Acquired the ISP radar image of the wreckage site. I have a question, is there any documentation correlating the numbered entries on the image to ship hull numbers? If so, where can that be found? Any help or direction would be appreciated. [I sent him to Ian Goddard’’s site]

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I was not aware foreign ships were present in the area. Most of the British, Dutch, and German ships I know little about how their CIC's (Command Information Center) work. I also know they do not have NTDS (Naval Tactical Data Systems) like we have. The United States Navy uses a system known as Link 16, some of the reserve units use Link 11, while the Europeans use Link 14 and 11. Most are armed with OTO Breda, or OTO Malera 76mm (3"/62) guns. These are a dual purpose, with water cooled jacket, having the capability of firing at a rate of 80 rounds per minute of sustained fire.

This web site also displayed the best photos I have seen, and is an excellent example of damage from blast fragmentation warheads. If not from a missile, then it was from a gun. I still think gun. Two ships were very close. Unfortunately in the limited amount of time I had I could not determine what commands were where, especially the two nearest to the scene( all this pertaining to hull numbers).

The foreign ships also pack Sea Wolf, Sea Dart, Exocet, OTO Mat, and Penguin missiles. The Exocet, OTO Mat, and Penguin can be ruled out because they are antiship missiles (like the Harpoon, Maverick, and Tomahawk). The Sea Wolf and the Sea Dart are British antiaircraft missiles with ranges of 6km/3.1nm and 40km/21.6nm respectively.

The LHD Kearsarge (Wasp Class) carries RAM, as possibly do the two DDG's. He mentions 30 knots on his web site. These ships are powered by gas turbine LM2500's. They can hit the low end of freeway speeds - 45 mph in good to fair seas.

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Reporter David Hendrix's Freedom of Information Act materials revealed that the US aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt was engaged in exercises the night of the disaster possibly as close to the crash site as the officially acknowledged cruiser USS Normandy. (TWA 800 Case Files determined that at one point in 1996 the Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group consisted of: the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55), cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG-72), destroyer class USS Ramage (DDG-61), destroyer USS Hayler (DD-997), frigate USS Carr (FFG-52), frigate USS Hawes (FFG-53), supply ship USS Detroit (AOE-4), attack submarine USS Montpelier (SSN-765), and attack submarine USS Atlanta (SSN-712) along with the aircraft from Carrier Air Wing Three, consisting of squadrons VF-32, VMFA-312, VFA-37, VFA-105, VAW-126, VAQ-130, VS-22, and VQ-6.)

USS Hayler (DD-997) originally commissioned as the Shah of Iran class cruiser. Two Mk. 26 twin rails fore and aft (prior to OrdAlts), two 5"/54(127mm) Mk 45 gun mounts fore and aft, CIWS - 2 Phalanx 7 barreled 20mm Gatling gun fore and aft port and starboard respectively. After the OrdAlts, she was converted to VLS 61 birds in two separate launcher systems 122 birds total "hot on the rail" (this was to facilitate the advent of Tomahawk into the fleet), RAM was added later (in a single 21 round hex shaped box launcher on one of the stern quarters) since it is a modified Spruance Class (963) hull. ... would pose a serious threat to any surface or air target with nominal anti sub suite.

USS Detroit (AOE-4), as a front line logistics ship Auxiliary Oiler Explosives, it would require not only Phalanx, but RAM as well to protect it from air or cruise missile attacks. She has no large guns, possibly 23mm chain gun mounted on main deck port and starboard. Elevation capability for this gun is not conducive for protection from air attack. This ship rarely steams alone considering it’s logistical value.

USS Roosevelt (CVN-71) has a full complement of CIWS weapons which include both Phalanx and RAM. I won’t go into detail about Nimitz class Aircraft Carriers. Suffice it to say they are floating cities with 5,00 ships company deployed, and add an air wing with an additional 2,000 crew. They are the ultimate in conventional and special weapons power projection with the capability, not always, to launch 4 and land 2 (this of course is not simultaneously). They are nuclear powered, but carry enough JP-5 for aircraft fuel, and escorts to keep screens facilitated while deployed.

It was also indicated that other ships were in the area, i.e. the Tarawa and a Wasp class gator freighter (LHD). Both these ships would carry RAM and Phalanx, and they also carry 5"/54 Mk45 guns fore and aft port and starboard kitty corner to each other. This is to facilitate NGFS (Naval Gun Fire Support) during amphibious operations ibn hostile waters.

These ships would be in what the navy would call a PhibGru (Amphibious Group). They have all the equipment and technology in conjunction with their escorts to sustain an amphibious engagement, as well as direct various ships movements in their screen.

Okay, I'm blathering, but these are all professional observations. I am still convinced after seeing the pictures of the aircraft after it was reconstructed, that the attack was made by a gun (at least 76mm, 114mm, or 127mm) while the aircraft was ascending 11,000feet to 19,000 feet. There were no scorch marks from missile propellant cooking off in the explosion, if a missile had brought down the aircraft through direct contact with the fuselage. This is what would have happened had a Sea Sparrow (equivalent to the air launched AMRAAM), Sea Dart, Standard SM1 or SM2.

What am I saying? Somebody fired a gun while painting the target with either a foreign radar/laser designator, or Mk 86 director (if it were an American ship that fired). Again as I have said before, somebody in gun plot would have seen the IFF/UHF squawk of TWA800, if said squawk were present, and there would have been a whole crew of Gunners Mates (GM) and Fire Control (FC) men in there who would, or could have witnessed the incident.

Some research via Janes, or a more competent periodical to determine what the British/Canadian, Dutch, German, and Italian capabilities are. I do know that they do not have the same NTDS capability. We use a system called Link 16. Suffice it to say complete digital data link with satellites, or any other unit on, under, or over the water. This would give a theater commander complete control of other ships weapons capacity. Some things I do know considering positioning of the countries: Germany commands the entrance into and around the Baltic. Most of their weapons systems are rapid response for close in ASW, Anti-aircraft, and anti-ship. They buy a lot of foreign produced delivery systems, but utilize their own electronics. Their sailors are quite competent, and very professional; the Brits and Canadians control the GIUK (Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom) gap. They produce a lot of their own weapons systems as well as import. Each country runs on a restrictive budget due to powers of the socialist workers parties present who control budgeting of defense. Sound familiar? I won’t ride that horse as of yet; The Dutch, or better yet, the BENELUX nations do what they can with what they have, and can afford. They import quite a bit of delivery systems, and like the Germans’ design the search and tracking systems with the help of American companies; The Italians’ are quite self sufficient, considering their responsibility in the Med, Adriatic, and Ionic. They are the ones who developed OTO systems, which FMC/NSD in the United States has acquired licence to manufacture 127mm and 76mm guns. The Italians also developed the OTO Mat, in my opinion a better weapon than the Exocet, with a higher survivability rate in an EW environment. This was the weapon that went up for sale to the Syrians, Libyans, and Egyptians in the late 1970's during Jimmy Carters’ administration.

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I would like you to see some things to prove a point I have about this whole incident. Firstly, go to www.Shiloh.navy.mil, and bring up the photo gallery. Here you will see a variety of missile launch pictures. Look at the amount of fire and smoke a RIM 67 Block 2C variant emits when it is launched. This is what I mean by looking like Cape Canaveral.

To see video, watch some of the file footage about the USS Vincennes. That was the Ticondaroga class cruiser that splashed the Iranian 747 in the Persian Gulf, with all the dead bodies aboard. That is some excellent file footage. I will elucidate about this later in the text.

Back to the Shiloh, look at the high speed photo taken of the forward 5"/54 Mk 45 mount. Just forward of the muzzle is the first hint of over pressure from the gun being fired. Examine the little ploom in front of the bore, you will see the projectile traveling at about 4,100 fps.

That little critter has a 9-13 nautical mile range when using the Mk 86 Radar system, which now brings me to another website.

www.geocities.com/Pentagon/6636/zpics.html, in the area where the photos were contributed by Tony Diller, top row, third photo from the left. You will see two young men working near a radar director mount. Look to the right of the young man in the "higher" position. The white box is a camera. Everyone in gun plot where all the ships weapons systems are operated can see what the radar is looking at, in most cases. It is a low light, not SIT, high resolution camera. What would make this situation different than any other? The day: 17 July, 1996. The time: 2033. What is happening. The sun is low in the sky, and sinking in the west. TWA 800 is coming from the west, moving roughly east. Now remember, I said this was a low light television camera system. Not a SIT or CCD, it is restricted in reducing the amount of excessive available light transmitted through the objective of the optical system by field stops and a diaphragm. If you were to take one apart it would look very simple, unlike a SIT. A SIT, or Standard Image inTensification, is the same you saw, nearly, during the night triple A displays over Baghdad. They only work at night, and if, for example, a Mk 36, MK 37, or CSWS (Crews Served Weapons Sight) Mod 1 or 3 were used, the intensifier tube would "burn out". If a Mod 2 or 4 were used, the photonic sensor would cause the system to shut down from light over load. This system will intensify the light from one star 50,000 times. A CCD (Closed Coupled Device), on the other hand would survive the sun shot, but I am skeptical as to the visual acuity, when looking into the sun of this system. A FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red) like the one I helped install on board the USS Callahan(temporarily), would have enabled the crew in gun plot to view the target, and discern any discrepancies. This system is very similar to the Lantrin pods aboard those aircraft who recorded smart bomb hits during the Gulf War. One of our ships would not, could not have done this with a missile, or a gun if they had a FLIR system.

On top of that Link 16, the Navy's NTDS system would have used its IFF/UHF (Identify Friend or Foe with Ultra High Frequency) pulse Doppler interrogation from the air search and fire control radars to determine if the target was a threat. If the system were operational. All the BQM drones in use today have the capability to look and maintain the radar frequency of any plane, within reason, hence the Air Forces stepped up use of F-4 drones for targets in excess of Mach 2. The interrogation would in turn place a notation near the radar blip on the operators screen, thereby positively identifying the target.

Some questions to ruminate over, and some possible answers considering the direction we are, or have been taking.

1) Who, in the various departments of the Executive Branch - besides the DoD, knew about the activities in W-105? That is to say, who would know that W-105 was an unsafe area? Who would have a need to know? Would not the following organizations be appraised of the unsafe nature for civilian traffic in the area: DoD, DOT - FAA, NTSB, USCG?

2) Who were the Air Traffic Controllers responsible for the flight path safety of TWA 800? Who was the Air Traffic Controller who gave the order to fly into that section of W-105?

3) Who were the people on the ground crew who performed the maintenance to that aircraft? I'll bet a paycheck no maintenance was listed on accessing the radar housing of that plane. I'll bet another paycheck somebody went into that plane and disabled the IFF/UHF transponder on that radar system, the one that all aircraft flying American / standard flight paths are mandated to have.

4) Why? Answer: This is Bill Clinton's favorite method of eliminating any possible links or affiliations with crime. By removing loose ends via his contacts throughout government, or the Dixie Mafia he makes it easier to sustain his agenda as well as support necessary people within his administration, who are his friends. Because we know what happens to those who are not friends of Clinton and get close. Just ask the last guy who was doing research on this subject. Meaning Gray was killed to make it easier for Progressive to acquire Midwest Financial (correct me on the affiliation if I am wrong), so that Webster Hubble could acquire employment after the end of the Clinton administration. How does that tie in? Gray has sufficient monetary resources to stop or stall a hostile take over. When he dies, his estate goes into probate, whether he has a will or not. This suspends all assets, and curtails any fight in defense from a hostile take over.

Additional information:

Scenario:

Place: W-105,

Activity: ASW / fleet training of Amphibious and screening elements of the US Navy and Elements of NATO primarily - Belgium, Canada, England, Germany, Holland, and Italy. The units were in either of the following situations:

1)A single battle group performing screening operations for a PhibGru. Lead ship would be American aircraft carrier, or more gator possibly the Tarawa, Saipan, or Wasp, with the Flag Officer being SOPA (Senior Officer Present Afloat). Any of the three previously listed ships have the capacity to maintain air control of the area.

2) Two battle groups performing separate tasks, one amphibious, the other ASW.

3) Two opposed Battle groups red and blue.

In either of the three scenarios, the Battle groups have restricted air cover - only available E2C Hawkeyes or E3A AWACS. Escort ship’ mission is to perform ASW operations to clear corridor for amphibious ships, and maintain vigil for possible submarine / air launched cruise missiles. The combatants are given specific sectors to watch and maintain control of.

Only one unit (most likely an aircraft) would have its radar on. This facilitates more stealth, and does not give away Battle groups position. All unit would have SLQ-32 in operation (ESM/ECM capable passive sensor). Hypothetically, these guys have been under prodigious radar threat and possible cruise missile attack all day. A variety of BQM-35's were probably fired earlier to check envelope threat protection, and give crews experience in live fire exercises. The BQM-35, to my limited knowledge, can be set up electronically to resemble virtually any threat platform. As far as radar cross section, I am uncertain.

Combatants would be traveling at rates from very slow (1-5 knots while attempting to prosecute submarine targets) to racing at (18-30+ knots attempting to maintain PIM speed similar to a bounding over watch). If the Beaufort scale were low enough, freeway speeds could be evidenced by some of the American destroyers and cruisers. TWA800 is directed not around, or through a corner, but through the very center of W-105. This standard operations out of JFK international, more sloppiness from a "stressed out" union. Her progress was probably witnessed by Operation Specialists and Electronic Warfare specialists in CIC of any of the JOTDS (Joint Officers Tactical Data System linked to NTDS) capable ships (all American).

If so where was the IFF/UHF squawk? This is a code that presents itself onto the radar screen when the target is painted by radar. Without a squawk, she is immediately labeled a threat - HOSTILE. Her approach and flight path are handed off to a combatant in control of that sector with the label hostile. The combatant then emits from its already warmed up radars, and paints the target. No IFF/UHF squawk verification.

Your Radar has been off, he (the threat) doesn't know you are there, all he has is a navigation radar operating, something a threat would need in crowded airspace, and would lend to it looking like a jet liner. It fits, all of it. That plane died in less than 10 seconds after the first round was fired. I think all of this is entirely possible.

To save ammunition on possible cruise missile release, the SM2's and SM1's are held for later. The only missile out of range at the 2.9 mile mark is Sea Wolf (British 6 km / 3.1 NM range) actual target range is 22,197 feet (the lineC drawn at 13500 (A) feet at 2.9 NM or 17,620.7 (B) feet - the hypotenuse)

TWA 800 is at 37.4573 (37degrees 27 minutes 26.3 seconds), and traveling at about 300 knots (506 fps) Two weapons are used - either a 5"/54 (127mm) or 3"/62 (76mm) and RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile).

The sequence works like this: The ship is at General Quarters, no personnel on deck, target is in the sun - no visual recognition. To confirm this, since we are near or on the anniversary of the incident, step outside and look west at 2033 (8:33 PM). Where is the sun? Possible bogey - possible Bear or Badger inbound 300 knots at Angels 13 and climbing. Researchers Note: 1) The ship would have her flank - port or starboard side to the target for more weapon access. 2) The interesting thing about radar cross section is the ability and inability to differentiate targets of the comparative same size. A radar operator can determine type of aircraft by cross section and IFF / UHF transponder code. A 747(E4B), DC-10(KC-10), L10-11, B-52, Tu-20 Bear, Tu-16 Badger, Tu-22 Blinder, Tu-26 Backfire, M-4/ 201, and IL-38 May are all large aircraft. Blinders and Backfires are very fast aircraft with a known attack characteristics

The situation is weighed by the CO. Obviously part of the exercise. He would have waited until civilian aircraft are clear, hence the short range. Prior to authorizing weapons free, the Commanding Officer would order a fire solution.

Four one thousand - TWA800 is now 20152.2 feet, or 3.32 NM out.

The lucky ones were the ones killed before the plane started to fall. They did not have to endure the hell the remaining passengers went through. This plane was destined to die, they were set up in every way possible.

Testing the hypothesis:

To discern the angle of attack, the altitude of TWA800 had to be known. That actual information is not available, but transcripts indicate the aircraft was in transition from 11,000 feet. Ian Goddards’ web page indicated radar sightings between 13,000 and 14,000 feet respectively. Taking it upon myself I chose the mean - 13,500. Looking at a triangle, this would be the opposite side, or O. The distance from TWA800 was acquired by statements and radar output data to be 2.9 nautical miles or 17,620.7 feet from the nearest ship, this would be the adjacent side, or A. Now take into account the closure rate of the projectiles and the missiles. They have to be in the aircrafts flight path within hundredths of a second to be effective. Precision is the key. So you can visualize the guns tracking their target and the mounts training in azimuth while the bores adjust in elevation. The RAM launcher would do the same thing.

True distance can be determined using either the Pythagorean theorem, or other trig functions, I checked all four, they are close (within .0001 of 1 degree, or 0.36 arc seconds), this would be the hypotenuse.

For x I substituted xt, for y I substituted yt.

Then I determined initial velocity, or V sub 0 (V0)

YT=(V0 (sine theta))t -(16 X t^2) or

A graphing calculator helps or a computer with a math modeler.

All missiles with the exception of the British Sea Wolf were in range. Here is a table that will enable you to eliminate possible guesses:

Sea Wolf: 6 km or 3.1 NM

RAM 12 km or 7.5 NM

76mm 18.5 km or 10 NM

114mm 21.3 km or 11.0 NM

127mm 24.1 km or 13.0 NM

Note. The US has come out with, and will be deploying the ERGM (Extended Range General Purpose Munitions) This is some very smart stuff, and will be coming with new bores 5"/62. Existing is 5"/54 or 22.5 foot long bore unbraked, new will be 25.8 foot long bore unbraked.

Sea Dart 40 km or 21.6 NM would look like Cape Canaveral during launch, and there is a second stage RIM 67 Block 2C Really look like Cape Canaveral, and everybody and their pet dog would have seen it. This is fire and forget stuff, designed to peg targets way out there with complete data link (link 16 capable) with IFF/UHF interrogation capability for new target reassignment. The navy was dropping scuds like it was nobody's business during the Persian Gulf War, and they are not speaking because of LEAP (light Experimental Antiballistic Missile)- it looks the same.

Small stuff was used to facilitate NATO doctrine. IFF/UHF was disabled to make target and weapon tactics discretionary. I can launch one of my missiles in a crowd with one hostile target, and not hit one of ours. Amazing! The amount of damage to the hull, or fuselage of TWA800 resembles that of 5", or 3". Just the same, the numbers add up. The closest ship could most likely be your gun shooter, because the numbers match. The parametric XT can be used to determine time to target any missile from any ship using x.

Note: Stinger was not used. That would have resulted in an engine hit! Did not occur.

Why a gun, that would have caused the most traumatic amount of catastrophic damage in a short period of time. Sufficient to disable a plane in seconds, and rob it of ALL electronics, and fluidics. This plane was sliced and diced like k-tell slices and dices Julien fries

Some more salient points:

1) Why did RAM not lock onto the engines? The processor noted rate of closure and attitude of Infrared emmitance. CPU deducted inability to close on heat source so plotted CPA.

2) Why did damage occur where it did? This is the bulk of the radar cross section of the aircraft!

3) Why the extent of damage? The blast fragmentation cubes are tungsten carbide. A nice Rockwell hardness of at least 35 case hardness, most likely 42 or 45 case hardness. Compared to aluminum, this would be like a hot knife to butter, but the cubes were slowing and spreading like a shotgun blast. Hardened aluminum in the frame of the aircraft would cause redirection of the cubes after shearing, and cause more damage.

4) Other aircraft in the "zone", why not them? The IFF/UHF transponder on the navigation radar of the 747 was disenabled. There were other aircraft in the area, as I have said before, modern equipment is very discretionary.

How this would be possible:

In addition to the hypothesis, think of this:

HMCS IROQUOIS

HMCS HURON

HMCS ATHABASKAN

HMCS ALGONQUIN

Characteristics

Displacement: 5,100 tonnes (full load)

Dimensions:

Length: 127.8 meters (419 feet)

Beam: 15.0 meters (49 feet)

Draft: 4.7 meters (15.5 feet) (keel)

Machinery: Twin Shafts; 2 Main Gas turbines, Pratt&Whitney FT4-A2 producing 50,000 shaft horsepower; 2 Cruise engines Allison, 570-KF

Speed: 29 knots

Endurance: 4500 nautical miles at 10 knots

Complement: 280

Armament:

Missiles: MK41 Vertical Launched System 29 Standard missiles

Torpedoes: MK46 MOD5 launched via: Two triple barreled MK32 torpedo launchers or SEA KING helicopters

Guns: 76mm OTO Malera dual purpose, PHALANX 20mm Close in weapons system, .50 caliber machine guns

Countermeasures:

Air: 4x6 barreled Shield Chaff/Infra Red launchers

Torpedo: Nixie towed acoustic decoy

Aircraft: 2 Sea King helicopters

Ships' Boats: One Rigid Hull inflatable, speed 30 knots; One Zodiac inflatable

The four destroyers of the Iroquois Class were originally commissioned in the early 1970s. At that time they were primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare.

However, the entire class has been undergoing an extensive refit program under the Tribal Class Update and Modernization Project (TRUMP). As they rejoin the fleet, they have become command and control ships with a significant area air defense capability. The Iroquois Class ships are powered by gas turbine engines with a maximum speed in excess of 29 knots. Their cruising range is 7250 kilometers at 20 knots. The complement of each ship is 255, including 23 officers, plus 30 aircrew. Each ship in this class is capable of embarking two maritime helicopters.

As part of the modernization process, the Iroquois Class received significant improvements to weapons and sensor systems. Installed were vertical launch missile systems, a rapid fire gun and a close-in weapon system, as well as state-of-the-art radar and electronic systems. HMCS Algonquin was the first ship to undergo the changes, and was recently tested as flagship to the Commander of NATO's Standing Naval Force Atlantic in the Adriatic Sea, where the squadron was operating in support of United Nations resolution involving the former Yugoslavia. HMCS Algonquin was recently replaced by HMCS Iroquois.

Sorry, no information on radars or ESM/ECM systems…….These ships are a VLS version of the O.H.Perry Class fast frigate.

They are rigged primarily for ASW, and Antiair. Predominately used to maintain a clear fisheries waterway for their nations vast fishing fleet.

Halifax Class Frigate

330 HMCS HALIFAX

331 HMCS VANCOUVER

332 HMCS VILLE DE QUEBEC

333 HMCS TORONTO

336 HMCS MONTREAL

337 HMCS FREDERICTON

339 HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN

340 HMCS ST. JOHN'S

Characteristics

Displacement: 4,750 tonnes

Dimensions: Length: 134.1 meters (439.9 feet)

Beam: 16.4 meters (53.8 feet)

Draft: 4.9 meters (16.1 feet)

Machinery: 2 General Electric gas turbine main engines, 1 Pielstick diesel cruise engine, 2 shafts, 46,000 shaft horsepower Speed: 30+ knots

Complement: 225 officers and non-commissioned members

Armament:

Missiles:

16 vertically launched Sea Sparrow anti-air missiles, 8 Harpoon anti-ship missiles

Torpedoes:

Mk 46 MOD5 launched via Twin Mk 32 torpedo tubes or SEA KING helicopter

Guns:

MK2 Bofors dual purpose 57mm, Phalanx 20mm Close-in weapons system, 6x.50 caliber machine guns

Countermeasures:

Air: 4x6 barreled Chaff/Infra Red launchers

Torpedo: Nixie towed acoustic decoy Aircraft: 1 Sea King helicopter

Ship's boats:

One Rigid Hull inflatable; speed 30 knots, One Zodiac inflatable

At the leading edge of multi-role frigate capability in the world, Halifax-class ships carry a sophisticated array of weapon and sensor systems, including Harpoon long-range surface-to-surface missiles, Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles, a 57mm rapid-fire gun, a 20mm close-in defensive gun system, torpedoes, navigational and weapon-control radars, and sonar and electronic warfare systems. The ships make extensive use of Canadian-designed computer technology for integrated propulsion and machinery control, communications and combat systems. Each ship is equipped to operate with one Sea King helicopter. Capable of speeds in excess of 30 nautical miles (55 km) per hour, Halifax-class frigates have a normal operating range up to 11,000 kilometers. Each ship has a crew of 225 (or 195 without helicopter detachment embarked). This is what the Canadians could afford, and for what they bought, they acquired a nice little system. Compare some of the Italian units to these guys.

Type 42 Batch 1

Sheffield D80: Abandoned 4/5/82 after gutted by fire from unexploded Exocet missile, 21 crew killed. Hulk sunk on 10/5/82.

Coventry D118: Abandoned 25/5/82 after struck by 3 bombs. 19 crew killed, capsized and sank same day.

Birmingham D86

Newcastle D87

Glasgow D88

Cardiff D108

Type 42 Batch 1 destroyer. Used during the Falklands war. Moving aft, points to notice are the Mark 8 4.5" DP gun, and the Sea Dart GWS30 launcher in close proximity. Atop the bridge is the GRP dome covering the Type 909 fire control radar for the Sea Dart, and the single 20mm Oerlikon gun just below it. The Type 965 AKE-2 radar is carried just before the foremast, the latter supporting the Type 1006 navigation radar and the ECM array. Triple STWS-2 torpedo tubes are carried on either side of the mainmast, the Type 992Q surface search radar being carried at the mast-head. Corvus launchers are fitted on either side just in front of the after Type 909 radar, and a hangar and flight deck for a single Lynx helicopter is right aft.

Type 42 Batch 2

Exeter D89

Southampton D90

Nottingham D91

Liverpool D92

Type 42 Batch 1 / 2 destroyer. In their current configuration, and in comparison to the above picture, armament and electronics have been considerably improved and modernized. Moving aft, the main changes are fitting the intended Type 1022 air search radar, and the SCOT SATCOM domes have been fitted, along with a small shack for electronics equipment just in front of the foremast. At the foremast head, a Type 1007 navigation radar replaces the old 1006, and a new ECM array has been fitted. Additional spaces have been added to the aft of the superstructure, and a new wing has been built around this. The Oerlikon guns forward have been replaced by GCM-A01 cannons, and Vulcan-Phalanx CIWS have replaced the ship's boats. At the mainmast head, a new Type 996 3-D search radar is carried, along with an additional ECM array and the old Corvus chaff launchers have been replaced by Sea Gnat countermeasures launchers.

Type 42 Batch 3

Manchester D95

Gloucester D96

Edinburgh D97

York D98

Type 42 Batch 3 destroyer HMS Edinburgh. Built prior to the Gulf war. In early 1991, it had been intended to fit her with GWS 26 VL Sea Wolf instead of the Vulcan-Phalanx system, and a space was cleared between the Sea Dart and Mark 8 gun. However, this was canceled and when she was sent to the Gulf, a Vulcan-Phalanx was added in the redundant Sea Wolf space forward, the GCM-A02 guns being retained amidships. She was later refitted to two Phalanx standard. Other changes from the batch 1 / 2 include modified sponsons, an enlarged flight deck, modified stump mast for the Type 1022 radar amd re-arrangement of the Oerlikon guns aft. Note beam strengthening.

The story of the Type 42 destroyer is a long and political one. The reason for the class was two-fold, firstly, a much smaller and cheaper alternative to the massive Type 82 destroyer was needed and secondly, sufficient hulls were needed to replace the entire Royal Navy destroyer fleet, heading for block obsolescence in the late 1970's, or already well obsolete ( such as the "Ca-" class destroyers, over 30 years old at that point ).

The role for the Type 42 destroyer was quite clear; the area air defense of the Royal Navy carrier / landing fleet, with a secondary A/S role. This role was quite ably filled by the massive Type 82 HMS Bristol, but it was obviously clear that this ship was too expensive to be procured in sufficient numbers and to be crewed, and for it's size was quite under armed and had many Achilles' heels ( such as the lack of a helicopter, a close range armament system, A/S torpedoes etc. ). What was needed was a much reduced 'economy' design without the bells and whistles of the Type 82 design, on the smallest possible hull, with maximum automation for the smallest possible crew, carrying the heaviest possible armament.

What a Type 42 hull needed to be able to carry was quite clear, the GWS 30 system - Sea Dart - was required as the primary weapon. Fortunately, a much smaller, lightweight and auto-loading design was available, and this twin railed unit was selected. To back this up, a single Mark 8 114mm automatic gun and a Lynx helicopter were to be carried, the latter with all A/S responsibilities. Also required were two Type 909 Sea Dart F/C radars, a Type 965 AKE-2 air search and a Type 992Q surface search radars. Later added to this were two single 20mm Oerlikon guns and two STWS Mk.2 torpedo launchers, the latter freeing the Lynx of all A/S responsibilities, and giving the ship a chance to attack close targets when the helicopter was out of range.

A very small hull of only 4 100 tonnes empty weight was selected, around half that of a Type 82. The only real change from the Type 82 was the losing of the Ikara A/S missile and the Limbo A/S mortar, and the addition of a hangar, flight deck and helicopter. To fit everything required into such a tiny hull, maximum use of system centralization, the minimum amount of system duplication, 'economy' living spaces and maximum system automation were incorporated. The last but one was quite prominent; living conditions. A Type 42 crew-member has less space ( in m²² deck space per crew-member ) to live in than any other RN surface unit ( although sailors of an age gone would be quite impressed with the design, and the crews' team spirits are high and well established. ) Also, messing and accommodations are compressed, all messes being supplied from a central kitchen, although food is prepared and cooked on separate stoves. Problems have arisen when trying to incorporate Wrens into the crew, the large communal berthing spaces give little privacy for Wrens, causing fixed numbers of Wrens and male ratings to be allocated to each ship, because of the inflexibility of the sleeping arrangements.

Machinery is another area where space and weight can be saved. For the first time ever in an RN destroyer, entirely gas-turbine propulsion was incorporated; Rolls Royce Marine units - Tynes for cruising and Olympus' for full speed ahead, which can be reached, albeit extremely noisily, in only 30 seconds. The only problem with Gas-turbine propulsion is the extreme noise it develops, and the Type 42 is not very capable of a long, slow stalk of a quiet submarine, the well silenced diesel electric Type 23 being far more able. Sheffield, lead ship, was originally fitted with unsightly exhaust cowls on her funnel to cure efflux problems, but these did not work, and the problems were later resolved by other means.

As originally completed and launched, a lot of equipment was not carried, including the STWS Mark 2 torpedo tubes, the SCOT SATCOM system and domes, the ECM antennae below the Type 992Q radar at the masthead and the Corvus countermeasures launchers. Prior to it's entry into service, the Type 1022 radar, the heart of the Sea Dart system, was not included either, and the venerable Type 965 AKE-2 radar was fitted on the stump-foremast in the interim. Most of the final systems had been added by the early 1980's.

Type Batch 2 design was slightly improved in terms of electronics and internal arrangements, following on from experience with the six Batch 1 boats. The Batch 3 however is a much improved design, drawing from experiences of the first batches, who's survivability and update potential is severely compromised by their lack of size. Although it originally carried an identical weapons & sensor fit, the Batch 3 has a 16.1 meter extension in hull length, with around 15 meters added to the bows, which are also raised to improve the sea keeping, the rest being added to the stern to increase the flight-deck size. The superstructure and propulsion package are identical. The extension to the bows allows for the main weapon systems; the Sea Dart launcher and the Mark 8 gun, which were previously very closely mounted to be spaced much farther apart, to improve both fire arcs of these weapons, and decrease the chances of both systems being knocked out by a single hit from a missile or shell. Another improvement was the addition of a large amount of strengthening on the forward beam, adding about 2 feet to the beam. This comprises of 50 tons of strengthening, added in the form of a single beam at deck level, giving a distinctive ledge to the upper forward hull. All this extra space is well utilized, and many more extra or duplicate systems are incorporated, and the ships also have a much smaller crew due to much more automation and modern systems. Considering over half of the cost of a ship from laying down to scrapping is in simply crewing it, the savings gained by the smaller, larger crewed Batches 1 and 2 in terms of material cost are probably canceled out by the more materially expensive but cheaper to run Batch 3.

The Type 42 class was almost completed by the time the Falklands conflict broke out, and as the only modern and fully operational area-defense destroyers in the Royal Navy, they were a key component to the fleet. They were tasked with the all area defense of the carriers Invincible and Hermes, the landing ships of the Fearless and Sir Lancelot classes and the large numbers of RFA and commandeered merchant vessels that comprised the fleet. ( Remember also, at that time, Sea Harriers were armed only with Sidewinder short range missiles, and were thus not effective in a stand-off defense role as the are now, with their AMRAAM missiles. ) The experiences of this conflict have been hammered out over the debating table and on many other websites, and so only a brief encounter will be described here.

HMS Sheffield, the lead and name ship of the class was the first to succumb to the daring attacks by the Argentinian Air Force, on the Fourth of May 1982. However, she was hit by an Exocet sea-skimming missile ( the very same that was fitted in many RN ships of the period ) launched from afar, and here the well publicized lack of any airborne early warning is apparent. The missile itself failed to explode, but it's motor continued to burn after impact and started a fire inside Sheffield. The cramped and poorly protected insides caused the fire to spread quickly. ( although contrary to popular belief, there was only limited use of aluminum in her structure, and it was the Type 21 frigates that experienced burning aluminum from their lightweight superstructures. ) HMS Arrow moved alongside and directed all her fire hoses onto the Sheffield, even sending her little ship's boat to try and douse the flames through the gaping hole in the side, the poor damage control facilities on board meant that it was too late, and she was abandoned. Much daring work was carried out from the flight deck, as helicopters landed to pick up casualties and walking wounded, and the Sheffield was soon abandoned. The smouldering hulk sank on the tenth of May, whilst under tow from HMS Yarmouth, 21 lives being lost in total.

The Coventry was lost in an altogether different manner. She was hit by three conventional bombs dropped in daring, low-level attacks by Argentinian Sky Hawks, the lack of a close in weapon being sorely felt here. 19 crew were killed during the attack, and like Sheffield, her poor damage control facilities were her weakness. Coventry started shipping water and very soon, she had developed a very severe list to port. She capsized and sank later the same day. In the post-Falklands fall-out, it was clear that major changes needed to be made to the Type 42; namely, an improved close-in weapons fit was needed, and secondly, damage control needed to be greatly improved. This is theoretically simple to solve; simply add close-in weapons around the ship. However, in the displacement and space compromised Batches 1 & 2 this was not easy to achieve, and some top hamper had to be stripped. The ship's boats were removed, along with un-needed scantlings. A platform was built amidships, abaft the funnel, and a twin 30mm cannon, the GCM-A03 was added. Additionally, the 20mm Oerlikon guns were shifted right aft to new platforms, and much improved GAM-B01 guns were fitted abaft the bridge. Over the years, many other improvements were worked in, such as updated ECM, a new 3-D search radar ( the Type 996 ) replaced the ancient Type 992 P/Q/R. First Mark 36 super-RBOC and later Sea Gnat countermeasures launchers replaced the Corvus launchers. Additionally, a new navigation radar, additional amidships superstructure, improved ADAWS integrated computing systems and updated Sea Dart fire control and fusing systems. In 1991, it was intended that Edinburgh, and later the rest of the Batch 3s would be fitted with a VL Sea Wolf system between the Mark 8 gun and Sea Dart launcher, but this was canceled due to economical constraints, although it would have greatly enhanced the Type 42's capabilities.

As for the future, the Type 42s were to have been replaced by the Project Horizon Type 44 Emerald class, but this international collaboration fell through after years of inactivity. Now, the Royal Navy intends to built 12 Type 45 class destroyers instead, but in the mean time, the Type 42 is left to soldier on. However, they will slowly pay off, and HMS Birmingham, who is the most technologically backwards and the oldest is to soon pay off, followed over the next few years by the other Batch 1 ships. It is fair to say that some further modifications will be carried out to the Type 42 batch 3 to extend their usefulness. Some simple yet important changes could include adding Harpoon anti-ship missiles, there being space forward or amidships for these, fitting a new close-range missile such as the Shorts Sea Streak, and further updating command, control and communications ( c³³ ) technology with modern computing systems.

Dimensions & Displacements

Batches 1 & 2 Batch 3

Empty Displacement 3500 Tonnes 4100 Tonnes, Full Displacement 4100 Tonnes 5350 Tonnes

Length 125 m 141.1 m

Beam 14.3 m 14.9 m

Draft 5.8 m 5.8 m

Performance & Propulsion Range 4500 NM @ 18 knots Speed 29 kts ( 28 knots Batch 3 ), Propulsion COGOG, 2 x RR Olympus @ 50000 shp & 2 x RR Tyne @ 9900 shp, 2 x shafts

Armaments, Electronics & Complements

Complements Batches 1 & 2 Batch 3

26 officers, 80 petty officers & 273 ratings 26 officers, 69 petty officers & 178 ratings

Armament Electronics

Batches 1, 2 & 3 pre-Falklands

Gun: 1 x 1 x 114 mm Mk.8 DP, 2 x 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon AA

Missile: 1 x 2 x Sea Dart GWS 30 SAM

Anti Submarine: 2 x 3 x STWS Mk.2 553mm tubes ( as available ) Mark 44 or 46 A/S torpedoes

Aircraft:

1 x Westland Lynx HAS.2

2 x Corvus launchers, 1 x Graesby Mk.128 towed decoy

Search:

1 x Type 965 AKE-2 air search radar

1 x Type 992Q surface search radar

1 x Type 162 classification sonar

1 x Type 2016 active sonar

Fire Control:

2 x Type 909 fire control radar

Navigation:

1 x Type 1006 Navigation radar

Communication:

SCOT SATCOM satellite system ( as available )

Countermeasures: Type 670 ECM, UAA-2 ECM ( as available )

Batches 1 & 2 post-Falklands

Gun:

1 x 1 x 114 mm Mk.8 DP

Anti Submarine: 2 x 3 x STWS Mk.2 553mm tubes Mark 46 or ( as available ) Stingray A/S torpedoes

1 x Westland Lynx HAS.3 or 8

Countermeasures

2 x 8 x SRBOC CM launchers ( in Cardiff, Birmingham & Glasgow )

1 x Type 1022 air search radar ( as available )

1 x Type 996 3-D search radar ( as available ) or ;

1 x Type 992Q surface search radar ( in Birmingham )

1 x Type 162M classification sonar

1 x Type 2016 active sonar or;

1 x Type 2050 active sonar

Fire Control:

2 x Type 909 fire control radar

Navigation:

1 x Type 1006 navigation radar, replaced by: 1 x Type 1007 navigation radar

Communication

SCOT SATCOM satellite system

Countermeasures

Mk.670 ECM ( Batch 1 only ),Mk.675 ECM ( Batch 2 only ) UAA-2 ECM Batch 3 post-Falklands

Gun:

1 x 1 x 114 mm Mk.8 DP,

2 x 2 x 30mm GCM-A02 AA, replaced by: 2 x 6 x 20mm GE Phalanx CIWS,

2 x 1 x 20mm GAM-B01 AA,

2 x 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon AA

Missile: 1 x 2 x Sea Dart GWS 30 SAM

Anti Submarine:

2 x 3 x STWS Mk.2 553mm tubes Mark 46 or ( as available ) Stingray A/S torpedoes

Aircraft:

1 x Westland Lynx HAS.3 or 8

Countermeasures:

4 x 6 x Sea Gnat CM launchers

1 x Graesby Mk.128 towed decoy

Search

1 x Type 1022 air search radar

1 x Type 992R surface search radar, replaced by 1 x Type 996 3-D search radar ( as available )

1 x Type 162M classification sonar

1 x Type 2016 active sonar or;

1 x Type 2050 active sonar ( as available )

1 x Type 2100 optronic system

Fire Control:

2 x Type 909 mod-i fire control radar

Navigation: 1 x Type 1006 navigation radar, replaced by: 1 x Type 1007 navigation radar

Communication:

SCOT SATCOM satellite system

Countermeasures:

UAA-2 ECM, Mk.675 mod-ii ECM

Type 22 Batches 2 & 3 class Frigate

Individual Specification

Batch 2

Boxer F92 awaiting disposal

Beaver F93 stripped and awaiting breaking-up

Brave F94 awaiting disposal London ex

Bloodhound F95 awaiting disposal

Sheffield F96 In service

Coventry F98 In service

Batch 3

Cornwall F99 In service

Cumberland F85 In service

Cambeltown F86 In service

Chatham F87 In service

Type 22, Batch 2 lead-ship F92 HMS Boxer. Note: flared and the much smaller flight deck. Also, Type 910 tracking radar / TV fire control systems for the SeaWolf compared to the Type 911 double radar system of the later ships.

Type 22 Batch 2, F95 HMS London. London is the lead-ship of the third sub-group, which have updated fire control and computer systems, and an enlarged flight deck, capable of handling Lynx, SeaKing or Merlin helicopters.

Type 22 Batch 3 frigate, F85 HMS Cumberland. Although it shares the hull-form and after superstructure of the Batch 2, the forward superstructure, electronics, armament and propulsion have all been updated. The most noticable change is the addition of the Mark 8 114mm DP gun forward. The forward superstructure now also carries Sea Archer passive IR surveillence domes, RGM-84 Harpoon anti-shipping missiles and a Signaal-GE Goalkeeper 7-barreled 30mm CIWS. The Sea Wolf has been upgraded, a larger hanger is fitted, new single DES DS-30B 30mm cannons replace the older twin Oerlikon / BMARC GCM-A02 guns of similar caliber and updated ECM arrays are carried.

These two batches of the Type 22 frigate came from experience of the first batch of Type 22 frigate, and lessons learned from the Falklands campaign. Originally, it had been intended to build seven Type 22 frigates to a common design. Four of these were completed, as Batch 1 Type 22 frigates - the Broadsword class. The Batch 2 frigates draw on experience of the Batch 1 before the Falklands campaign, and are thus not as refined as the Batch 3, which draws on experience from the Falklands. The main fault that was found with the Batch 1 was a lack of size, and a poor rough weather performance. Bear in mind that there was no combat experience before this design was drawn up, so some flaws remained in the design. The second batch was enlarged, mainly around the bows. The original low, blunt bow was changed to a well flared, lengthened design, with much finer ends and a far more rakish and handsome stem. A flared bulwark was added around the bows, to further improve sea keeping. This new design allowed for greater speeds to be reached, more economical steaming, and the bows were much drier than previously.

To include the extra space needed for additional equipment, accommodations and growth, 41 feet was added to the length overall, with a larger, raised superstructure. Beam and draft remained unchanged, and thus speed was not adversely affected, and, thanks to the streamlined bows, actually increased. The Batch 2 was built in three sub-groups, Boxer and Beaver formed the first, Brave the second, and London, Sheffield and Coventry the last.

Boxer and Beaver had little new technology incorporated into the design, and the replacing of the single 40mm Bofors guns with two, twin 30mm GCM-A02 cannons was the only change in armament. Brave was a step between the two groups, and while she had the hull of the first two, she had improved systems, such as the Type 967M radar instead of combined Type 967/968, Type 911 dual radar instead of Type 910 radar / TV, and a feature unique in the Batch 2, GOGAG instead of COGOG propulsion. Instead of having separate low speed, economical turbines and high speed, rapid acceleration turbines, Brave had a lower power and a medium power set of turbines. Full speed could be reached by running both sets of turbines at once. Since full speed running is much less used in modern tactics ( a more subtle, low speed approach being favored in these days of stealth ), the prospect of lugging around a set of very large, heavy and complex Olympus turbines, and their reduction gearing, which are rarely used is not such a good trade-off as it once was. It is much more economical to trade off a few knots of speed for more low-speed economy and smaller and lighter Spey turbines. By running the Spey and Tyne turbines at once, the 50 000 shp of a pair of Olympus turbines can almost be matched. This power setup was copied in the Batch 3, but the low power turbines were up-rated and the higher power turbines down-rated, so although there is no net loss in maximum power, economy and high speed performance is improved.

The last three were not only completed to a large and improved design, but also had a new naming pattern. Instead of the 'B' names of their predecessors, they were named after British cities, as the

As mentioned before, a new COGOG propulsion package was adopted for more efficient running, and a lighter equipment weight. All round the design, improvements from previous experience and new technology have been incorporated, and without any doubt, the Type 22 Batch 3 frigates are the Royal Navy's most powerful and premier escorts; they are big, fast, well armed in all respects and have powerful active and passive sensors.

The Type 22 Batch 2 are currently in the process of paying off, with Boxer, Beaver, Brave and London paid off and laid up awaiting disposals ( probably scrapping, except London which may join HMS Belfast as a museum ship in the Pool of London ). Coventry will pay off in 2001 and Sheffield soon afterwards. With them, the Exocet missile, once in widespread use onboard RN escorts, will too leave the service.

Dimensions & Displacements

Batch 2 Batch 3

Empty displacement 3 500 tonnes 4 200 tonnes,

Full displacement 4 800 tonnes 4 900 tonnes,

Length 143.6 m ( Brave, Boxer, Beaver ), 148.1 m ( others ) 148.1 m,

Beam 14.8 m 14.8 m,

Draft 6.0 m 6.4 m

Performance & Propulsion

Range 4 500 NM @ 18 knots cruise Speed 30 knots max ( 28 knots in Brave ), 18 knots cruise

Propulsion

Batch 2 COGOG, 2 x RR Olympus TM3B @ 50 000 shp or 2 x RR Tyne RM1C @ 9 900 shp, Brave COGAG, 2 x RR Spey SM1C @ 37 450 shp & 2 x RR Tyne RM1C @ 9 900 shp,

Batch 3 COGAG, 2 x RR Spey SM1A @ 29 500 shp & 2 x RR Tyne RM3C @ 10 680 shp

Armament, Electronics & Complement

Complement

Batch 2 30 officers & 243 ratings

Batch 3 31 officers & 219 ratings

Armament Electronics

Batch 2

Gun: 2 x 2 x 30 mm Oerlikon/BMARC GCM-A02 AA

Missile:

2 x 6 x Sea Wolf GWS 25 mod-0 surface-air missiles or;

2 x 6 x Sea Wolf GWS 25 mod-iv surface-air missiles,

4 x 1 x Exocet MM.38 anti-ship missiles

Anti-submarine:

2 x 3 STWS Mark 2 torpedo tubes Stingray torpedoes

Aircraft:

1 or 2 x Lynx HAS.3/8 ( Brave, Boxer & Beaver ) or;

1 x Sea King HAS.6 ( others )

Countermeasures

2 x Plessey Shield launchers,

4 x GEC Marconi Sea Gnat launchers,

DEC laser dazzle sights,

1 x Graesby Type 128 towed decoy

Search:

1 x Type 967/968 search radar or;

1 x Type 967M search radar ( Brave ),

1 x Type 2016 active sonar

1 x Type 2031Z passive towed array sonar

Fire Control:

2 x Type 910 fire control radars ( Boxer & Beaver ) or;

2 x Type 911 fire control radars ( others )

Navigation:

1 x Type 1006 navigation radar or;

1 x Type 1007 navigation radar ( as available )

Communication:

Marisat SATCOM satellite system

Countermeasures:

Type 670 ECM, Type UAA-2 ECM

Batch 3

Gun:

1 x 1 x 114 mm Mark 8 DP,

2 x 1 x 30 mm DES DS-30B AA,

1 x 7 x 30 mm GE/Signaalapparaten Goalkeeper CIWS

Missile:

2 x 6 x Sea Wolf GWS 25 mod-iii surface-air missiles

2 x 4 x Harpoon IC RGM-84 anti-ship missiles

Anti-submarine:

2 x 3 STWS Mark 2 torpedo tubes Stingray torpedoes

Aircraft:

1 or 2 x Lynx HAS.3/8 or;

1 x Sea King HAS.6

Countermeasures:

4 x GEC Marconi Sea Gnat launchers

1 x Graesby Type 128 towed decoy

1 x Type 967/968 search radar,

1 x Type 2016 active sonar or;

1 x Type 2050 active sonar ( as available ),

1 x Type 2031Z passive towed array sonar Sea Archer Mark 20 passive IR surveillance

Fire Control:

2 x Type 911 fire control radars

Navigation:

1 x Type 1006 navigation radar or;

1 x Type 1007 navigation radar ( as available )

Communication:

SCOT 1D SATCOM satellite system

Countermeasures: Type 675 ECM, UAF-1 Cutlass ECM

Type 23 Duke class Frigate

Norfolk F230

Argyll F231

Lancaster F229 ex F232 * (232 means grounded ship)

Marlborough F233

Iron Duke F234

Monmouth F235

Montrose F236

Westminster F237

Northumberland F238

Richmond F239

Somerset F82

Grafton F80

Sutherland F81

Kent F78

Portland F79

St. Albans F83 Changed to 229 because 232 is an unlucky number : 232 is Royal Navy code for a grounded ship...

Type 23 Duke class frigate HMS Norfolk. Norfolk was the lead ship for this extremely successful class, and pioneered the new systems of the class; VL Sea wolf, the Merlin helicopter, the Type 996 3-D search radar, fixed Cray-Marine torpedo tubes and the Type 2031Z towed-array passive and Type 2050 hull-mounted active sonars. Notice the rakish lines, and the 7.5E° angle to all vertical surfaces. This reflects radar energy either upwards and away or down into the sea, where feedback from the clutter of the surfaces makes it unintelligible. On all but the most sophisticated and powerful radar sets, the Type 23 appears to be a small fishing-boat sized vessel. The horn like structures at the masthead are reflectors for the ECM / SIGINT outfit

In the early 1980's, before the Falklands, the Royal Navy's frigate force was a motley collection of old units armed with 4.5" guns, Sea Cat missiles and A/S mortars, upgraded "Leander" class ships with Exocet or Ikara missiles added, the more modern but quite simple Type 21 "Amazon" class and the ( then ) ultra-modern Type 22 batch 1 "Broadsword." The Broadsword was the only type armed with a modern missile - the Sea Wolf - and also carried the Exocet, a Lynx helicopter, torpedo tubes and two 40mm AA guns. Post Falklands evaluations showed the need for a rapid-reaction missile, and the existing Sea Wolf was perfect. It was envisaged that a further 22 Type 22 frigates would be built, to allow for 26, and that the Type 42, Type 21 and "Invincible" class would be refitted with Sea Wolf. However, as the post Falklands outcry died down, none of these projects survived, although a respectable 15 Type 22 frigates were completed, the last 11 to much improved designs.

Type 23 was originally envisaged as a cut-price unit of 23 ships, to replace the ageing "Leander" and "Rothesay" classes and to make up the numbers of canceled Type 22 units, they were intended for North Sea deployment as escorts to Type 22 units, or in small groups to hunt Soviet submarines 'leaking' out of the Baltic. As envisaged, they were to have been armed with a vertical launch ( VL ) Sea Wolf system for self defense, the Mark 8 gun for dual-purpose roles, Stingray torpedoes and the ( then ) WG34 helicopter for A/S work and either Exocet or Harpoon missiles for anti-ship work. Although these weapon systems survived in the final design, they were linked to hugely advanced and expensive sensors and computer and control systems, and the hull and propulsion package were designed for true 21st century operation. The emerging design was an extremely expensive ( c. ££160 million per unit ), advanced but useful design. Following the Falklands war, close defense was a priority, and with the VL Sea Wolf linked to the Type 996 3-D radar, two 30mm DES guns and four sets of Sea Gnat countermeasures launchers, the Type 23 frigate is a hard target to tackle. Not only is it well armed and defended, but it has a very small radar signature, thanks to a 7.5 degree angle and subtle curves to vertical surfaces. This gives a Type 23 frigate the signature of a fishing-boat sized vessel. Not only is it hard to detect by radar, but special caps on the funnels incorporate advanced cooling mechanisms to greatly reduce the heat ( IR ) emissions from the engines.

The propulsion system itself is also hugely advanced. For the first time, a CODLAG installation ( COmbined Diesel eLectric And Gas turbine ) is used. The diesels are used for a new type of tactic, a low speed 'stalk' or a nuclear submarine, as opposed to the traditional use of the lower-powered engines as cruising engines. The 'stalk' technique requires the Type 23 to move slowly and almost silently, using it's towed array sonar to full effect. Although nuclear submarines can travel at around 35 knots, when they do so they are hugely noisy, and they too spend most of their time in ultra-quiet stalking modes. The diesel engines function as generators, powering silent running electric motors. These diesels are mounted above the surface on shock-proof mounts for quiet running, and the two innermost engines are double-hooded and acoustically silenced for near-silent running. These pair are used when the ship is required to move extremely slowly and silently. the use of Diesel-electric transmission means that there are no noisy, heavy, expensive and complex reduction or reversing gears, and that the electric motors can be mounted on very short shafts for minimal noise generation. The screws themselves are extremely well designed for efficient operation, and have special holes cut in them to allow for very little 'churning' of the water. The Rolls Royce Marine Spey gas turbines are only used in the final moments of submarine attack, when both units know that the other is present, active sonars are switched on and a 'kill' is imminent. They allow for extremely rapid acceleration to 28 knots, but the silent 'stealth' is instantly broken and they are only used when really needed. As for weaponry, compared to similar sized foreign vessels, the Type 23 are very heavily armed. the armament is located at the extremes of the vessel, with the Mark 8 gun, Harpoon missiles and VL Sea Wolf 32 cell launcher immediately in front of the bridge, and the Cray-Marine torpedo tubes for Stingray torpedoes built into the Hangar ( for the Merlin or Lynx aft. ) The helicopter is an extremely important part of the armory, and a very large flight deck and hangar is an important part of the design. The VL Sea Wolf and Cray-Marine torpedo tubes have the advantage over traditional training launchers that firstly reaction times are reduced, there is no need to train before firing and secondly, reloading can rapidly be effected from the safety of the magazine. Two DES 30mm guns provide close in cover, although sometime in the future, a CIWS such as Shorts Sea Streak missiles may be fitted in lieu.

Sensors for the Type 23 are a mix of very advanced active and passive systems; Active systems are the Type 996 3-D multi-mode search radar, the Type 911 fire control radars and the Type 2050 bow-mounted active sonar. The passive systems are the wide-spectrum TV cameras bore sighted with the Type 911 radars, the Sea Archer Mark 20 passive tracking / search system ( which can be used to control the Mark 8 gun ) and the Type 2031Z towed array passive sonar. This allows for almost full operation of all weapons with no active sensors switched on.

Originally envisaged as a class of 23 ships, the last seven were never ordered. And although the class were ordered and built in groups, all batches of the class were built to the same or very similar specifications, with some ECM upgrades in later units. Except for HMS Iron Duke, all of this class are named after Dukedoms, and although these names have come under some criticism for being 'soft' and uninspiring, they are actually far from soft in terms of historical events and figures of importance. Originally all ships of the class were to have been based at Devonport, but this did not happen and HMS' Grafton, Iron Duke, Lancaster, Marlborough, Richmond, Westminster form the 4th Frigate squadron based in Portsmouth, Argyll, Monmouth, Montrose, Norfolk, Northumberland, Somerset, and Sutherland forming the 6th Frigate squadron, Devonport. Westminster starred in the James bong film ' Tomorrow Never Dies,' when she played HMS' Bedford, Chester and Devonshire, fictionally armed with RGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Dimensions:

Empty Displacement 3500 tonnes, Full Displacement 4200 tonnes,

Length 133 m,

Beam 16.1 m

Draft 7.3 m

Performance & Propulsion

Range 9 000 NM @ 15 knots, Propulsion CODLAG; 2 x Rolls Royce Marine Spey SM1A gas turbines @ 37 540 shp 4 x Paxman Valenta RPA 200 CZ 12cyl. 'vee' diesel generators @ 8 100 bhp / 5 220 kW, 2 x GEC Electric motors @ 4 000 shp, Speed 28 kts on gas-turbines 10 kts on diesel-electric 'stalk'

Armament, Electronics & Complement

Complement 17 officers, 57 petty officers & 111 ratings

Armament

Gun:

1 x 1 x 114 mm L/55 Vickers Mark 8 main gun,

2 x 1 x 30 mm L/75 Oerlikon / BMARC DES DS-30B AA

Missile:

1 x 32 tube BAe Sea Wolf GWS 26 mod i. VLS surface-air missile

Torpedo:

4 x Cray Marine fixed 324mm tubes for GEC-Marconi Stingray anti-submarine torpedoes

Aircraft:

1 or 2 x Westland Lynx HAS.3 or; 1 x EHI Merlin HAS.1 ( as available )

Countermeasures:

DEC laser dazzle sights

Search:

1 x Siemens / Plessey Type 966 3-D search radar

1 x Ferranti / Thomson / Sintra Type 2050 active sonar

1 x Dowty Type 2031Z passive towed array sonar

Fire Control:

2 x Marconi Type 911 GWS 26 fire control radars

Navigation:

1 x Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 navigation radars

Communication:

SCOT 1D SATCOM satellite system

Countermeasures:

Type 675 UAA-2 jammer ECM

This class is similar to the older gator freighters in the fleet (Tarawa, New Orleans, etc.), but less capable in all aspects. US Navy just acquired Wasp Class. It is bigger, faster, with more crew, and more capable ASW suite.

551 Giuseppe Garibaldi

Full Load: 13,370 tons,

Design: 10,000 tons,

Length Overall 591' (180m),

Length Waterline 570' (173.8m),

Beam 78' (23.8m) waterline,

Draft 23' (7m),

Flight Deck Length 570.2' (173.8m),

Flight Deck Width 99.7' (30.4m),

Flight Deck Layout 6.5 degree ski-jump,

Hangar 360' (110m) x 49' (15m) x 19' (6m)

Turbines 4 GE/Fiat LM 2500 gas,

Shafts 2-2 x 5 bladed props, Tosi reverse/reduction gearing,

Horsepower 80,000 shp,

Endurance 7,000 @ 20 kts,

Speed 30 kts Heavy AA 6 x OTO Breda Dardo

40mm/70 cal. AA in 3 twin mountings,

SAM 2 x Selenia Elsag Albatros octuple launchers w/48 Aspide missiles,

SSM 4-8 x OTO Melara Teseo Mk 2 (TG 2),

Torpedoes 6 x 324mm B-515 in 2 triple tubes w/Honeywell Mk 46/MU-90 torpedoes

Fixed Wing 8 AV-8B (standard) maximum 16 AV-8B Harrier II Plus or:

Helicopters 8 SH-3D (standard) maximum 18 SH-3D Sea King (12 in hangar 6 on deck)

Air Search Hughes SPS 52C,3D Selenia SPS 768 (RAN 3L), SMA SPN 728,

Surface Search Selenia SPS 774 (RAN 10S), SMA SPS 702 UPX,

Navigation SMA SPN 749 (V)2,

Fire Control 3 Selenia SPG 75 (RTN 30X) missile fire control 3 Selenia SPG 74 (RTN 20X) CIWS fire control.

Decoys:

Crew compliment: Usual 825, 550 crew, 230 air group, 45 flag staff, Troops 500 troops w/2 personnel transport launches.

C.550 Vittorio Veneto Castellammare now operates as a Command ship

Dimensions: Length(O/A) 589' (179.5m),

Flight Deck Length 131.0' (40m),

Flight Deck Width 61.0'(18.6m), Beam 63.6' (19.4m),

Draft 19.7' (6m),

Full Load 9,500 tons, Standard 7,700 tons.

Propulsion: Boilers 4, Ansaldo Turbines 2 geared steam,

Horsepower 73,000 shp, Shafts 2,

Endurance 5,000 NM @ 17 kts, Max Speed 32 kts.

Armor: Side Belt 4"

Armament:

Torpedoes 6 x 12.75"

Countermeasures: Air 2 SCLAR decoy,

Torpedo SLQ-25 Nixie towed

Radars:

Surface Search SMA SPS 702,

Navigation SMA SPS 748,

Fire Control 4 Selenia SPG 70 (RTN 10X) Argo, 2 Selenia SPG 74 (RTN 20X) Dardo, 2 Sperry/RCA SPG 55C (Standard), Sonars Sangamo SQS 23G bow-mounted.

Aircraft: Helicopters 6-9 AB 212 ASW or 4-6 Sea Kings above decks

Complement: Usual 550-650

D.560 Luigi Durand de la Penne D.561 Fransesco Mimbelli

Dimensions Length(O/A):484.5' (147.7m),

Beam: 52.8' (16.1m),

Draft: 16.5' (5.1m).

Displacement Full Load: 5,400 tons, Standard: 4,500 tons

Propulsion Turbines: CODOG 2 x GE/Fiat LM 2500 gas turbines Diesels:2 x Motori GMT BL 230-20 DVM Horsepower: 55,000 shp (2 x 27,500) (gas turbines), 12,600 bhp (2 x 6,300 bhp) (diesels) Shafts: 2

Endurance: 7,000 NM @ 18 kts, Max Speed: 31.5 kts, 21 kts (diesels).

Armament

Main Gun: 1 x OTO Melara 5"(127mm)/54 cal.,

Secondary Gun: 3 x OTO Melara 3"(76mm)/62 cal. Super Rapid

Torpedoes: 6 x B-515 12.75" (324mm) in two triple mounts w/Mk 46/A-244/MU-90 torpedoes.

Radars:

Navigation: SMA SPN 703 (3 RM 20), SMA SPN-748

Fire Control: SPS-774 (RAN-10S) air/surface search ,E/F-band for Albatros Mk 2 4 Selenia SPG 775 (RTN-30X) Argo gun/missile control, 2 Raytheon SPG 51D for SM-1MR

Combat System: IPN-20 (SADOC-2) combat data/weapons control system SYS-1(V)2 sensor data fusion system SATCOM satellite communications system with Link 11 and Link 14 ––

Researchers note: Americans use Link 16 on major combatants. Some reserve units will have Link 11

Countermeasures

Air: 2 CSEE Sagaie launchers

Torpedo: SLQ-25 Nixie towed torpedo decoy system, US Prairie/Masker (Elmer)

Aircraft Helicopters: 2x AB-212 ASW helicopters (EH-101 and SH-3D helicopter capable) w/hangar

Complement Usual: 377 (32 officers and 345 enlisted, with accommodation for a total of 400)

Audace Class Multipurpose Guided Missile Destroyers

D.550 Ardito, 1st Naval Division, to DECOM ./2005

D.551 Audace, 1st Naval Division, to DECOM ./2006

Dimensions Length(O/A):461.6' (140.7m),

Beam: 48' (14.65m),

Draft: 15' (4.6m)

Displacement

Full Load: 4,554 tons,

Standard: 3,950 tons

Propulsion Boilers: 4 x Foster-Wheeler (43 kg/cm2; 450-deg C)

Turbines: 2 geared steam,

Horsepower: 73,000 shp

Shafts: 2,

Endurance: 4,000 NM @ 25 kts, Max Speed: 34 kts.

Armament

Main Gun: 2 x OTO Breda 5"(127mm) /54 cal. in two single mounts forward, aft 1 removed in late 1980s replaced by Aspide launcher,

Secondary Gun:

Torpedoes 4 x 21" tubes for A-184 torpedoes, 6 ILAS-3 tubes for Mk 46 torpedoes replaced by 6 x Mk 32 12.75" (324mm) in 2 triple tubes w/Honeywell Mk 46/Whitehead A-244 torpedoes

Radars

Air Search: Hughes SPS 52C,3D long-range air search ,E-band, Selenia SPS-768(V)3 (RAN-3L) long range air early warning ,D-band

Fire Control SPS-774 (RAN-10S) air/surface search ,E/F-band for Albatros system (Aspide SAM), 3 Selenia SPG-75 (RTN-30X) fire control for missile/gun, 2 Raytheon SPG 51C fire control for SM-1MR, 3x Dardo-E (NA-30) radar/electro-optical fire control system, IR-cameras and laser rangefinders Sonars CWE-610A MF hull-mounted

Countermeasures

Air 2 Breda 105mm SCLAR launchers w/20 countermeasures

Torpedo SLQ-25 Nixie towed decoy

Aircraft Helicopters 2 AB 212 ASW w/ hangar

Complement Usual:380 (30 officers, 350 enlisted)

This is a pretty nice ship, quite fast for a steam turbine with okay endurance. Only draw back I see in this class is the SM1 missile system - your radars have to be illuminating the target all the time when engaging a target, whereas the American SM2 is fire and forget.

Impavido Class Destroyers

D 570 Impavido

D 571 Intrepido

Dimensions Length(O/A) 431',

Beam 45.8',

Draft 14.1'

Displacement Full Load 3,990 tons, Standard 3,200 tons

Propulsion Boilers 4, Turbines 2 Tosi geared steam

Range: unknown,

Horsepower:70,000,

Shafts 2,

Max Speed 33.5 kts

Armament

Main Gun 1 x 5"/38 cal. Mk 13 in one twin turret forward,

Secondary Gun:

Surface Search: SPS-12

Navigation: unknown,

Fire Control: 3 Selenia SPG 70 (RTN 10X) Argo gun/missile control: 2 Raytheon SPG 51B for SM-1MR

Sonars: SQS 23

Aircraft Helicopters: 1 AB 212 ASW no hangar or refueling capability

Complement: Usual 334

This is a very old ship, even by Italian standards. Most likely used as a reserve trainer, if it isn't stricken. This ship is probably on its way to the scrap yard.

Soldati (Artigliere) Class Patrol Frigates 'Modified Lupo type'

F.582 Artigliere Fincantieri Ancona shipyard Mar./82

F.583 Aviere Fincantieri Ancona shipyard Sep./82

F.584 Bersagliere Fincantieri Ancona shipyard Apr./83

F.585 Granatiere C.N.R. Riva Trigoso shipyard Mar./84

Dimensions Length(O/A) 371.4' (113.2m),

Beam 37.1' (11.93m), Draft 12.6' (3.84m)

Displacement Full Load 2,525 tons, Standard 2,208 tons

Propulsion Power plant 2 GE/Fiat LM-2500 gas turbines, 2 GMT A230-20M diesels,

Horsepower 2 x 25,000 shp (turbines) 7,900 bhp (diesel), Electric 4 x 780 kW GMT diesels,

Shafts 2 w/ CP props,

Endurance 5,300 NM @ 16 kts 3,450 NM @ 20 kts, 900 NM @ 35 kts,

Max Speed 35 kts (turbines), 20.5 kts (diesels)

Armament

Main:

Torpedoes 6 x 12.75" (324mm) Mk 32 w/Honeywell Mk 46 torpedoes

Countermeasures:

Combat Data Systems IPN-10 (mini-SADOC)Link 11 SATCOM

Fire Control 2 Selenia SPG-70 (RTN 10X) Albatros/main gun 2 Selenia SPG-74 (RTN 20X) Argo 40mm control

Sonars Raytheon DE 1160B, hull mounted removed when taken over Aircraft Helicopters 1 AB-212 ASW w/ hangar

Complement: Usual 187 total, 17 officers, 170 enlisted

These ships are comparable to the Oliver Hazard Perry class Fast Frigate the navy operates, but is poorly set up in NTDS (Combat communications w/Link 11), and not enough redundant jammers or radars for Electronic Warfare survivability.

Maestrale Class Frigates

'Improved Lupo type'

F.570 Maestrale C.N.R.

F.571 Grecale C.N.R.

F.572 Libeccio C.N.R.

F.573 Scirocco C.N.R.

F.574 Aliseo C.N.R.

F.575 Euro C.N.R.

F.576 Espero C.N.R.

F.577 Zeffiro C.N.R.

Dimensions Length(O/A) 402.7' (122.73m),

Beam 42.25'(12.88m),

Draft 13.8' (4.2m) 19.5' (5.95m) maximum

Displacement Full Load 3,200 tons, Standard 2,800 tons

Propulsion Power plant CODOG 2 GE/Fiat LM-2500 gas turbines, 2 GMT BL230-20DVM diesels, Horsepower 2 x 25,000 shp (gas turbines), 2 x 5,073 bhp (diesels), Electric 4 x 780Kw diesels,

Shafts 2w/ CP props,

Endurance 6,000 NM @ 15 Kts, 3,800 NM @ 20 Kts, 1,500 NM @ 30 Kts,

Max Speed 33 Kts (gas), 21 Kts (diesels)

Armament

Main:

Countermeasures:

Air: 2 Breda 105mm SCLAR launchers (2x20)