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Rick Smith 16 August 2005 Much has been written about the UK's Royal Navy draw-down.* In particular dropping from 32 Destroyers/Frigates to 25. This is an attempt to give a brief analysis of its effect on force structure and operations. Force Structure for 2006 MAJOR UNITS ONLY (Full Load Displacement where used is stated thus "1000fl") <UK>* CARRIERS 0+2 CVF Queen Elizabeth class(to replace the two below in 2012 and 2015) 2 CVH Invincible class (Invincible paid-off August 2005, Ark Royal is in a major refit until end of 2006) DESTROYERS 0+8 Type 45 class 7400fl SAMPSON/Sylver VLS/ASTER (to replace the Type 42) 8 Type 42 class 4300-4800fl Sea Dart (to decommission from 2009-2013) FRIGATES 4 Type 22 4900fl 13 Type 23 4300fl SUBMARINES 0+6 SSN Astute class(to replace some of those below) 9 SSN Trafalger/Swiftsure class (to drawdown to eight by 2008 ) 4 SSBN Vanguard class AMPHIBIOUS 1 LPH Ocean class 1 AGH Argus class 2 LPD Albion class 4 LSD Largs Bay class MINE WARFARE 8 MHC Sandown class 8 MCM Hunt class Replenishment 2 AO Wave class 1 AO Oakleaf class (Will retire 2010) 3 AO Leaf class (Will retire 2009-2010) 2 AO Rover class (Will retire 2009-2010) 2 AOR Victoria class 2 AE Fort Grange 1 ARS Diligence (not a replenishment ship but its only major repair and salvage unit) *Entry for RN from a World Navies Listing compiled by this author (complete list available on request) Commitments, Standing Tasks & Enduring Ops 2004 1. SNMG-1 (was STANAVFORLANT the NATO Squadron-Atlantic(Withdrawn)) 2. SNMG-2 (was STANNAVFORMED the NATO Squadron- Mediterranean) 3. Fleet Ready Escort- FRE (UK Patrol) 4. Atlantic Patrol Task- North 5. Pacific Patrol Task- South 6. Arabian Gulf 7. Indian Ocean/ Far East The UK is reducing from seven full-time commitments/operations in 2004 involving one Destroyer/Frigate each to fewer in number. With some of those tasks realigned. The RN has withdrawn from the NATO squadron Atlantic The Arabian Gulf & IO/FE commitment is to be combined into one ship or so it appears. APT-N is to be reduced from July-October of each year. The NATO Squadron MED, APT-S and the FRE ship tasks will remain unchanged for now. The MED may also at some point be reduced from a year-round task. Intervention/Contingency Plans In addition the RN will provide units for three simultaneous contingency taskings* or one Medium Scale Intervention. Carrier and Amphibious Task Groups are formed as necessary around the operational carrier and LPH Ocean. The below three scenarios were made in July 2004 as to the number of Destroyers/Frigates needed to support the underlying assumptions . Three or four D/F's are normally necessary to support each enduring op & standing commitment. With deployment reductions this may be somewhat relaxed. Example- The APT-N ship is only on station 3-4 months a year rather than a unit deployed year-round. : #1 2 Two Enduring Medium Scale Operations 2 Two Enduring Small Scale Operations 2 Two Small Scale Intervention 1 One Standing Commitment 9 **Factors 16 Total Destroyers/Frigates #2 2 Two Enduring Medium Scale Operations 2 Two Enduring Small Scale Operations 1 Standing Commitment 9 Medium Scale Intervention 11 **Factors 25 Total Destroyers/Frigates(As many as eight of these will be in "Reduced Support Status".)* #3 12 One Large Scale Operation 1 Standing Commitment 4 **Factors 17 Total Destroyers/Frigates It appears that a modified scenario #2 has been decided on: #2 2 Enduring medium scale op (Gulf/IO/FE & APT-S) 2 Enduring small scale op (APT-N & MED) 1 Standing commitment (FRE) 9 Medium scale intervention 11 **Factors (including ships in refit, post-deployed, training and pre-deployment work-up) 25 Total A large scale operation would most likely take many years for the RN to recover from as regards operational tempo. *Which would be quite similar to scenario #1 seeing as how as many as eight D/F are usually in RSS. Whether, in this authors opinion, that is an official or unofficial practice is a moot point. RSS definition: "Under the revised arrangements, all ships have been given either normal support status or reduced support status. Ships with reduced support status will, generally, only receive support for defects affecting health and safety and environmental safety. The intention is to preserve a core capability to deploy a medium scale task group for the Joint Rapid Reaction Force and to ensure that priority peacetime tasks remain supported and that non-essential activity is removed from the Royal Navy’s programme. " http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_reports/05-06/050672.pdf **The factors include the number of units required in the force structure to allow generation of the deployed force and the units held to rotate the enduring operations. RFA-Replenishment Ships More should be said about these ships as World-Wide Ops/Interventions are unsustainable without them. The oilers of the Rover and Leaf classes are to be replaced by the new MARS* program and the Sir class LST's by the four new Largs Bay class LPD/LSD. Argus can also be used to augment amphibious forces. Designation/Name/ In-service Date/Forecast Decommissioning Date Aviation Training and Primary Casualty Reception Ship AGH Argus 1988 2020 Repair Ship ARS Diligence 1984 2014 Oilers AO- Grey Rover 1970 2006 AO- Gold Rover 1974 2009 AO- Black Rover 1974 2010 AO- Oakleaf 1986 2010 AO- Brambleleaf 1980 2009 AO- Orangeleaf 1984 2009 AO- Bayleaf 1982 2010 AO- Wave Knight 2003 2028 AO- Wave Ruler 2003 2028 Ammunition, Food and Stores Ships AE- Fort Rosalie 1978 2013 AE- Fort Austin 1979 2014 Replenishment Oilers AOR Fort George 1994 2019 AOR Fort Victoria 1994 2019 Landing Ship Tank LST Sir Bedivere 1967 2011 LST Sir Tristram 1967 2006 LST Sir Galahad 1987 2006 *Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) Decommissioning dates for Destroyers/Frigates Ship/ Planned decommissioning date Type 42 Batch 2 destroyers: HMS Exeter 2009 HMS Southampton 2010 HMS Nottingham 2012 HMS Liverpool 2009 Type 42 Batch 3 destroyers: HMS Manchester 2011 HMS Gloucester 2011 HMS Edinburgh 2013 HMS York 2012 Type 22 frigates: HMS Cornwall 2015 HMS Cumberland 2017 HMS Campbeltown 2017 HMS Chatham 2018 Type 23 frigates: HMS Argyll 2019 HMS Lancaster 2019 HMS Iron Duke 2020 HMS Monmouth 2021 HMS Montrose 2021 HMS Westminster 2021 HMS Northumberland 2022 HMS Richmond 2022 HMS Somerset 2023 HMS Sutherland 2025 HMS Kent 2028 HMS Portland 2028 HMS St. Albans 2029 Decommissioning Dates for Submarines: Mr. Ingram [holding answer 20 July 2005]: No decisions have been taken on the out of service dates (OSDs) for the Royal Navy's Vanguard class SSBNs, nor about any potential replacement. The current planned OSDs for the Swiftsure and Trafalgar class SSNs are detailed as follows: Swiftsure class SSNs: 2008 HMS Superb 2010 HMS Sceptre Trafalgar class SSNs: 2008 HMS Trafalgar 2011 HMS Turbulent 2013 HMS Tireless 2015 HMS Torbay 2017 HMS Trenchant 2019 HMS Talent 2022 HMS Triumph The new Astute class SSNs will progressively supersede the current capability. The first of class is planned to enter service in 2009. Current duties: 13 Jul 2005 Maritime Forces Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels which have been given the reduced support status referred to in paragraph 2.9 of the National Audit Office report on military readiness. Mr. Ingram [holding answer 7 July 2005]: The process of designating ships to receive the reduced level of support referred to by the National Audit Office enables the Royal Navy to maintain its ability to mount a medium scale operation at short notice and maximise its ability to undertake priority peacetime tasks. The Royal Navy ships placed on reduced support status are as follows: HMS Invincible CVH-decom HMS Ark Royal CVH-refit HMS Albion LPD HMS Cardiff-decom HMS Exeter HMS Liverpool HMS Cumberland HMS Grafton(Training-Summer leave-in September will be undergoing a period of planned maintenance before sailing once again in support of trainee navigating officers.) HMS Marlborough-decom HMS Monmouth HMS Richmond HMS St. Albans HMS Sutherland HMS Atherstone-MCM HMS Brecon MCM-decom HMS Cottesmore MCM-decom HMS Dulverton MCM-decom HMS Middleton-MCM HMS Pembroke-MHC HMS Penzance-MHC HMS Ramsey-MHC HMS Shoreham-MHC HMS Walney-MHC HMS Leeds Castle OPV-decom No RFA ships are on reduced support status. Active ships in RSS: HMS Exeter HMS Liverpool (post-deployed August 4th) HMS Cumberland (deployed August 5th) HMS Monmouth HMS St. Albans HMS Sutherland HMS Richmond RSS in refit. Ships in a low-state of readiness but not RSS: Ships in refit: HMS Northumberland (now coming out) HMS Edinburgh HMS Cornwall HMS Kent Post-deployed: HMS Gloucester HMS Manchester Pre-deployment work-up: HMS Southampton (APTN-S) Training: Iron Duke None of the above 8 ships are listed in RSS or a High-state of readiness. That leaves as of July 21: UK Maritime Security: HMS Montrose Mediterranean (Nato's Standing NRF Maritime Group 2): HMS Somerset (post-deployed August 3rd)(Relief?) Atlantic Patrol Task (South): HMS Portland (Southhampton to relieve early September) Gulf: HMS Argyll (Campbelltown Suez August 3 approx) Atlantic Patrol Task (North): HMS Liverpool (RSS) (post-deployed August 4th)(Cumberland deployed August 5th) Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean: HMS York (double assigned as JRRF unit) Plus The following major Royal Navy warships are available to the Joint Rapid Reaction Force at High or Very High Readiness for contingent operations: HMS Illustrious CVH HMS Ocean LPD HMS Albion-(RSS) HMS Bulwark-(soon to be) HMS Cumberland- (RSS)(Deployed August 5th) HMS Campbeltown- deployed Gulf HMS Chatham-post-deployed HMS Nottingham-post-deployed HMS York (see above) HMS Exeter-(RSS) HMS Westminster- post-refit Training HMS Sutherland-(RSS) HMS St. Albans-(RSS) HMS Monmouth-(RSS) HMS Lancaster-Training Where a destroyer/frigate duties are not mentioned assume for the most part minor upkeep and training are being done. Many ships are enjoying Summer Leave at this time.
References:
Force Structure:
various but in particular Combat Fleets 2005-2006 and
www.royalnavy.mod.uk
Commitments, Operations and
Intervention/Contingency Plans:
March 2005 House of Commons Report
July 2004 White Paper
July 2005 White Paper
Decommissioning dates and other
info:
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© 2004-10 Richard Beedall unless otherwise indicated. |
