IMO C1 should be based on a lengthened T45 hull same propulsion with a larger hanger and flight deck for a couple of helicopters a 4.5 inch gun off the T23 harpoon off the T23. Some Aster 15 with a pretty basic sensor suite just whatever is required to fire the Aster 15 also a couple of CIWS off old ships. Put on towed array and off you go. I’m not a knowledgeable person when it comes to sensors but Artisan cannot operate Aster 15 right?
My thoughts are to resist the urge to meddle with structure and NOT stretch the T45. I’m kinda hoping that with their huge size there will be no need to stretch them to provide something approximating to decent sea keeping a la T42.
If Artisan cannot handle Aster then I suspect that C1s will not get Aster. Since you can fit 4 times as many CAMM in the same space that may not be a disaster. The currently empty central row in the silo will presumably get SCALP or TacTom if and when MoD plump for one.
Re-using Mk8, Harpoon and TAS from T23s all sound like winners to me
C2 would be pretty basic Artisan radar with some quad packed CAMM some harpoons off the T23 a 4.5 inch guns off the T23 add a single CIWS. Hanger and flight deck for up to a Merlin sized Helicopter. Make it around 120m in length and around 3000 tonnes. Diesel propulsion so it’s nice and cheap to run should give it a fleet speed of 25 Knts same as the Carriers.
I worry that 3000 tonnes may be too small.
I get scared by fitting only 1 CIWS
‘Some Harpoons‘ leaves the door open to FFBNW 2x quad but initially loading up with 2x twin (otherwise by the time we’ve used T23 (and B3 T22s) to arm up T45s and C1s we’re not gonna have enough harpoons to arm C2 as well. Good thinking 🙂
Diesels for the win
C3 should be something like the BMT venator. Diesel propulsion the same as C2 give it a fleet speed of 25 Knts. Artisan radar, space for modular CAMM VLS so that they can do the ‘fitted for but not with’ that can be fitted to a few C3 that are going somewhere a bit more dangerous such as the gulf. Fit a 4.5 inch gun (If you want to do shore bombardment it’s best to do it with your cheapest assets that is designed to be used in the littoral environment) also buying more 4.5 inch guns is cheap than introducing a new calibre to the fleet 4.5 inch guns are not exactly very expensive. Have a nice work deck like the BMT venator. Hanger and flight deck are also required.
I don’t like the look of Venator and that may well be the only reason that I’m not as keen on her as others on these forums.
I’d love C3s to have Artisan but I don’t know if its going to be THAT affordable
The other specs all sound pretty good to me
Al
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