Refitted HMS Nottingham displays new ASW capabilities

I’ve been aboard Exeter a few times when we were looking at the GWS30 reload system. Not deployed on one though.

The batch 1 and 2 42’s were absolutely notorious for being wet ships in a heavy sea. The problem stemmed from the design shrink imposed on the naval architects, as an economy measure, by the Treasury late in the ships design cycle. Sandy Woodward, later of Falklands fame, had the original Sheffield on her pre-commissioning workups in the late 70’s and he made a wonderful comment that, when enquiring into the problem, he found that the bows had more ‘happened’ than actually been ‘designed’!.

The problem was sorted out on the batch3’s with the stretched bows. Nottinghams refit didnt go quite that far!.

The photo is the combination of, as Wanshan accurately noted, a hard turn to starboard and an abnormal swell!.

Why the change of magazine? Is it for adding internal strength?

Even more simple!. That Aussie rock caused the flooding of and extensive damage to the vessels original magazine.

What kind of sonar is it? Hull mounted? (I think previous one was hullmounted right?) or bowmounted?

Sonar 2050 is a bow mounted array developed by Ferranti/Thomson Sintra. Its the same array as fitted to the Type23 and replaces the original Sonar2016.

That still isn’t good as an explanation for that huge wave. That kind of waves can damage the gun and Sea Dart. If they do that in bad weather…

Check the wake. She’s making a tight turn to starboard, that’s why she’s leaning over to port.

IMHO she’s still the same buttugly ship she was before. The Phalanx seems to be still there, so is the Sea Dart and the Gun. Why the change of magazine? Is it for adding internal strength?
Do you have experience on these ships Steve? It looks like that’s not a heavy sea at all… Considering her relatively low freeboard and the waves surrounding it. It looks more like a longitudinal bad stability, hence starting with slight pitching, increasing by going forward. I could be mistaken though, but that’s my first impression on this. That’s also why I ask whether you have experience, to confirm my thoughts…
What kind of sonar is it? Hull mounted? (I think previous one was hullmounted right?) or bowmounted?

Junipergoth,

The main new system is the addition of a new Sonar2050 unit with a new dome.

Upgrades have been made to the Sea Dart missile system including the entire reconstruction of the magazine space, rebuilding of the Mk8 gun mounting and its magazine and power spaces, the ADAWS combat system has also been upgraded. Hints have been made of changes to the commo shack, possibly in line with the new comms capabilities HMS Illustrious has displayed since her recent refit. Those changes aren’t public source afaik though.

The other changes are mainly engineering. The forward engine room was heavily flooded in the collision. The biggest one being the straight replacement of the two Rolls Royce Olympus boost turbines and the stripping out and refurbishment of the two Tyne cruise turbines. New boilers, new high pressure compressors, hydraulic systems, 12 miles of new cabling, new mechanical control systems as well as other ancilliary items were all replaced.

Hell of an upgrade all told!. The ships company are said to be very pleased with the results of the upgrades. The CO is on record as saying that she’s a new ship in all but name and the crew have taken to christening her Nottingham II!.

what additional weapons and systems does she now carry after the refit, would she need more crew to operate them? are any other old systems kept or a comlpete replacement of everything system, weapon, sensors etc?:)