With the two-tier Navy that we may be heading towards, the roles of the C1 and C2 units seem largely defined with a certain number of permutations that are
conventional/orthodox in design; for example, we assume that C2 will be something akin to the present Type 23's capability with a shortened Type 45 hull.
C1 is a little less defined, with ideas for through-decks bandied around, but we assume that design features include the successor to Type 2087, SOSUS and
UUVs.
I feel C3 is the most interesting to consider, given the wide variety of tasks likely to be undertaken - from drug interdiction in APT(N) to mine-clearance in the Gulf to point-defence of RFA units in hot-wars. Designing C3 akin to a 2000t Malaysian or Singaporean missile corvette armed with Harpoon defeats the motivation for designing the C3 class in the first place, as their roles are different, yet do we simply want a River OPV with slightly longer legs? On a trivial note, it was raised on another thread that the RN has lost a bit of the edge in showing the flag, given that visits to foreign cities are fewer and the locals would rather see a sleek-looking 'stealth' MN LaFayette than a tired Type 42. So features inherent to the design such as aesthetics are a factor, albeit minor, in considering what C3 should look like.
So what are we looking at here?
I feel C3 is the most interesting to consider, given the wide variety of tasks likely to be undertaken - from drug interdiction in APT(N) to mine-clearance in the Gulf to point-defence of RFA units in hot-wars. Designing C3 akin to a 2000t Malaysian or Singaporean missile corvette armed with Harpoon defeats the motivation for designing the C3 class in the first place, as their roles are different, yet do we simply want a River OPV with slightly longer legs? On a trivial note, it was raised on another thread that the RN has lost a bit of the edge in showing the flag, given that visits to foreign cities are fewer and the locals would rather see a sleek-looking 'stealth' MN LaFayette than a tired Type 42. So features inherent to the design such as aesthetics are a factor, albeit minor, in considering what C3 should look like.
So what are we looking at here?
