it is a navy that has a very convoluted force structure history. It has seen many war built ships go into reserve, come back out of reserve, be modernised or upgraded and designations changed. Sources often conflict so getting an accurate snapshot at a specific time can be difficult. But here goes for the surface combatants ie Cruisers/Destroyers/frigates:
1956
Cruisers
12 6" gunned
Destroyers
8 Daring class
8 Battle class( seven more recommissioned 1957-1958 to replace three decommissioned and replace the four Weapon class being converted to radar picket ships)
4 Weapon class
12 C class( 8 more being modernized eventually replacing a like # of the existing ships)
Frigates
2 Whitby new-build(Destroyer sized, slower and optomised for ASW)
5 Blackwood new-build(Small, austere ASW escorts)
32 War-built destoyer-conversions to ASW escorts-22 expensive but very capable escorts plus 10 limited capability escorts
33 approximate War-built escorts mostly of the Black Swan, Loch and Bay classes
Total 116
The 1960's saw great changes plus great reductions in the force structure.
1972
Cruisers
2 Tiger class 6" gunned and converted to carry four helos
Destroyers
8 County class DDG
Frigates
25 Leanders(These ships later saw some being modified to carry the Ikara ASW system, Seawolf missle system, Exocet AShm missles, larger helo plus newer radars and sonars. It is an exhausting list of modifcations or none at all to various ships .)
9 Rothesay class
1 Whitby class
The above ship classes share the same basic hull. The main difference was the Leanders added a helo and Seacat point defense AAW missles. These changes were back-fiited into the Rothesay class.
7 Tribal class
3 Leopard class
3 Salisbury class
Total 58
During the next 30 years down-sizing continued:
2002
Destroyers
11 Type 42 class DDG
Frigates
16 Type 23 class
4 Type 22 class
Total 31
And yet still more reductions:
2006
Destroyers
8 Type 42 class DDG
Frigates
13 Type 23 class
4 Type 22 class
Total 25
Ill fill in some of the blanks with a little analysis later.
Questions, corrections or comments always welcome.
1956
Cruisers
12 6" gunned
Destroyers
8 Daring class
8 Battle class( seven more recommissioned 1957-1958 to replace three decommissioned and replace the four Weapon class being converted to radar picket ships)
4 Weapon class
12 C class( 8 more being modernized eventually replacing a like # of the existing ships)
Frigates
2 Whitby new-build(Destroyer sized, slower and optomised for ASW)
5 Blackwood new-build(Small, austere ASW escorts)
32 War-built destoyer-conversions to ASW escorts-22 expensive but very capable escorts plus 10 limited capability escorts
33 approximate War-built escorts mostly of the Black Swan, Loch and Bay classes
Total 116
The 1960's saw great changes plus great reductions in the force structure.
1972
Cruisers
2 Tiger class 6" gunned and converted to carry four helos
Destroyers
8 County class DDG
Frigates
25 Leanders(These ships later saw some being modified to carry the Ikara ASW system, Seawolf missle system, Exocet AShm missles, larger helo plus newer radars and sonars. It is an exhausting list of modifcations or none at all to various ships .)
9 Rothesay class
1 Whitby class
The above ship classes share the same basic hull. The main difference was the Leanders added a helo and Seacat point defense AAW missles. These changes were back-fiited into the Rothesay class.
7 Tribal class
3 Leopard class
3 Salisbury class
Total 58
During the next 30 years down-sizing continued:
2002
Destroyers
11 Type 42 class DDG
Frigates
16 Type 23 class
4 Type 22 class
Total 31
And yet still more reductions:
2006
Destroyers
8 Type 42 class DDG
Frigates
13 Type 23 class
4 Type 22 class
Total 25
Ill fill in some of the blanks with a little analysis later.
Questions, corrections or comments always welcome.
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