rickusn

I put this together some three weeks ago:

RN Force Structure, Committments, Operations and Intervention/Contingency Plans

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 stucture and operations.

*http://navy-matters.beedall.com/ed200804.htm


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)

Committments, 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 SNMG-1 (was STANAVFORLANT the NATO Squadron-Atlantic(Withdrawn))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

Th UK is reducing from seven full-time committments/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 The RN has withdrawn from the NATO squadron Atlantic The Arabian Gulf & IO/FE comittment is to be combined into one ship or so it appears.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 neccessary 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 committment. 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 Committment
9 **Factors
16 Total Destroyers/Frigates

#2
2 Two Enduring Medium Scale Operations
2 Two Enduring Small Scale Operations
1 Standing Committment
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 Committment
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 committment(FRE)
9 Medium scale intervention
11 **Factors(including ships in refit, post-deployed, training and pre-depoyment 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/n...-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. [9695]

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(now coming out)

Post-deployed:
HMS Gloucester
HMS Manchester

Pre-deployment work-up:
HMS Southhampton(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( Relief Campbelltown in 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

Committments, Operations and Intervention/Contingency Plans:

March 2005 House of Commons Report

http://www.parliament.the-stationery...ce/45/4507.htm


July 2004 White Paper

http://www.mod.uk/linked_files/issue...269/cm6269.pdf

July 2005 White Paper

http://www.mod.uk/linked_files/issue...ity/cm6616.pdf

Decommissioning dates and other info:

Hansard http://www.parliament.uk/index.cfm

TopHatter

Rick,
HMS Invincible was paid off last month?? Insanity!

And Ark Royal is in refit...leaving only Illustrious.
Is this Labour's idea of a sick joke, or are other forces at work here?

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rickusn

Mnay factors are involved.

The RN has two expensive shipbuilding projects underway:

Astute class SSN's

Type 45 DDG's

In addition the RN is just completing the revitalization of its Amphibious fleet with:

LPH Ocean 1999
LPD Albion 2003
LPD Bulwark 2004
LSD Largs Bay class 2005-2006

And have the CVF carrier replacement program fast coming up along with the MARS program for replacement of the vast majority of its logistic fleet.

None of the above fleet recapitaliztion has been or will be cheap. Ergo cuts must be made somewhere.

In addition the Sea Harriers are almost all gone. Leaving only RAF ground attack Harriers for use on the Invincibles.

TopHatter

Guess I've been living in la-la land or something....

What the heck are the RN carrier's deploying with? Mostly RAF Harriers?

They are being awfully optimistic about the replacement carrier timetable.
Have they even been laid down yet?

I'd say they need them more than the SSN replacements.

Ah well, I don't make MOD policy....for some strange reason

rickusn

So many questions!!!!!!

So few answers.

LOL

Yes only RAF aircraft soon.

No they havent been laid down yet.

As for SSN's . They are very expensive. They may get 8 but IMHO only 6.


The USN is the same maybe even moreso.

But then what do you want to do?

Send the boys out with the best or something less??????????

The paradigm has changed.

If a "real" war erupts it will be quick and brutal. It will be won or lost in a matter of hours.

Not even days,weeks or months. Much less years.

And yet you have to balance that with forces to operate in times of less urgency.

Its tough. Im glad I dont have to make these types of decisions. Are not you ?

SuperTrooper

It's pathetic in a minute we are only going to have a defence force or not even that.

JBG

Thanks for the effort and info Rickusn.

Jonathan

jeffpayne56

a nice coastal force

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Can the last person to leave the UK please turn out the lights
cheers Jeff