Type 25 or Chatham Class Frigate
The Type 25 is roughly a replacement for the Leander Class, a cheaper alternative to the Type 22 class. In effect this design would either replace the Type 23 entirely, or reduce Type 23 to the original concept of a towed array tractor.
It is optimised for operations within the GIUK Gap. It has a Sea Wolf defence system to protect against Soviet aerial and submarine-launched anti-ship missiles but leaves area protection to the attending Type 42 destroyers. A battery of Harpoon ASMs allows the Type 25 to engage surface targets, while a gun is not fitted as it’s not thought necessary for its primary oceanic role. The ship is optimised for anti-submarine warfare being a very quiet platform. The Diesel-Electric cruise powerplant is very quiet, has no mechanical connection to propellers and the diesels are located above watelrine to further reduce noise, electric drive also increases endurance and the generators drive the propellers and the electrical system. Two RR Spey SM1A are fitted for fast running. The Type 25 can cruise on electric motors at 20 knots. The ships own torpedo tubes (for Stingray) and its helicopter are the primary anti-submarine weapons. Automation is widespread to reduce manning requirements, not only to save on costs, but also to improve the habitability aboard the ship.
Displacement: 3,500 tons standard, 4,100 tons fully loaded
Dimensions: 412 feet long, beam 48ft 6ins, draught 19 ft (over sonar dome)
Gun Armament: Two 20mm Oerlikon L/75AA in GAM-BO1 single mountings
Missile Armament: Three sextuple BAe Sea Wolf launchers (45 missiles) and two qaudruple Harpoon launchers (8 missiles)
Torpedo Armament: Two triple 12.75in A/S STWS-2 torpedo tube mountings (18 Stingray or Mk 46 A/S torpedoes)
Aircraft: One EH101 or Lynx HAS. Mk.2/3 in a hangar aft (Skua ASMs and Stingray A/S torpedoes)
Electronics: One Type 967/968 air/surface search radar, one Type 1006 navigation radar, two Type 911 fire-control radars used in conjuction with two GWS 25 Mod 3 SAM fire-control systems, one Sea Archer gun-fire control system, two chaff launchers, four Sea Gnat decoy launchers, one Type 2031 passive towed sonar array, one Type 2050 bow active/passive search and attack sonar, one Type 182 towed torpedo decoy system, one CACS 5 action information system, two Type 970 jammers, UAA-1 Abbbey Hill ESM, Link 11 and 14 datalinks and two SCOT satelite communication systems
Propulsion: COGAD arrangement. Diesel-Electric cruise powerplant which is very quiet, has no mechanical connection to propellers and diesels are above watelrine to further reduce noise, electric drive also increases endurance and the generators drive the propellers and the electrical system. Four Paxman Valenta 12 RPA 200 CZ diesels delivering 7,000hp and two RR Spey SM1A for fast running delovering 34,000hp to two shafts.
Performance: 28 kts clean fast, 20 knots electric cruise; range 8,500nm at 15 kts
Complement: 12 + 146 with a maximum of 17 + 188 possible
Class
HMS Chatham (F90), Yarrow, commissioned April 1987
HMS Coventry (F91), Yarrow, commissioned June 1988
HMS Cornwall (F92), Cammell Laird, May 1988
HMS Campbelton (F93), Swan Hunter, Jan 1989
HMS Crystal, Yarrow (F94), Nov 1989
HMS Consort, Yarrow (F95), June 1990
HMS Chieftan (F96), Swan Hunter, Aug 1989
HMS Comet (F97), Cammell Laird, Nov 1989
HMS Contest (F98), Yarrow, Aug 1990
HMS Crusader (F99), Yarrow, May 1991
HMS Crown (F100), Swan Hunter, Oct 1990
HMS Cumberland (F101), Cammell Laird, Dec 1991
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