|
|
|
Corvettes
A recurring
theme the expense of modern warships.
Many
smaller navies find themselves unable to afford even the smaller
destroyers or frigates, and there has been a consequent revival of
interest in the corvette, usually of about 500-1,000 tons displacement,
which represents an intermediate type between the frigate on one side
and the fast attack craft on the other.
The
corvette went out of fashion after World War II, but has been the
subject of a revival in recent years, nOt only because of its relative
cheapness but also because of the appearance of lightweight guns,
missiles and sensors which enable a fairly heavy equipment and weapon
fit to be installed in a light hull.
The
Finuish Navy's Turunmaa class, for example, manages to mount a 120mm
gun, two 40mm and two 20mm cannon,
depthcharge racks and anti-submarine rockets on a 770-ton hull. And
Vosper Thornycroft corvette designs, a number of which have been sold
to a variety of navies, include the Mark 9, which mounts a 70mm 'gun,
one 40mm and two 20min cannon, an ASW rocket launcher and a Seacat SAM
launcher on a 780-ton hull.
The most successful exponent of such designs is, without a doubt, the
Soviet Navy, which has produced a series of capable light combatants.
The Nanuchka III
class vessels (660 tons), for example, are armed with
six SS-N-9s, two twin SA-N-4 launchers, a 76mm gun and a 30mm Gatling
CIWS, while the Tarantul IIs, slightly smaller at 580 tons, mount four
SS-N-22s, a quad SA-N-5, a 76mm gun and two 30mm Gatling CIWS, and both
are capable of atop speed of 36 knots. The Pauk class uses the Tarantul
hull, but is optimized for the ASW role and powered by diesels rather
than gas turbines; it does not have SSMs, but is armed with an SA-N-5
launcher, a 76mm gun and a 30mm Gatling CIWS, together wth an ASW
armament of four torpedo tubes, two RBU-1200 rocket launchers, and two
depth-charge racks.
These small warships, heavily armed as they may be, are by no means the
complete answer to problems of size and cost. No gain is ever obtained
without penalty, and in the case of corvettes and fast attack craft a
heavy weapon and sensor fit is only feasible at the expense of speed,
range and seakeeping qualities.
|
|
Arleigh Burke (8,400 tons). New Aegis
destroyers armed with Mk 41 VLS with a capacity of 90 missiles (SAM,
SSM and Asroc). SAM is Standard SM-2 (MA) and two Mk 15 CIWS will be
fitted.
Surface weapons are Tomahawk, Harpoon and 5in Mk 45 DP gun.
ASW weapons are Asroc and six torpedo tubes, but no helicopter is
carried.
|
|
Charles F. Adams (4,825 tons) Now
somewhat elderly, these ships serve in the US, West German, and
Australian navies. They have single Mk 11 or 13 launchers for 34
Standard SM-I (MA) SAM, a surface armament of Harpoon and two 5in Mk 42
DP guns, while ASW weapons are Asroc and six torpedo tubes. There are
no helicopter facilities.
|
|
Type 42 Batch 3 (4,775 tons). Latest
stretched version of AN air defence/ air warning destroyer. M weapon is
the tested Sea Dart SAM (22 carried), but the only close-in defence is
two Oerlikon 20mm M guns. Surface weapon is one 4.5in DP gun and ASW
systems are six torpedo tubes and one Lynx helicopter.
|
|
Cassard (4,300 tons). Built on George
Leygves hull, these are specialized M ships. M weapons are one Mk 13
launcher for 40 Standard SM-1 (MA) SAM sand two Sadral PDMS.
Surface weapons are eight MM.40 Exocet and a 100mm DP gun. ASW systems
are two torpedo launchers and one Lynx helicopter.
|
|
Audace (4,400 tons). Typical Italian
large destroyers with good helicopter facilIties. M armament is one Mk
13 launcher for 36 Tartar/Standard SAMs and four 76mm guns in Derdo
CIWS. Surface armament is two 127mm DP guns and there are six torpedo
tubes. Two AB 212 ASW helicopters are carried.
|
|
Jacob van Heemskerck (3, 750 tons).
Specialized M ships built on Kortenser hulls. M armament is 40 Standard
SM-1 (MA) on Mk 13 launchE NATO Sea Sparrow PDMS and Goalkeeper CIWS.
Surface weapons are eight Harpoon SSM, and the only ASW weapons are
eight torpedo tubel There are no guns or helicopters.
|
|
Sovremenny
(7 ,900 tons). Large
surface and M destroyers with very limited ASW capability. M weapons
are SA-N-7 (44 missiles) and four 30mm CIWS. Surface weapons are eight
SS-N-22 (with Helix helicopter for OTH tergetting) and two 130mm DP
guns. ASW systems are limited to four torpedo tubes and two ABU-1000.
|
|
Hatakaze (4,600 tons). Latest in a
long series of Japanese destroyers optimized for M/surface warfare. M
weapons are Tartar SAM (40 missiles) and two Vulcen/Phalanx CIWS.
Surface weapons are Harpoon SSM (eight tubes) and two 127mm DP guns.
ASW weapons are Asroc and six torpedo tubes. No helicopter is carried.
|
|
