Bay Class Frigate
| File:RNEnsign2copys.png | |
| Bay class | |
|---|---|
| Design details | |
| Type | Frigate |
| Hull type | Monohull |
| Manufacturer | FDI Group Burnington Devon other yards |
| Preceded by | Lion Class Frigate |
| Followed by | River Class Frigate |
| Service dates | 1980 (SC) to Present |
| Status | In Active Service |
| Operators | |
| File:Freethinker.png The Freethinker Commonwealth | |
The Bay Class Frigates are AAW escorts of the Freethinker Royal Navy. Now amongst the oldest of surface combatants in the fleet, the vessels remain as one of the backbones of regional and second-line formations.
They are one of a number of vessels designed and built for the FRN under the Common Frigate Program. A total of 480 ships remain in service, with a further 110 vessels mothballed as part fo the reserve fleet.
The class is named after smaller bays and coves on the Mainland coast.
Origin and Manufacture
The Bay class were the first of the CFP ships to built for the Commonwealth's Navy and the second type to be laid down after the Ton class of the GRN.
Design
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Displacement: | 4,505 tons (Normal load) |
| Dimensions: | 134.2 (l) x 18.2m (w) x 6.2m (d) |
| Crew: | 114 (Ship's Complement) 12 (Onboarded Specialists) |
| Propulsion: | - |
| Performance: | - 28 kts (Sustainable) - 7,400 Miles |
| Armament: | - 1 x 76mm/32 Gun - 1 x 64-cell tactical length Mk72 VLS - 2 x Quad CASM Launchers - 2 x 8 cell Sea Snake VLS - 2 x Twin Torpedo Catapults - 2 x 25mm Cannons |
| Aircraft: | - 1 medium helicopter - Support facilities for UAVs/drones |
| No. Ships in Class: | 480 |
The Bay class follow the standard lines of other ships of the CFP. They have a single, elongated superstruture
Armament
The ship's surface-to-surface missile is the CASM. The two quadruple launch tubes are installed amid-ship ahead of the ship's funnel. The CASM missile uses active or semi-active radar homing to deliver a 260kg warhead to a range in excess of 80 miles.
Gunnery is centred on a BI 76mm/32 DP Autocannon, a license built version of the OTO Melera Compact.
There are two BI 25mm guns for manual close in defence. These are crewed, sensor-directed weapons designed for anti-surface and anti-air work. In addition, 4 machine gun mounts, for either 7.7mm GPMG or 6 x 7.62mm Miniguns are installed for port defence work.
Sensors
As a dedicated
- Sonar
- Falltech SS-24A Medium-range Bow-mounted, Falltech SS-30B (mod 2) Towed Array
The Combat Management Suite is the Falltech General Surface Tactical Defence Control system. This is the standard escort control system installed on Freestian warships, and combines all sensory input and weapon control modules to provide an integrated system management function. Primary control is located in a hardened Command Centre amidship.
The ship is equipped with an Falltech/CNIO RD OVERLORD communciations and coordination module, Link 11/14 communications,
Propulsion
The Bay class share their basic power system design with other Freestian CFP vessels, comprising an economic CODLAG arrangement of one Diesel Electric motor for cruising and a Gas fired turbine for higher speeds. As older vessels, the Bay class ships don't have the quiet, efficient intergrated electric propulsion systems of later classes, instead relying on buffeted and displaced engine housing and hull accoustic dampening to reduce their signature.
The propellors are large, three bladed units mounted on two shafts. A new feathered design was installed to reduce cavitation and improve transmission efficiency.
Several auxiliary generators and battery systems are also carried. These include two 500kw Thompson diesel-electric motors.
Protection
- Electronic Warfare
- Falltech Mk 605 ECM/ESM suite, 4 x Falltech Mk 7 Decoy Launchers,
Passive defence against submerged targets is provided by a number of systems. The Falltech Universal Towed Decoy System is the main decoy carried, deploying an active towed platform.
Argus Defence Technologies installed degaussing and acoustic sweeping gear, specifically the ASDS and the AD Mk.1 Magnetic/Acoustic sweeping system. Both installed sets are sized for the vessel and designed to provide effective passive defence against numerous underwater threats.