 35 knots burst speed (Olympus)
18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) (Fairbanks)
Range:
5,200 nmi (9,600 km; 6,000 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
1,600 nmi (3,000 km; 1,800 mi) at 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)

Sensors and processing systems
1 × Radar Type 992Q low-level search
1 × Radar Type 978 navigation
2 × Radar Type 912 fire-control
1 × Radar Type 903 director
Sonar Type 184M

Ships in Class:
-Maehe (1978 - 2019) Decommisioned and scrapped, 2019.
-Kanaloa (1978 - 2017) Decommisioned and sunk as target, 2017.
-Mana (1979 - Present) In active service.
-Nahesa (1980 - Present) In active service.
-Rangiroa (1980 - 2005) Constructive loss after fire - decommisioned and sunk as artificial reef, 2005.
-Nihiru (1979 - Present) In active service.

[H_K]

Vosper Mk 8 Frigate, Maehe Class

I like the drawing.

From a realism perspective, I wonder what tradeoffs would be necessary with the smaller hull size relative to the T21s (8-10m shorter, 0.8m less beam). Stability might be impacted… especially with the heavy twin 3” mount forward (though replacing the Exocets with SeaCat should save some weight… interesting choice by the way, rather against the times). Perhaps consider reducing the mast height or replacing with an Oto 76mm compact? (Or keep the same beam as the T21s)

Also might be worth simplifying the propulsion arrangement as this is an export frigate and a Pacific navy which would want good range… Yarrow was using CODOG for its small Malaysian & Indonesian corvettes at the time (1x Olympus + 1x diesel), and the Wielengen class (1x Olympus + 2x diesels) also comes to mind… should still be good for 27-30 knots with a single Olympus.

[tbshift]

Thank you for the feedback, ill make the changes to beam and propulsion as you reccomended.

[Richelieu180]

WestPacT-FR Program

WestPacT-FR (Western Pacific Treaty Frigate Replacement for 90s) was a multi-national programme designed to produce a common frigate for several Western Pacific nations, and intend to export to other countries, including some from Southeast Asia, Central and Latin America. Different design variants and concessions made in this program based on different requirements needed by every nation involved in this program.



Development

The project sought to achieve economies of scale in the production of the next generation warship. Feasibility studies began in 1985 and reported that with a modularity in design, low cost for availability for other countries and chosen weapon requirements, collaboration should be possible.

This program was led by Vestricia joined by Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand under West Pacific Treaty of 1981.

Like in the NFR-90 program, arguments erupted in the design definition stage over such issues as the choice of a primary anti-ship weapon. Taiwan pushed its domestic missile they had developed while the majority of the nations preferred the Boeing RGM-84 Harpoon. Australia, Japan, and South Korea, in particular, were uneasy about the lack of space needed for installing the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System. Japan is also interested in having a size of a destroyer rather than a frigate in order to protect their maritime territory against Chinese incursions in the Senkaku Islands.

However, unlike the NFR-90 program, the Vestrician government and Admiralty made a motion to build the final design they made during discussion between nations in order for other countries to modify on their own based on the various requirements needed by every nation.

The first WestPacT frigate under the Vestrician variant was laid down in the Winter of 1989 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Oosora City.


Technical Specifications

Type:Guided Missile Frigates

Length: 119.50 meters
Beam: 14.50 meters
Draft: 5.10 meters
Displacement: 3,850 tonnes full load
Speed: 29.50 knots
Range: 4,100 nautical miles at 15 knots

Propulsion System
• Combined Diesel or Gas Propulsion System
~ 2x Rolls-Royce Marine Spey SM-1C Gas Turbines generating 26,150 shaft horsepower
~ 2× MTU 20V956 TB92 diesel engines generating 10,920 shaft horsepower
~ 2x shafts/ controllable pitch propellers

Aviation Facilities
• Large Helideck and hangar for one AgustaWestland AW109 SAR Helicopters

Armaments

• 1x Twin 100mm/65 Type 98 Mod 2 Gun

• 1x Syndral Guided Missile Launching System Mod 2 for 42x MBDA Mistral Short-range Air Defense Missile or BongBong-2B Short to Medium-range Surface-to-Air Missile

• 2x Mark 141 Guided Missile Canister System for 4x RGM-84 Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile

• 2x Mark 32 Triple Torpedo Tubes for Type 90 Long Range Rapid Approaching Torpedoes

• 1x RVG-12 Svalinn 30mm Close-in Weapon System

• 1x MSI 30mm DS30M Mark 2 Automated Small Caliber Gun

Ships of the class

FFG-11 HVMS Stadtfeld
FFG-12 HVMS Rosenworth
FFG-13 HVMS Coate-Salienne
FFG-14 HVMS Esfort

Export on service (different design and weapon requirements)

Japan Maritime Self-defense Force - 9 ships active
Royal Thai Navy - 2 ships active
Philippine Navy - 4 ships active
Chilean Navy - 2 ships active
Peruvian Navy - 1 ship active
Colombia Navy - 1 ship active

[rbz88]

One of three guided missile frigates purchased by Neodoros from South Cordar.

Hi Rbz88, I like the extra top view. Any details on armament, helicopter type, propulsion etc? Also is it really an FFG as the missiles forward look like short range SAMs?

Reminds me somewhat of a Kortanaer or Karel Doorman FF, in terms of general arrangement, though without the ASW focus. (No helicopter hangar in the 1980s however seems like an unusual choice!) Wondering if you used any real designs for inspiration or which you would consider comparable?

Hello, H_K, thanks for your feed back ! In response to your query, I've just added two or three short notes. To be honest, there is no helicopter hangar as this AU country has relatively low defence pressure and little chance of encountering hostile submarines. As for real life references, for the stern section I was referring to the 053hth exported to Thailand.

[Blackbuck]

Orla-class Light Patrol Frigate

In lieu of the two Peacock class vessels originally intended for purchase from Britain, the Irish government opted for a pair substantially more capable vessels from Vosper Thornycroft based upon their existing Mk.18 export frigate design. The resultant pair of vessels Orla and Ciara were duly ordered in 1985 and completed in early 1989, serving until 2008 when they were both retired, being sold on to Romania.

101m Waterline Length x 12.75m Beam (moulded) x 4.8m Waterline Draught || 1,950Te Trial displacement
COGAG via 1x RR Marine RB.211 @ 25,000SHP and 2x RR/SNECMA M45H @ 7,500SHP ea.
4x Paxman Ventura 8YJCAZ generator sets @ 450kWe ea.
>35kt Max. >15kt cruise ~3,500nm @ 15kts

119 Crew, 10 officers and 109 ratings

1x 120mm/46 Bofors, 8x Sea Eagle SSMs, 2x 30mm x173 Oerlikons, 2x Twin Lightweight Seawolf launchers with 16 reloads between them, 2x Triple LWTT with 8 reloads for them and the embarked helicopter.

1x Lynx-sized embarked helicopter in a below-deck hangar.
2x 7m Inflatable boats

Marconi S1820 primary search set, Type 1007 nav/surface set
ST1802 SW and ST802 directors
Type 184M keel-mounted sonar set plus MOAS and underwater telephone

Notional EW suite with ESM and ECM on the foremast and masthead alongside the usual decoy launchers to port and starboard

[Yamato Sammy]

Zhenya Mikhailov class frigate


First, of her class, CCIN escort ship #128 was the first of this type of ship adopted by the CCIN naval security forces when global trade routes were threatened by a submarine raiding force blocking important food and material shipments to member nations designed in Arstotzka then built in 7 different member nations this class of ship would balloon to a whopping 55 ships built for just the global war of 1974 during which the ships would find themselves protecting humanitarian shipping and military convoys all across the globe. Post-war most not destroyed and found in good shape would continue to serve into 2002 with the major navies as training ships and border guards, some smaller navies continued to operate these until 2015 in differing states of disrepair and refit.

[Garlicdesign]

Hi everyone!

F-2800-Class Frigate

During the 1970s, the French developed a series of export frigates in three sizes: The C-1800 corvette (no sales), the F-2000 frigate (four sold to Saudi-Arabia) and the F-2800 frigate, the most successful type, of which four each were purchased by Chile and Pakistan.

Resembling a bigger (only marginally longer, but beamier and deeper) F-2000 with more freeboard, better seakeeping and improved structural resilience, the F-2800 was designed to operate in open waters under challenging weather conditions, where the F-2000 would likely quickly meet the limits of their seakeeping abilities. F-2800 also was better equipped for ASW than the primarily antiair/antisurface focused F-2000, mounting the same bow sonar as contemporary French Georges-Leygues-class frigates, had hangar space for two helicopters rather than only one, and were equipped with a sextuple Bofors 375mm ASW mortar forward, with a limited secondary short-range shore bombardment capability. Common features were the all-diesel propulsion and the austere radar equipment, which was limited to a single air/surface search set, a navigation set and a helicopter approach set, and the lack of VDS. For armament, different options were offered, including italian and US gear. By the time the design was finalized in the early 1980s, the market for such ships was more or less saturated with Italian and German designs, and attempts to sell the F-2800 to Portugal, Greece, Colombia, Peru, Iraq and Malaysia all failed. Morocco and Egypt also showed interest, but ultimately could not afford new-built frigates. The lead customer eventually became Chile's Pinochet regime, who - grasping the chance to overtake Argentina after the virtual annihilation of the Argentine navy during the Patagonian War - placed an order for four ships in 1983. The Chileans went for the Spanish Meroka CIWS for close protection and MM40 Exocet missiles for antisurface work; they also chose US 324mm torpedoes instead of the French standard 550mm ones. They were delivered between 1986 and 1988, and were dubbed the Uribe-Class. Pakistan, who had purchased two French submarines from a South African order in 1977 and was satisfied with their performance, was also willing to invest in new-built oceangoing frigates and re-activated the French Connection in 1985, ordering a class of four, which were delivered between 1989 and 1991 (named Khaibar, Saif, Aslat and Jinnah); they featured different armament, substituting Phalanx for Meroka and Harpoon for Exocet. Despite aggressive marketing, no further sales were secured, and the type was considered obsolete by 1990 due to its complete lack of stealth features. In service, these ships proved to be sturdy and easy to maintain, and ran up a long service life; the Chilean vessels were retired between 2015 and 2017, and of the Pakistani batch, the last one lasted till 2022. One Pakistani unit (Saif) was blown up and lost with all hands in 2002, probably by islamist members of her own crew; all others were scrapped.



Technical Data
Displacement: 2850 ts standard / 3750 ts full load
Length: 116,5 m
Beam: 13,2 m
Draught: 5,9 m normal / 6,7 m full load (with bow sonar)
Crew: 205

Power Plant: 2 Shaft CODAD, 4 SEMT-Pielstick Diesels, 42.000 bhp
Speed: 28 kts
Range: 10.000 nm at 15 kts

Sensors
DRBV-15B air/surface search radar
2x DRBN-32 navigation/helicopter approach radars
DRBC-32E GFCS
DUBV-43 hull sonar

Armament (Chilean version)
1 - 100mm/55 Compact cannon
2 - 20mm/120 12-barreled MeRoKa CIWS with integrated fire control
2 - 20mm/70 Oerlikon cannon
2x4 MM40 Exocet launch tubes
1x8 Crotale EDIR SAM system with integrated fire control (26 missiles)
1x6 Bofors 375mm ASW mortar (54 rounds)
2x1 324mm torpedo catapult (30 Mk.46 torpedoes total, also for helicopter deployment)
Hangar and flight pad for two Alouette III helicopters (as delivered; after 2000 replaced by Thiarian Znamenany H1Z helicopters)

Ships in Class (ordered/laid down/commissioned/unlisted):
Almirante Uribe (1983/1984/1986/2015)
Capitan Orella (1983/1984/1987/2015)
Almirante Goni (1983/1985/1987/2016)
Capitan Merino Jarpa (1983/1985/1988/2017)

Cheers
GD