Alternate Royal Navy #2

[erik_t]

A rather attractive frigate. I wonder about the usefulness of a four-missile Woomba/Ikara installation - ASW is a murky enough business that this might be enough to handle only a single submarine engagement.

Perhaps a larger installation on the quarterdeck?

[Hood]

Thanks for the compliments. I think of my three attempts at an AU Type 21 this one is the best as an all-round design.

I had thought of putting a quartet of extra boxes on the quarterdeck but decided against it.
I envision that in this AU the ships would mainly be armed with the Woomba but could carry some Ikara in an escort role out in the GIUK gap. You'll note the lack of an Ikara tracker, this could be problematic. Initially I had planned another frigate could undertake the boost-phase guidance but I realised that's not technically feasible with the missile guidance set-up. So I've fudged it by saying the Type 912 could offer some limited tracking guidance to get it to the rough area and then leave the torpedo to do the hard work! CAAIS would probably also need some updating to handle Ikara too.
So in summary, I'd say its an optional extra feature that would not really be used much.

[heuhen]

I do like them, they look like ships that can handle them self in "interesting" weather

[eswube]

Very interesting design and excellent drawing.

[Hood]

Type 24 Eclipse Class Frigate


HMS Eclipse, 1991


HMS Eclipse, 2019

As a growing oil and gas producing nation during the 1970s the need to patrol and protect the North Sea oilfields saw the need for more vessels. As well as the OPV fleet, a small light patrol frigate was desired. At the same time the Towed Array Ship was steadily growing into the specialised Type 23 Duke when the Leanders were coming to retirement age and costs were a concern. Yarrow was asked to design a cheap frigate and the Type 24 was the result. Lacking the expensive powerplant and electronic features of the Duke the costs were kept down. An eye was also kept on export orders. The machinery fit was half that of a Type 23 with emphasis on lower speed and good endurance. and a batch of 6 were ordered alongside 16 Dukes to form a modern fleet of 14 frigates to replace the last of the Leanders and serve alongside the Type 21s and Type 22s.
The littoral mission was handled by the Type 24 class which were updated during the 2010s with Artisan radar and received CAMM SAMs and Spear land-attack missiles replacing Sea Wolf and updated cannon and self-defence dispensers.

HMS Eclipse F82 June 1991
HMS Express F83 July 1991
HMS Electra F84 May 1994
HMS Encounter F85 August 1993
HMS Endeavour F86 November 1994
HMS Emerald F87 July 1994

Dimensions
Length: 351ft (oa)
Beam: 42ft 6in
Draught: 13ft 6in

Displacement
2,500 tons standard

Powerplant
One 26,150shp RR Spey SM1C gas turbine and two 3,500hp Paxman Ventura diesels
30kts on both, 15kts on diesels
Endurance 7,000nm at 15kts

Armament
1x 76mm OTO, fire-control by Sea Archer (note: also fitted to the Type 23 in this AU)
2x1 30mm LS-30
2x4 Harpoon SSM, acquired for the Type 23 as a lighter SSM, they were also fitted to the Type 24.
1x24 GW25 Confessor Sea Wolf VLS system, fire-control by one Type 911
2x2 12.75in lightweight A/S torpedo tubes (Mk.44/Mk/46 torpedoes)
1x Westland Westland Lynx helicopter

Radars & Sonars
One Type 996 air/surface 3D search, one Type 1007 navigation, one Type 911 FCR, one Type 2050 active bow sonar, Marconi UAG ESM, two Type 675 anti-targeting jammers, CAAIS-2 combat control system.

[erik_t]

I very much like this frigate! Hell, buy some for the USN in 2018.

I will note your Harpoon lost its booster

[whitey_nl]

An exceedingly realistic and handsome design, Hood.

[odysseus1980]

A wondeful frigate! Well done Hood!

[Blackbuck]

Oh, that is cute.

[Charguizard]

Indeed, a very handsome little ship. I can think of a very many export opportunities to be had.