Following LIFEX and engine upgrade refit period lasting 49 months, HMS Sutherland sailed from Devonport this afternoon.
More than 4 years after being handed over to Babcock, ‘the fighting Clan’, HMS Sutherland left the wall to begin sea trials. Her refit was the second most time-consuming of the class, only HMS St Alban’s pandemic-hit refit took longer.
Each frigate undergoing life extension (LIFEX) refit has a hull survey and repairs, the Sea Wolf missile system was replaced with Sea Ceptor and a wide range of other upgrades and refurbishments. Other important additions are the foundations and cabling needed to take the Naval Strike Missile system (canisters to be embarked at a later date) and the news S2150 bow-mounted sonar.
While delivering an important capability boost, the work has mostly taken longer than expected, each vessel is has effectively been a unique project. As each ship was stripped down and surveyed, different levels of hull corrosion, structural problems and equipment deterioration were revealed. Work on the ship that was launched in 1996 included more than 800 steel hull inserts and 11,500 weld repairs – a total of 5km of welding.
The Power Generation Machinery Upgrade (PGMU) propulsion improvement project involves fitting new equipment within the existing structural and compartment constraints and integrate with the ship’s legacy services and systems. Around 8 km of new cable and 600m of new pipework has to be installed. The new diesel-generator sets have to be placed into the Forward Auxiliary Machinery Room (FAMR) below decks. The Upper Auxiliary Machinery Room (UAMR) is on the main deck level and is more easily accessible via deckhead soft patches but was also completely stripped and much equipment re-sited.
Between 2017-2020, HMS Sutherland was the hardest working of the RN’s surface escorts and was the last ship in the fleet to carry the Sea Wolf missile system. Newly refurbished, Sutherland can expect to work just as hard in an even more threadbare fleet and serve well into the 2030s until replaced by by a Type 26 frigate.
With the LIFEX programme now completed, Babcock is now tasked with keeping the surviving Type 23s frigates going into the 2030s. HMS Kent is currently in the Frigate Support Centre undergoing an extensive post-LIFEX upkeep period.
Here’s hoping the fleet can cope until new ships come online.
The uk is a wealthy nation, where has all the money been blown that could otherwise have been used to prevent the dither and delay in earlier ordering.
Sadly, likely on tax payer bribes and massive inefficiencies ( just look at those quotes to leaseholders of Greenwich coublncil houses – £21k for shared cost of roof replacement)
Here’s hoping the fleet can cope until new ships come online.
Mike
Agreed!
However I would really like to know the true TOTAL cost of this particular four year long refit (information which was, quite noticeably, not stated in the NL article…)
the total cost must be getting very near to the point where it would have been as cheap overall to simply scrap the T23 ship (or sell it to an ally) and buy a complete all-new T26 or T31 ship
Peter (Irate Taxpayer)
Except we’re still waiting for any new frigates, we can’t afford to give away any T23 till they’re completely done
Thats not backed by evidence
Iron Duke cost £100 mill or so
https://ukdefenceforum.net/viewtopic.php?t=50&start=950
Even a 50% increase is …?
Dont forget the Bulwark. Was in there years, what a waste of money
She has had much work done at some £ 70 million cost, She is probably going to be sold and I suspect much of that cost will be recouped but you never know what this latest bunch of clowns will do next.
One article talked about selling both LPDs for only 20mil
Of course it would have been better value to scrap BUT we have a massive ship building backlog….
The whole LIFEX programme was quoted as being around £950 million for 13 Ships,but Monmouth never went through the process,so an average of £80 million each for 12.
“The UK is a wealthy Nation”
Trouble is that the nation is mostly owned and controlled by the Elite and these small percentage of Super wealthy like to keep it that way.
The Elite have an uncanny knack of keeping hold of their vast wealth even through times of war because they know that those below them will be willing to die for “Their” Country.
William the Conqueror sowed all the seeds.
We really need a batch II of Type 31s; at least another 3 just to have even a limited global presence.
Yes, a few of us have also been saying this too over on ukdj site. A good common sense and affordable and buildable uptake. Maybe a bit more upgunned and capable like the Polish A140s?
With the current funding or lack thereof, how are we going to get a better armed T31 when the current batxh are waiting for mk41
With tongue firmly in Cheek, When Donald tells us to !
If it were up to me, the second batch of T31s would number another five. Supposedly the plan was to get to 24 units in the escort fleet by building five ships to a new design (the T32), but surely this would result in far greater cost than simply cranking out more 31s.
I say, get the numbers “up” first (24 is obviously not really “up” but it’s better than where we are now) before you start worrying about a new boutique class of warship that will serve mainly to drive up the price tag of additional vessels.
T32 is an absolute unknown and as yet, unfunded project that many believe was just a Boris blunder. The only actual reference to this project describes it as “A platform for autonomous vehicles”. If anything actually comes of this I’ll eat my own Navel Fluff.
If on the slim chance I’m wrong though, I’d like to offer my choice of names for the 5 ships mentioned.
Five, Four, Three, Two, One… Thunderbirds are go.
F.A.B.
Will and Jim
The RN simply cannot justify, and it certainly cannot afford, having a third type of new “frigate” designed, built and then supported in service
Therefore the idea behind the T32 is madness = T31 should be dropped
The RN simply needs to keep building more T26 and more T31’s
If necessary, extra numbers of both types could be procured as Batch 2’s (i.e with a much better weapons fit onto both types)
Peter (Irate taxpayer)
Sorry Peter but that makes no sense. “Therefore the idea behind the T32 is madness =T31 should be dropped” Are you saying T31 and T32 should not happen ? I’m confused.
CORRECTION
Jim
For the second time in three days, my post was ruined by the curse of fat finger syndrome
It should have read
Therefore the idea behind the T32 is madness = so the T32 should be dropped
So,given where the RN is today, I believe that we only need the T26 and T31 classes
…. and many more of them…..
..preferably Batch 2 designs:with an improved weapons and sensors fit
Pete (Irate Taxpayer)
PS I have just booked an eye test appointment with Specsavers.
…at least I hope its booked with Specsavers – and not Poundsavers!
That makes sense. I think ‘good enough’ is where one should be going. I especially would like to see a more ASW capable T31 be developed with a more acoustic hull and machinery outfit. Is this possible with say a 25% increased cost? That’s where I think we should be headed.
(In WW2 we had many destroyers which were only developments of a 20 year old design, the A-H flotillas. In fact these, with great heroism, carried the burden of the fleet through to about 1943.)
Just add acoustic hull treatment like this for T26
anechoic sheets. Easier than subs as they have smaller tiles due to rounded surfaces. Frigates are flatter
OMG
Once ‘noise’ is in the hull structure it will radiate somewhere.
That is why noise hygiene is critical……
The acoustic tiles aren’t there to stop radiant noise!!!
Jonno
I fully agree with the “good enough” comment…
At the present time, given that the T23 fleet is suffering from severe weevil and woodworm infestions etc in their long-worn-out hulls….
….the most important thing with the already ordered T31 class (i.e. now on the slipways), is to get more of those early T31 hulls into the water quickly
However, given that the RN T31 class is intended for global patrol duties, in that role we already know it will face some quite-major threats: …
..and to deal with those threats they will really need some better kit
So:
AAD / ASM
ASW
MCM
Helicoptors
UAV’s
Therefore I would really like to see a batch 2 version of the T31 design authorised and commenced…..
..and a T31 Batch 2 should have better AAD, ASW, MCM and Cabs
= to combat the threats which we know now already exist around the world.
Even if those sensor and weapons fits for T31 batch 2 are not premier league (ie cutting edge) “Gucci naval kit”……
Peter (Irate Taxpayer)
Just go back and read what you have written, I see pound signs all over your comment each modification adding to the cost of the platform. At present you get approx two T-31 for the price of a T-26. With your shopping list above you will finish up being able to get 4 T-31 for the price of 3 T-26. If ASW capability is required, buy more T-26, if the Norwegians buy 5 or 6 the unit cost will be good as they are supposed to want almost the same fit as the RN so they can take advantage of RN upgrades for the platform. More ASW helicopters ? Buy more Merlins. Rely on the PODs initiative to provide other niche capabilities
If we’re getting any more frigates they will be budget designs seeing as currently we can’t afford any more
Hugo
The RN has plenty of money for equipment…..
Here are the offical figures
MOD UK Defence in Numbers 2023
Pages 11 and 15
In 2023, £5.5 Billion was spent on shipbuilding and repair activities (ships and submarines)
(note; weapons and sensors are not included in that figure)
The RN uses most of thise large sums of money to refit knackered old ships and submarines (especially submarines)
———–
So can I please ask that you please do not confuse
with the phrase
Hard truth is that the RN spends many billions each year on its equipment……and it ends up wasting much of that money
Peter (Irate Taxpayer)
Pub Quiz Answer
Well how is that going to suddenly change? Unless it does we can take it as the baseline and in turn conclude that they can’t afford any more frigates when other naval programs need urgent funding
Before you go ordering ships you need to find the people to crew them. There is as yet no indication that the RN has a succeeding plan to increase manpower.
Dont you think If there is a major conflagration, they will be manned by reservists and volunteers?
Undoubtedly increasing reserves is essential to allow recent leavers to maintain some levels of skills and certification.
The most complex systems would probably need full time heads.
I agree, if you had a short sharp war, like Corporate of GW1/2 then using experienced people sailing desks is an option too.
All this hand wringing because some certifications have lapsed, a little, makes little sense to me. The main thing is to have good people who can learn.
HMS Lancaster expected to decommission this year, gapping any frigate presence in the Middle East and taking us down to just 7 T23’s.
Let’s hope the ones left can soldier on without major defects for a few more years.
In theory by 2030 we should have all 5 T31 and a couple of T26 in service and start see numbers increase again.
Unlikely because of the lack of hulls left but Iron Duke (could) go as part of the CSG and then swap places with Lancaster on operation Kipon on the way home, then Lancaster sails home with the CSG to return for decommissioning?
Not really their roll but the river B1’s might have to help out more with shadowing Russian assets through the English channel, they might have to anyway with the dier state of the fleet?
I think it more likely that Iron Duke will go after a short gap, perhaps at the start of next year.
Ever since the goverment brought in the IR35 tax law. Dockyards like Devonport cant get the trades to do the job.
No one wants to work away from home working through an umbrella company, you can actually earn more stacking shelfs on a night shift.
Great News to hear HMS Sutherland is going back to Sea for system work up trials etc. But why, if she has had all of the baseline modifications carried out, to accept the Naval Strike Missile Upgrade, hasn’t it just been accelerated to full fitment, given the 4 years, she has been in Refit?
Is it me, or does this seem a disjointed and inefficient to say the least?
She would have had all the preliminary works for NSM carried out that aren’t obvious to the casual observer,like Wiring and Plumbing etc.The External obvious stuff will be carried out after her Trials have been completed.
Just makes me sad…