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By Norman Friedman
For the Western European navies, 1990 was a year of reaction and reorientation to the perceived collapse of the Soviet threat. For most of them—and to a far greater degree than the U.S. Navy— that threat had been their reason for being. Now, their tasks within the larger NATO context are far less certain, although it is still quite possible that the region’s navies will form some kind of cohesive whole.
Canada: Fler Majesty’s Canadian Ship Halifax, the first of the Canadian City- class frigates, began trials on 6 August 1990. Twelve ships have been ordered in two series, and a third group of six more may yet be bought; that plan had died when the nuclear submarines were planned, but it may now be revived. The entire frigate program has been badly delayed, however; the Halifax is now 20 months late, although the builders claim that program improvements in later ships will make it possible to complete the entire project on schedule in 1996. Similarly, the Tribal-class update modernization project (TRUMP) for Canadian destroyers is badly off schedule. The first ship. HMCS Algonquin, had not been delivered as of late November 1990.
The mine countermeasures ship program has been delayed. A choice will not now be made until late in 1990 (orders should follow in March 1991, and the ships should begin to enter service in April 1993; the last should appear in 1998).
In February 1990, the Canadian Department of National Defense began studies of conventional submarines to replace the three Oberons currently in service. Reportedly the Australian Collins-class (Type 471) submarine is favored, and Australia has assigned a naval attache to
Ottawa largely to promote cooperative work in this connection. The other major contenders are reportedly the West German HDW Type 211 (as built for Norway), the Dutch Walrus, and the British Upholder.
Canada has deployed three ships to the Persian Gulf, the destroyer Athabaskan, the frigate Terra Nova, and the replenishment oiler Protecteur. They were refitted with extemporized close-in defensive systems before their departure. (See “Canadian Ships Sail for Middle East,' Proceedings, October 1990, p. 107.) Little extra equipment is available; rotating the ships home would require crossdecking. As a result, the ships will remain deployed while their crews are rotated.
United Kingdom: By mid-1990, a post-Cold War defense policy had been framed in a paper titled “Options for
ATLANTIC
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ARCTIC
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R°VAL navy
Change.” The numbers given below apply to the projected Royal Navy of 1995, but they may be reached earlier because even now there are insufficient Personnel. The current strength of 64,000 "'ill drop to about 60,000 by 1995. All the British services will suffer drastic cuts, but the Royal Navy’s traditional argument that it is needed for power projection abroad seems to have been appreciated. The British government had agreed to maintain a frigate permanently in the Caribbean to assist in suppressing the drug trade there, as an example.
There is some official confusion. The Minister of Defence, Tom King, assured the House of Commons Defence Com- niittee that ASW was still the most important single naval requirement, but by the fall of 1990 the government was reportedly most interested in the antiair Warfare requirements for power-projection operations. The planned drastic cuts in the submarine force would certainly suggest a shift away from North Atlantic ASW. At least before the crisis in the Gulf, it appeared that the British Government would emphasize a rapid deployment force for overseas operations, rather than the heavy land formations previously built up to operate in Central Europe. For example, the Royal Air Force Would have to justify itself more in terms of strategic airlift than war on the Central Front.
The land-based maritime patrol force, operated by the RAF, will be cut by 15%
(about six aircraft). Now that the U.S. Navy has cancelled the P-7 A, the Nim- rods may be rebuilt—corrosion problems notwithstanding. It is still possible, however, that the British will buy remanufactured P-3s. The French are strongly promoting their Atlantique 2, but apparently it does not have the requisite range or capacity. The other RAF maritime air arm, the ex-naval Buccaneer strike bombers, will be replaced by Tornadoes withdrawn from Germany and converted to the new role.
All three carriers will be retained and the projected aviation support ships, i.e..
helicopter assault ships, will be purchased. Studies of a next-generation carrier are apparently proceeding. The FRS.2 Sea Harrier modernization program is to proceed at full strength.
The British Government is continuing the very expensive Trident program; three of the four submarines have been ordered. Given the change in Soviet attitudes, it seems likely that pressure will again arise to abandon the Tridents in favor of some more flexible cruise missile capable of non-nuclear as well as nuclear attacks. Such a weapon would be usable in the Third World—by now, Tomahawk may well have been demon-
HMCS Halifax (330) is the first Canadian City-class frigate. British Defence Minister Tom King visits HMS Hattleaxe and a Royal Air Force Nimrod buzzes the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) in the Persian Gulf.
strated in just that context against Iraq. The counter-argument will be that so much has already been invested that it is pointless to seek changes now. The earlier Polaris submarines were financed out of the general defense fund, but Trident is being paid for out of Royal Navy funds, and thus entails a direct cost in projection forces.
Three of the four existing British Polaris submarines reportedly are suffering from reactor primary coolant leaks, a problem that has led the British government to retire its older nuclear attack submarines. The problem is not a new one, and several submarines have been temporarily repaired in the past. Recently the British Atomic Energy Authority and the Ministry of Defence have agreed on a more permanent standard of repair. The pool of experienced workers is limited since workers can be exposed to only a finite amount of radiation. Thus, the British Government found itself choosing between repairs to attack submarines— which had limited remaining operational lifetimes—and repairs to the ballistic- missile submarines essential to maintain the national deterrent. It chose the latter.
Sustained projection operations require underway replenishment, so the program for new replenishment-oiler construction is continuing—the first, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort Victoria, was launched on 2 March 1990. Quite aside from her one-
HMS Norfolk (F230), the first of 16 planned new Type-23 frigates, speeds through sea trials; she displaces 4,200 tons at full load. HMS Upholder, first of her class, was commissioned last year; only four will be built.
stop replenishment design, new to the British, she is the first RFA to be armed in peacetime, in this case with vertically- launched Seawolf missiles. One other ship of this class, RFA Fort George, is being built, but none of the other four projected ships has yet been ordered.
The destroyer-frigate force is to be run down to “about 40” ships, but that figure may be misleadingly low, as it could apply to operational ships. The new figure has been presented as a cut from the current official figure of 44 ships, but in fact the figure was padded. Last year a House of Commons report showed only 33 operational frigates and destroyers, with eight more available at short notice. It appears that both the Type-23 (Duke- class) frigate program and the future air defense ship (Type-42 replacement) will go ahead. The latter raises an interesting question in inter-European politics— whether Britain can afford to remain inside the European family of antiair missile systems (FAMS) consortium.
HMS Norfolk, the first of the new Type-23 frigates, was commissioned in 1990. Plans call for a total of 16 Type-23 frigates, ten of which are currently either on order or in service. An expected request for tenders for three more frigates has been delayed. The Ministry of Defence is no longer willing to state either how many ships will be ordered or when the orders may be placed, and there is concern that the British naval industry will be forced to lay off workers unless orders are forthcoming early in 1991.
HMS Southampton, the Type-42 missile destroyer damaged by a collision in the Gulf, is being rebuilt. That includes replacement of her action data automation system (ADAWS), built around aging FM 1600-series computers. These machines are no longer made, and apparently it was a considerable achievement to collect enough of them (and their peripherals) to replace the existing badly damaged units. This is not an isolated problem. Many ships in Western navies rely on combat direction systems, such as early versions of NTDS, that are built around old computers with only a fraction of the processing power of modern personal computers. Ironically, although the Type-42s are being modernized under an ADAWS improvement program, HMS Southampton is apparently being restored to her original configuration.
Mine countermeasures forces are to be maintained at roughly their current level.
The submarine force will take the heaviest cuts. This step is logical to the extent that submarines have been justified primarily for their ASW value, i.e., primarily for their Cold War mission. The total attack submarine force is to be cut to 16, 12 nuclear and four diesel-electric boats. Production of the current Upholder class (the first of which was commissioned in 1990) will therefore be termi- luted, even though five sets of combat direction systems for the planned next dutch of submarines had just been ordered in June 1990; these will be retained as spares. The earlier Oberon-class submarines (some of them just modernized) 'v'll be retired. Construction of the next- feneration nuclear attack submarine, the ^-class, has been deferred. If that deci- s'°n stands, it may be impossible for Britain to retain its nuclear submarine Building capacity.
HMS Upholder, the first of the new diesel-electric submarines, was commissioned on 9 June 1990 after protracted trials and problems with her torpedo tubes. She was returned to her builders for a ten- "eek post-commissioning refit, report- cdly in part due to trouble with a cooling fan for one of her diesel generators.
The decision to emphasize nuclear submarines is logical in the context of Power-projection. Diesel submarines "ere purchased because they are so useful in patrols near British waters, e.g., in die Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom Bap. Nuclear submarines can transit at much higher speeds, and can operate independently for longer periods. One important lesson of the Falklands War was that nuclear submarines were the only naval forces that could be sent into a distant area in which a crisis was clearly brewing without escalating the crisis directly. Thus, they could be sent on the basis of quite limited warning and withdrawn quietly if the warning proved inaccurate.
Last August, the government announced Navy cuts as part of a reduction ■n the 1990-91 budget to make up for overruns. HMS Conqueror (which sank the Argentinian cruiser General Belgrano during the Falklands Conflict) is to be Paid off rather than being refitted and refuelled. The frigate HMS Plioehe, "hich has a towed array and Exocet missiles, will retire along with the patrol craft Petrel and Sandpiper, and the mine- hunters Gavinton and Kirkliston (already inactivated). The earlier nuclear submarines are being retired, even though one °f them, HMS Warspite, has just completed a costly refit.
The 1990 cuts also included the seabed operations ship HMS Challenger. She had experienced very severe teething Problems since her completion in 1984, und her first saturation dive to 300 meters (1,000 feet) did not take place until 1989.
Apart from the United States, Britain has the largest naval contingent in the Persian Gulf, built up from the longstanding pre-crisis Armilla Patrol. As of November 1990, British forces included the Type-42 Batch 3 missile destroyers
York and Gloucester (HMS Cardiff lelt for the Gulf in November); the Type-22 Batch 2 frigate London, the Typc-22 Batch 3 frigates Brazen and Battleaxe, and the Leander-class Batch 3A frigate Jupiter. There were three Hunt-class minesweepers (Atlierstone, Cattistock, and Hurwortli) supported by the survey ship Herald (there is no longer any specialized British mine countermeasures support ship, now that HMS Abdiel has been discarded). The force as a whole was being supported by the underway replenishment ship Fort Grange, the tankers Olna and Orangeleaf, and the forward repair ship Diligence. In addition, the logistics landing ships Sir Galahad and Sir Percival were in the Gulf to support the large British Army contingent. Before their departure, they were armed with four single Mk. 4 20-mm. Oerlikons, and Sir Galahad was fitted with a terminal for the MAR1SAT communications satellite.
RFA Argus, the merchant ship converted to a training carrier, has been sent to the Persian Gulf as a hospital ship. Unlike other such ships, she has not been painted white or specially marked. Reportedly, that is to permit her to use her large Bight deck to help operate combat aircraft. Argus has been armed with four twin 30-mm. DS-30B automatic cannon.
France: The current political shifts reinforce French naval strategy, which emphasizes the ability to project force overseas. In 1990, the Navy accounted for 19.8% of the defense budget (the Army got 26.1%, the Air Force 20.9%, the national police 8.8%, and multiservice programs were alloted 24.4%). As tensions in Europe decline, the Navy share is expected to grow, although the total defense budget is likely to shrink— it is now 15.5% of the national budget. Current policy emphasizes the nuclear deterrent: the strategic submarine Beet already consumes 37.6% of the naval procurement budget—as against 22.6% for shipbuilding and 9.3% for aircraft procurement. The ballistic-missile submarines arc likely to become more important in the near term, since the French Government has had to cancel development of its next-generation, land-based strategic missile.
Current navy plans specify:
- Six SSBNs, of which three arc to be at sea at any given time, plus intelligence and minehunting forces to protect the SSBN force
- One task force consisting of two aircraft carriers and antiair warfare ships
- A power-projection force of amphibious ships and frigate escorts
- A patrol force of Floredl-class surveillance frigates
There is increasing interest in what the French Navy calls public utility work— antipollution patrol, and maintenance of the 200-mile exclusive economic zone). Of the current fleet of 119 ships, most have an average age of 14-17 years. The principal exceptions are the two 28-year- old carriers: the 26-year-old helicopter carrier Jeanne d'Arc,, and the five major AAW ships, which average 22 years ol service.
Shipboard aircraft arc also aging. Aside from the 61 relatively new Super Etendards, the Navy operates 12 Etcn- dard 1VP photo reconnaissance aircraft— 26 years old; 22 F-8E(N) Crusader fighters—also 26 years old; and 22 Alize ASW aircraft, which average 30 years in service and are once again being modernized alter an airframe and avionics upgrade in 1982.
The navy has no airborne early warning aircraft, although the Alize’s sea- search radar should detect low Biers. The new carrier will probably operate rebuilt Grumman S-2s equipped with a new French Vigil K-band radar. Although hardly in the class of the E-2C, this combination should outperform the modified airborne early warning Sea Kings ol the British and Spanish navies.
Of the helicopters, only the Lynxes are relatively young. The force of 26 At- lantique maritime patrol aircraft— average age 22—is being replaced by Atlanlique 2 aircraft, but the rate ol replacement has been reduced by budget cuts.
Twelve of the existing F-8E(N) Crusaders will be rebuilt to keep them Bying until the Rafale M enters service. The rebuild is designed to keep the aircraft Byable, and is not an upgrade.
The patrol frigate Floredl, the first of a series of six units built to commercial rather than to naval standards, was launched on 6 October. She is being fitted out at the naval yard at Loricnt, while work continues on building the more sophisticated Lafayette-chss frigates.
The ocean minesweeper-hunter (BAMO) program has been delayed. This makes sense in the new strategic context; French ocean sweepers arc intended primarily to keep the Gironde estuary clear for sorties by ballistic-missile submarines. The experimental surface effect craft AGNES-200 was launched on 2 July 1990 and began trials in August.
As might have been expected of a navy concentrating on power projection, France sent a powerful force to the Persian Gulf in response to the Iraqi attack on Kuwait—the carrier Clemenceau, carrying the troops and helicopters of the 5th
damage while under construction. The second to be laid down, Zeeleeuw, was accepted for service in April 1990. The third unit, Dolfijn, was launched on 25 April. Although the Dutch Navy intended to maintain a total of six Walrus-da^ submarines, the last two were cancelled in 1989, and two earlier Zwaardvis-d'^ submarines modernized instead.
Given the improved silencing of current nuclear attack submarines, the Royal Netherlands Navy does not seem certain of the value of diesel submarines f°r ASW. Nor does it consider them as vain-
France plans to maintain six SSBNs; L’lnJIexible (top) is France’s most advanced operational SSBN. The French Navy has selected the Rafale M as its next carrier-based fighter; here, a prototype executes a low approach.
Combat Helicopter Regiment; the cruiser Colbert; the missile destroyers Dupleix and Montcalm; the frigates Commandant Bory, Commandant Ducuing, Doudart de Lagree, and Protef, the replenishment ships Var, Durance, and Marne; and the repair ship Jules Verne. The carrier withdrew after delivering her troops.
The Netherlands: The Karel Doorman, the first of eight new M-class frigates, began sea trials on 1 October 1990. She and her first three sisters will go to sea initially without their Anaconda towed arrays, MW-08 SMART threedimensional radars, and their APECS II electronic countermeasures suites, which were ordered late. As these ships enter service, earlier Dutch escorts will be retired. The two large Tromps, with their massive three-dimensional radars, will probably go into reserve in 1991 and be discarded in 1992. The first four Kor- tenaers will be retired in 1993-94, instead of being modernized as planned. They are still relatively new ships, and they will presumably be sold. Indonesia is a likely customer, given her recent purchase of all the ex-Dutch Van Spejk-class frigates. The money gained from these retirements and sales is to go into a new class of air-defense frigates, to be developed jointly with the Germans. These ships would presumably be equipped with the NATO antiair warfare system (NAAWS), a project the Netherlands continues to support strongly.
The submarine Walrus began sea trials in September 1990. The first of her class to be laid down, she sustained severe fire able in a post-Cold War environment. The submarine force, then, may be vulnerable to future Dutch defense cuts. Meanwhile, the older submarine Zeehond has been transferred to the shipbuilder, RDM, for development tests of a new air- independent propulsion system for the projected Moray class.
The Dutch contingent in the Gulf consists of one missile frigate and one ASW frigate. The original pair, Witte de With and Pieter Florisz, were replaced in November 1990 by the frigates Jacob van
HNLMS Karel Doorman, first of an eight-ship class of guided-missile frigates, has a Link 11 data link and carries a Lynx ASW helicopter.
Heemskerck and Philips van Almonde, supported by the replenishment oiler Zuiderkritis, which was fitted with a containerized Goalkeeper close-in weapon system prior to deploying.
Belgium: Responding to the new Gull crisis, the Belgian government deployed two Tripartite minesweepers (Iris and Myosotis) and a support ship. Later, it
sent the frigate Wandelaar to the Gulf.
Germany: As of early 1990, the German armed forces already were being reduced. The military-age population is declining sharply. By mid-year, moreover, the prospect of unification was clearly carrying with it very high financial cost, as the West German government pledged to extend its level of social
HNLMS Witte de With (F813) leads the frigate Pieter Florisz (1*826) and the replenishment ship Ziiiderkruis (hastily fitted with a containerized Goalkeeper defense system) to the Persian Gulf (top). The Dutch submarine Walrus, here in drydock, began sea trials last September.
benefits to the East. The government expects to stabilize its forces at 420,000 active-duty personnel by 1996. The currently agreed ultimate figure is more likely to be about 370,000 (in mid-1990 the expected figure 400,000).
In any case, the German Navy is expected to absorb substantial cuts. As of early 1990, the current strength of 37,800 men was to be reduced to 30,900 by 1995. Plans call for the current Beet of about 200 surface units to be reduced to about 100 combatants (including 16 frigates with 12 embarked helicopters) and 20 support units. The German Navy is, and will continue to be, unusual within NATO in its heavy reliance on shore- based high-performance attack aircraft. The current requirement for 105 Tornados is based on the need to maintain 72 in ready status. As of July 1990, the German Navy was considering cuts based on a reduced Baltic threat, but no final figure has emerged.
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The German Navy’s Hameln is a Type-343 minesweeper configured for mechanical, acoustic, and magnetic minesweeping. She was designed for use in the Baltic, built by Liirssen Werft, and is manned by a total of 38 officers and men.
The German Navy sees less of a threat from the Baltic. The Soviets can no longer quickly roll across the German frontier, so there is less interest in any amphibious capability they may have in the Baltic. On the other hand, the Soviets will retain strong forces capable of attacking vital Western sea lines of communication. The German conclusion is that Baltic forces can be reduced, but that
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DIE BILDSTELLE DER MARINE
the North Sea forces must, if anything, be reinforced to counter any future Soviet antishipping campaign. Even if the Baltic threat remains, the sheer extension of non-Soviet territory (including Poland) to the East greatly increases warning time and makes it much less important to maintain fast attack craft at sea.
The German government hopes that a future treaty would eliminate the Soviet amphibious potential in the Baltic altogether, eliminating the need for most of the German Baltic fleet.
Thus there are no current plans to replace the guided-missile patrol boats, although the aging existing units will remain in service for some time. The only shipbuilding programs currently in train are the four new Type-123 frigate (to replace the existing Hamburg-dass destroyers), the new mine countermeasure ships (Type-33'2 hunters for the North Sea j and Type-343 sweeper-minelayers pi' I marily for the Baltic), and a new series of containerized repair and logistics support I tenders.
The proposed new Type-212 submit' rines would introduce an air-independenl j (fuel cell) supplementary propulsion syS' tern, currently under test on board the older submarine U-l. Proponents ol this system argue that it permits a submarine to maintain full charge on her battery without snorkeling, i.e., without giving herself away even in an area under intense surveillance. The air-independent plant also should permit a submarine to creep away from ASW forces, frustrating hold-down tactics (but not frustrating homing torpedoes). Twelve of the 18 existing Type-206 submarines are being modernized.
In the fall of 1990 the German Ministry of Defense was negotiating with the Type-212 consortium (ARGE-212) to reduce the program’s cost. Options included delaying the contract to begin series construction, stretching out the program, and reducing numbers below the 12 initially planned. Any such change would affect the two submarine-building yards, HDW and Thyssen-Nordseewerke. which depend heavily on export contracts. Germany continues to be a major submarine exporter, with a large reported program for South Korea. Against that. ’ in November Israel cancelled an order for two new submarines (which would have been the Dolphin class) that were to have been built by HDW.
The major air program is a new maritime patrol airplane to replace the aging Atlantic. The Germans had been expected to buy the Lockheed P-7A, but that program was cancelled by the U.S. Navy.
The great question of 1990 was the future status of the former East German Navy. It was politically impossible to discard the entire fleet, although none of the combatants seemed suited to West German service. The new Bal-Com 10- class guided-missile patrol boats, the first of which was initially equipped to carry the new Soviet SS-N-25 antiship missile, may still be built at the former Peenewerft yard, now taken over by Bremer Vulkan. The new craft, designated the Sassnitz class, are being delivered without their Soviet weapons, sensors, and propulsion plants, and Bremer Vulkan is marketing the bare hulls in the West.
The West German Navy looks on the former East German ships as more of a liability than an asset. The recently-built
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^ archim-class corvettes, for example, are Ascribed as too unstable to be useful in 'he Baltic. Ultimately, West Germany decided to retain 12 ships as a training squadron for up to three years, to retrain kust German personnel for the German h'uvy; one Koni-class corvette (with an- °'hcr retained briefly for trials); four Par- lhim /-class corvettes; the single completed Sassnitz', one Tarantul; and five Kondor II-class minesweepers. They will rcmain operational until stocks of spares run out. By way of comparison, in August 1990 the East German Navy proposed a much larger force: up to 16 Par- chims, 10 Sassnitzs, five Taranttul Is, and
Kondor IIs, to operate out of its bases at Peenemiinde and Rostock.
Thus far, German forces have not been deployed to the Persian Gulf because the German constitution limits them to oper- utions within the NATO area, whose southern boundary is 25° north. The German Navy, however, did form a minesweeper squadron to operate off the Mcd- herranean entrance of the Suez Canal, to keep the canal open in the event that Libya, a supporter of Iraq, tried to mine "■ The squadron consists of the depot ship Werra (which also functions as command ship), the ammunition ship Wester- being fitted at a Danish naval yard. Trials began in May, and the ship is scheduled to be commissioned early in 1991.
The second batch of Flyvefisken-class attack boats was ordered in 1990. To maintain a steady building rate until a third batch is ordered in 1994, the second increment was increased to six vessels (from four), so that a total of 13 ships is either on order or built. This increase was balanced by deferring the purchase of most of the weapons and equipment for the ships to the next three-year defense program. The modular design of these ships made this sort of choice possible.
The four Falster-class minelayers, 26-27 years old, are being refitted to extend their lives by another 20 years. This work is being done at private yards following the closing of the Danish Navy Yard at Copenhagen.
The first of three ex-Norwegian submarines being modernized for Danish service, the Tumleren, was delivered in October 1989, and the other two were delivered later in the year. One of them, the Saelen, sank while under tow on 3 December 1990; no crew was was on board.
The Danish presence in the Persian Gulf consisted of the corvette Olfert service in 1990. Similarly, the program to build new Type-211 Ula-class submarines is continuing. The fourth was scheduled to be launched in late 1990, and the last of the six ordered should be completed by 1992.
Nine surface-effect ship (SES) mine countermeasures vessels—four Orsoy- class hunters and five Alta-class sweepers) were ordered in December 1989; they arc the first craft of this type to be built (the U.S. Navy having abandoned its own SES mine countermeasures program in favor of the conventional Osprey (MMC-51) class). Construction of the first craft began on 1 December.
An SES has also been proposed as the replacement for 20 current Norwegian Storm-class guided-missile patrol boats. The expected naval requirement is a maximum speed of 60 knots, a range of 600 nautical miles, and minimum observables. The Swedish Smyge is an obvious approach to such a craft. A design (CPS Mk 3) proposed by NFT (formerly Kongsberg) is armed with six Penguin missiles in canisters sunk into its deck, a 20- or 25-mm. gun forward, and an air defense missile mount aft (probably carrying the French Mistral missile). Two torpedo tubes could replace the Penguins.
Wa/d, the minehunters (Type-33IB) Mar- biirg, Koblenz, and Wetzlar, and the 'minesweepers (Type-343) Laboe and Oberherrn.
Denmark: HDMS Thetis, the lirst of lour Greenland patrol ships ordered in 1987 (to replace the Hvidbjdrnen class). Was delivered in January 1990; her sisters are due in 1991-92. Her armament is
Fischer, supported by the Norwegian Coast Guard cutter Andennes. She has 12 Stingers (borrowed from the Royal Netherlands Army) on board.
Norway: Modernization of the Osio- class frigates with a new Norwegian MSI-3100 combat direction system and French Sphcrion sonars has been completed. The last two—of five—entered
Denmark's fisheries protection frigate Thetis, lirst of four, was delivered early in 1990. The diesel-powered, twin-screw Thetis-class frigates displace 2,200 tons and are equipped with a Lynx helicopter. Designed to patrol off Greenland, their endurance is 21 days.
Italy: Last year the Italian Navy was finally granted authority to operate its own fixed-wing aircraft. On 22 May, official permission was given to buy 18 AV-8B Harrier II Plus fighters (including program involving Italy, the Spanish Navy, and the United States Marine Corps. The long-range Italian naval plan calls for a second carrier, which would require another 16 Harriers.
native helicopter carrier designs.
The initial Italian force in the Persian Gulf consisted of two frigates and two corvettes plus a support ship, with four mine countermeasures ships in the Red
two TAV-8B trainers). The trainers will be delivered first, and will be used for sea trials on board the carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi. The fighters will follow in 199293. The Harrier II Plus incorporates an APG-65 radar; radar integration is a joint
A training ship similar to the San Giorgio-class helicopter assault ships has been approved, and is scheduled for completion in 1994. The Royal Australian Navy has chosen the San Giorgio as the standard against which to evaluate alter-
Sea. A third frigate was sent in October. Late last year, the Italian force in the Persian Gulf consisted of the Maestrale-cldss frigates Libeccio and Zejfiro, the Lupo- class frigate Orsa, and the underway replenishment ship Stromboli.
(Clockwise from upper left) An Italian Navy task group, including the STOVL carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi and a San Giorgio-class amphibious warfare ship, in the Mediterranean; the replenishment ship Stromboli, now in the Persian Gulf; two Sauro- class submarines with the Guglielmo Marconi in the foreground; the Garibaldi with British Sea Harriers on trials—although Italy is buying radar-equipped AV-8B Plus Harriers; and the patrol boat Cassiopea, used for fisheries protection, pollution monitoring, and search and rescue.
The Spanish Navy’s Task Group Alfa is built around the STOVL carrier Principe de Asturias. Spain, like Italy, plans to buy radar-equipped AV-8B Plus Harriers. .
Spain: In 1990, the Navy got 21.2% of the overall defense budget; additional funds for shore construction and materiel were to come from the 25.2% share allocated to the Defence Central Organ iza: tion (the Spanish equivalent of the U.S. Department of Defense). The Minister of Defence announced that the navy would suffer no cuts at this time, although the army will be cut 10% in tanks and 20% in field artillery.
The fleet comprises Group Alfa (the carrier Principe de Asturias, her Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7)-class and Baleares-class escorts, and her air wing); Group Delta (the amphibious force—two LPAs and three LSTs) and their Des- cubierta-cl ass and ex-U.S. Gearing FRAM I escorts); the submarine force; and the auxiliary force (mine countermeasures, base defense, logistics, maritime surveillance, scientific, and training ships). There are 6,000 marines—a brigade and five regiments—but there is enough sea lift for only 2,000. The current naval plan calls for the construction of an LPD beginning in 1997. Ultimately, five ships will be built, with a total capacity of 20,000 tons and 1,500 men.
Task group operations are limited by a lack of fast replenishment ships; the Navy is currently leasing two fast tankers (Campeon and Camponubia) from the state-owned CAMPSA oil company. Each has been fitted for astern refuelling. A new oiler, the Mar del Norte, was begun in 1989 (launched 3 October 1990), and a new underway replenishment ship. Mar del Sur, will be begun in 1991 for completion in December 1993. Mar del Sur is a modified version of the Dutch Zuiderkruis.
The current naval plan is “Alta Mar” (High Seas). The escort force is to be built up to 15 vessels. Beyond 2000, the Navy hopes to obtain a second VSTOL carrier.
For the near term, Spain had hoped to build a version of the NATO frigate. With the collapse of that program, Spain hopes to build five comparable frigates, designated the F-110 with hull numbers F91 through F95, beginning in 1998. These will replace the current Baleares class, and will be preceded by four simpler (primarily ASW) transitional F-100 frigates, with hull numbers F101-F104. The latter program was in jeopardy late in 1990 because of the perceived reduction in the threat.
The fourth modified Perry-class frigate, Reina Sofia, was commissioned in October 1990. Two more modified Perry-class frigates (F85 and F86) were laid down in 1989 for completion in 1993-94, bringing the class to a total of six. The F-100 class program was adopted as an alternative to ordering an additional four modified Perry-class frigates. Long-term plans envisioned a force of 30-40 frigates, but the number was reduced to 15 because of cost. The four remaining former U.S. Navy FRAM I Gearings are scheduled to be retired in 1991-92.
Minehunter and minesweeper replacement is particularly urgent; as described in last year’s review, the British Sundown class is to be built for delivery between October 1993 and October 1995. Eight minehunters are to be laid down from 1990 on, with four—ultimately eight— modified as minesweepers from 1994 on. The sweepers are to deal with mines in water more than 150 feet deep, and their detailed design may await the conclusions of NATO Project Group 22 (mine countermeasures); its report is due in 1995. The first four Spanish Sundowns will replace the four old U.S.-supplied Agile class.
Four new offshore patrol ships are under construction; all are scheduled for completion by 1992. They incorporate the first all-Spanish electro-optical fire control system. The lead ship, Serviola, was launched on 10 May and was scheduled to enter service in February 1991. Her design is derived from the Halcyon class built for Argentina and Mexico in the early 1980s. The new patrol ships replace the old Atrevida class, which will be retired in 1991-93. Unlike their predecessors, the new ships carry helicopters.
Four new submarines are to be built later in the decade. Last spring, the British Type-2400 Upholder and the Dutch Walrus designs were under consideration (in that order). The four Agostas are to be
modernized from 1994 onwards.
The initial Spanish contingent in the Gulf consisted of the Perry-class frigate Santa Maria and the corvettes Des- cubierta and Cazadora\ they were later relieved by three other Descubierta-class frigates and an amphibious transport-" minus her troops).
Portugal: Vasco da Gama, the first of the Portuguese MEKO 200 frigates, began weapons trials in October. The other two ships of the class should be completed in May and November 1991 The Portuguese Navy reportedly considers three more ships of this type and new mine countermeasures ships its most urgent requirements for new construction, but funds for their construction are scarce. It also hopes to modernize the existing Cdt. Joao Belo-class frigates and the Daphne-c\ass submarines.
Portugal is reportedly considering the construction of about five—eventually ten—new patrol boats to enforce its exclusive economic zone; they would replace craft originally designed for patrol off Angola, and thus unsuited to the North Atlantic.
The Portuguese transport Sao Miguel supported the German mine countermeasures squadron in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Greece: Greece expects to receive four ex-U.S. Charles F. Adams (DDG-2)- class missile destroyers. At this writing, Brazil and Pakistan are reportedly also preparing proposals for ships of this type. Presumably, any Greek acquisition would lead to a Turkish request for parallel consideration.
Blohm & Voss cut the first steel for the first of the Greek MEKO frigates, Ydra, in May. She was scheduled to be laid down in January 1991.
An option for two “Osprey 55” guided-missile corvettes to follow the two constructed under license from Danyard in Denmark has run out, and the Greek Navy has contracted with Hellenic Shipyards for the design and construction of two similar but slightly larger ships. The second of the Ospreys, Navmahos, was completed on 15 July 1990. Five 4,400-ton roll-on, roll-off LSTs (with ramps fore and aft) are being built; two were to commission in 1990, although the program is well behind schedule.
The Greek contribution to the force in
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•he Gulf is one “Standard” frigate, •Lim- "0,s> scheduled to be relieved by her sister-ship, the Elli.
Turkey: On 19 January, the Turkish flense Minister signed a contract for a new pair of MEKO frigates (TRAK-2 Program) to follow the current four IRAK-1 frigates. The new frigates are to "ave a German-Swiss CoSYS-200 comat direction system in place of the Sig- naal Sewaco of the TRAK-ls. The future °* this project remains uncertain, however, given Turkish financial problems and the potential availability of attractive s.UrPlus U.S. ships. The order for the new lrigates was first announced as long ago as January 1989, and reportedly it is not altogether firm.
In March, Turkey released a request '0r proposals for foreign-designed mine- 'Hinters, capable of detecting mines at ^cPths up to 600 feet, to be built in Turkey. The request specified construction °* 14 ships in two batches of six and eight.
The first of two Osman Pasa-class -^773-ton LSTs was launched in August 1990, to be completed in October 1992. l^e ship is 50% larger than her predecesSors of the Sarucabey class. This class is a dual-purpose minelayer-landing type, carrying a dual pennant number—Nl, Where “N” is the NATO designation for a minelayer and “1” indicates a secondly amphibious status).
Sweden: Like the other European Powers, Sweden is short of funds. Resources are shrinking, but the government has decided to buy an indigenous supersonic fighter, the JAS 39 Gripen, 'Ustead of cheaper foreign alternatives. The government also is determined to re- ta>n the expensive military draft system, ar>d therefore the fairly large army establishment required to absorb the draftees. Anally, the new submarine program is Unlikely to be abandoned, particularly 8'ven the recent export success in Australia. Given the budget squeeze, the Navy hopes to extend the lives of the Norrkop- lnS and Hugin-class missile boats and the Sjdormen-class submarines. Through the 1990s new construction will probably be limited to “Submarine 90”—the A-19 class—and to minor surface craft for surface warfare and possibly minehunting.
The first three A-19 class submarines Were ordered on 28 March, with an op- lion for two more. The order includes an option for fitting a Stirling auxiliary air- mdependent powerplant. The order for me submarine, however, was given subject to confirmation by the Swedish Government and was subject to a review of Swedish defense policy; as a result, little Work on the unfunded submarines has been accomplished to date.
Research into a next generation of surface combatants is continuing, however, and a 140-ton stealthy surface-effect unit, Smyge, has been ordered from Karlskronavarvct. She is to be armed with the first of the new Bofors Trinity 40-mm./70 mounts, RBS-15 missiles, and lightweight ASW torpedoes. She is to be launched in the spring of 1991. Sea trials should last into 1994.
Sweden is unique in operating sono- buoy craft, special surface craft that monitor fields of surface-laid, long-life buoys, that can move into position to observe intruding submarines. Minehunt- ers are also being used to detect submarines in shallow water. Midget submarine incidents continued through 1990, and the Swedish Government obtained a videotape of what appeared to be the conning tower of a broaching mini-sub.
Sweden is forming six mobile coast defense battalions, the first of which began training late in 1989. The new 800-man units are to be called Am- fibiebataljon 90, and are intended to outflank small amphibious operations. The troops will be carried by 25 fast (30 knots) StrB 90 landing craft, supported by 25 or more supply craft. Like other elements of Swedish coastal defense, each battalion will be controlled by the STR1KA command system. Weapons will include the portable Hellfire (RBS- 17) missile, and influence and controlled bottom mines. The two StrB 90 prototypes have completed trials. Each carries 22 troops as well as a 30-mm. Aden aircraft cannon, to suppress defensive fire as the boat approaches the shore.
Finland: In the wake of Soviet retrenchment, Finland has announced that it no longer considers itself bound by the terms of the 1947 peace treaty. That should permit it to buy ground mines and ultimately to operate small submarines, as it did before World War II. The minelayer Hameenmaa, officially described as a sister ship of the existing Pohjanmaa, has been reordered from Hollming Yards following the bankruptcy of the original builder, Wartsila. This ship will differ considerably from her predecessor, which was intended as a peacetime training ship; she will have ramps fore and all.
This year the first of the new Rauma- class missile boats was delivered; these craft were formerly described as the “Helsinki II” class, but differ from their predecessors in having Finnish-designed propulsion and steering. They are lighter, faster, and more maneuverable in shallow water. Each is armed with six Swedish
The Finnish Navy’s all-aluminum, Rauma-class missile boats use water- jet propulsion. The shallow-draft vessels mount a 40-nim. Bofors forward and are Fitted with sonar.
RBS-15SF missiles.
Ireland: The Irish Naval Service estimates that it needs at least 12 patrol ships to police its EEZ. It has seven, and manning is so constrained that at one time last year only one of the three P-22-class vessels was in commission. As a consequence, arrests of fishing boats violating the EEZ fell from 89 in 1988 to 57 in 1989. A ban on new recruiting has now ended, and the two P-22s may now be recommissioned.
The former Verolme Yard in Cork was reopened under Dutch management on 1 November. It had built five of the seven Irish patrol ships, including the largest, Eithne, before its collapse in 1985. The reopening of the yard raises the possibility that, should sufficient European Community funds become available, the projected sister ship will be built.
I)r. Friedman is a defense analyst working under contract for the U.S. Navy and several private companies. The author of many books on naval weapons and ship design, he writes the regular Proceedings “World Naval Developments” feature and contributes frequently to Proceedings and other professional naval magazines. The Naval Institute published his new book. The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, in 1989.
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