Common Frigate Program
| File:GRNensign.png File:RNEnsign2copys.png | |
| Common Frigate Program | |
|---|---|
| Design details | |
| Type | Frigate |
| Hull type | Monohull |
| Manufacturer | JDC (See article for all contractors) |
| Preceded by | Various designs, see individual class pages |
| Followed by | Various designs, see individual class pages |
| Service dates | 1980 (SC) to present |
| Status | In service |
| Operators | |
| File:Midlonia 112928.png Midlonia File:Freethinker.png The Freethinker Commonwealth | |
The Common Frigate Program was one of the first combined design and development projects by the JDC, a joint project of the Freethinker Royal Navy and the Greater Royal Navy. Given the large number of vessels built to the variant designs, and their extensive usage, it is generally highlighted as one of the most successful of these programs.
Over three thousand vessels built to program designs remain in service with the GRN, the FRN and the Royal Akuman Navy to the present day.
Origins
Entering the 1980s, both the Freethinker and Midlonian naval services were relying still on large numbers of escorts dating back to the Second Moonstone War. These included a large number of ocean-going submarine chasers, frigates, and sloops that were expensive to man and run and becoming increasingly obsolete. Though both nations had a similar requirement for an ocean-going escort class, work only began in earnest after the signing of the Second Freethinker-Midlonian Treaty, which created an organising body, the JDC, to undertake such projects.
The issue of replacement for what were two of the largest NS navies at the time was a daunting one, and it was deemed appropriate given the relative standardisation of escort design in the prior decade to both nations to pursue a common platform.
Design and Development
<...> Several concurrent JDC programs, including the developments of what would become the CASM and the Sea Snake SAM, were included as part of the weaponry. The Ton and Bay classes were some of the first vessels in either Navy to mount these systems.
Individual class details can be found on their respective pages.
Programme-Developed Ship Class
Greater Kingdom
- Ton Class Frigate - ASW Frigates (FFH) - 360 In Active Service
- Bridge Class Frigate - AAW Frigates (FFG) - 360 In Active Service
- Ford Class Frigate - Multirole Frigates (FFG) - 300 In Active Service
- Ham Class Frigate - Escort Frigates (FE) - 420 In Active Service
There was one further class, three ships built to the basic Ford class layout but designed for system modularity, the three ships of the class are used as testing platforms for various new systems. Unlike other experimental craft they are retained as part of the GRN rather than being transfered to the RFA.
- Empirical Class Frigate - Experimental Support Vessels (AX(F)) - 3 In Active Service
- Himgiri Class Frigate - Multirole Frigates (FFG) - 12 In Active Service
Freethinker Commonwealth
- Bay Class Frigate - AAW Frigates (FFG) - 480 In Active Service
- River Class Frigate - ASW Frigates (FFH) - 480 In Active Service
- Pool Class Frigate - Multirole Frigates (FFG) - 600 In Active Service