Is Russia ever going to build a Major Surface Combatant again??? Of course not counting the LHD’s from France.

I think the understanding of ‘major surface combatant’ is incorrect here.

See e.g. In the Shadow of Giants: The Major Powers and the Security of Southeast Asia by Anthony James Gregor
http://books.google.nl/books?id=qIvE8U4a80QC&pg=PA33&lpg=PA33&dq=%22Major+Surface+Combatant+%22&source=bl&ots=TkyfwAfmJj&sig=69pYafzBt59jTaqhQzLMPl-eVao&hl=nl&sa=X&ei=Hd1XVNf7C6-v7AaV2IHYDQ&ved=0CCsQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=%22Major%20Surface%20Combatant%20%22&f=false

“In 1964 the US navy deployed 300 major surface combattants whereas the Soviet Union order of battle listed 200 similar vessels.”

Obviously these can’t all be 9000 ton destroyers or larger ships ….

Likewise see e.g.
http://www.defence.gov.au/AnnualReports/05-06/volume_01/chapter_02/outcome_02.html
“Capability Performance Information

Output 2.1 Capability for Major Surface Combatant Operations

The surface combatant force provides the Navy with a fleet of surface ships capable of conducting a wide range of surface operations. The surface combatant force possesses combat capabilities in all three primary warfare areas (air, surface and undersea) and provides combined coalition and joint ADF command and control facilities for ADF operations. In 2005–06, the force was made up of five Adelaide-class guided missile frigates and seven Anzac-class frigates.”

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/destroyers.htm

Isn’t 22160 an offshore patrol vessel?

I think 2038x and 22160 are not in competition, I’m still surprised VMF didn’t induct in service a large and cheap ocean going OPV in the early 2000s, they could have served well in a lot of missione, from counter piracy up to the syrian crisis.

On the other hand, I had always the feeling the 2038x did need to evolve in more specialized subversions, plainly top much weapons and roles for such a small hull.

If the transition from 20380 to 20385 was dictated from early experiences and new equipment available, I believe more duties could be performed by more mission-specific versions will be designed.

Think of them like an home water fleet, with SF support vessels, ASW ones and so on, but still capable to perform long patrols close to own shoreline, like in the far North.

Pur in the mix a class of double hulled, western style AORs, with workshops for mechanical, electronical, ordnance and aeronautical maintenance, facilities for refrigerated food, fresh water generation, rest areas, medical facilities, spare parts and very large communication facilities and you could turn 22160s in a very long range patrol flotilla, operating even as little task forces, and the 2238x in real green water combatants operating just as a structured fleet would do.

Experts Question US Navy’s Decision To Swap Out DDG 1000’s Secondary Gun

The Mk44 Bushmaster II 30mm chaingun gun uses standard GAU-8 Avenger ammunition that is available in API (Armor-Piercing Incendiary), HEI (High-Explosive Incendiary) and APFSDS-T (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot-Tracer) variants. The gun can be converted to a caliber of 40 mm, which involves changing the barrel and a few key parts, to use the Super 40 cartridge. It can also be converted to use the 30×170 mm RARDEN cartridge. Effective firing range
3,000 metres (9,800 ft) land appl. 5,100 metres (16,700 ft) naval appl
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mk44_Bushmaster_II

Oerlikon Millennium 35 mm Naval Revolver Gun System uses AHEAD ammunition

Weight
Gun: 450 kg
Turret: 3300 kg

Effective firing range
3500m (3830 yd)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oerlikon_Millennium_35_mm_Naval_Revolver_Gun_System

57mm Mk110
3P all-target programmable ammunition, this allows three proximity fuzing modes as well as settings for time, impact, and armor piercing functions. This increases the flexibility and effectiveness of the gun system, which has further reduced the reaction time of the gun and it is possible to choose ammunition mode at the moment of firing, giving it the ability to switch rapidly between surface targets, air targets, and ground targetsEffective firing range
8,500 m (9,300 yd) (HE round )
Mark 3: 14,000 kg (31,000 lb) (weight including 1,000 rounds onboard)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bofors_57_mm_gun

Navy Ready for Briefing on Small Surface Combatant, SecDef Not

What whent before: http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140523/DEFREG02/305230023/Ideas-Pour-US-Navy-s-Small-Ship-Task-Force

Thanks, so assuming the 9LV is not fitted, they have some sort of manual/optical backup?

4 Flyvefisken-class (or Stanflex 300/SF300) boats.

Portugal set to buy Danish patrol boats

FAC
ML

India opts to decommission recovered ‘Kilo’ sub

Economic write off, I suppose.