Steveo-
I’d still say a Mk8 is a bit OTT. 40mm is going to be the biggest thing you would fit to a C3 surely. In many ways this is a new type of ship. The C2 is the decendent of the Type 81/21 ships, and I think they loosely point to the sort of direction C2 will be headed, mid calibre gun, helo, some SSM, Light AA. Capable of standing in the line but in many respects a traditional frigate of old.
C3 on the other had is something a bit new, perhaps more akin to an old sloop or wartime corvette but really something not seen before. Global reach, oceanic capable but doing roles usually carried out by much smaller ships. It will have armament fit for close self-defence and constabulary duties but not much else, its tricks will be in the flexible kit you fit to it for MCM, SF, patrol, survey etc, not things that make a loud bang (unless they are clearnce charges!).
C1 is where the whizz bangs will be. To continue a 19th Century analogy the C1 will be the equivilant of the 74 gunner- fast, powerfully armed, the meat on the fleets bones. Daring/Astute/CVF make up your Line of battle, C1 backs that up with quantity, C2 is the eyes and ears able to stand alone if necessary while C3 is the presence and special duties vessels.
It isnt actually fitted with Mk.8 and would only be fitted later if the mounts became available. All it means by FFBNW is that there is a strengthened area of the bow where a module including a Mk.8 gun system could be installed if needed.
As for C3, i’d consider it a mix between a sloop and an MCM asset, however the 81’s and 21’s were the successors to the old sloops anyway. I would see C2 as a direct T23 replacement with C1 being more along the lines of a cruiser replacement as a much larger ship is likely.
Sign In
