Corvette/Light frigate thread (056A, sub-4000t FFLs)

[sahureka]

If those 97 by 14 meter estimates are correct, we can sort of deduce its tonnage. Gowind 2500, for example, displaces 2600 t and is 102 m long and has a 16 m beam. But then Meko 100 corvettes are smaller, at 98 m long and 15 m across, and they displace between 2500 and 3000 t, depending on actual models, sensors and weaponry. So, right how, 2500 tons, give or take, seems plausible for this new ship.

It is strange indeed that a ship of this size does not have clear exhaust stack. Intakes could, I guess be simply hidden behind the sensor mast. I can't recall a design this big using waterline exhaust, though. Swedish Visby has it, is also very stealthy but that's a sub 700 t ship.

Plus, I would wager this ship's main role will be ASW warfare. As an OPV it doesn't make any sense. Why invest so much in stealth and why have a VLS if it's just an OPV? For air defense it's clearly too small and also trying to squeeze out a general purpose vessel, antiship missiles included, from such a hull is not productive. I seriously doubt this ship will feature antiship missiles.

But on the other hand, the vls may well be packed with rocket launched stand off torpedos. It may even have a few cells dedicated for anti air missiles, if the sensors allow it. Likely something new and compact then, more compact than HQ16.

If ASW role is prominent, then underwater or even near waterline exhaust is a liability, as it'd make the ship louder.
But if it doesn't have a hangar then we'd be seeing a more normal looking exhaust stack. The fact there is none, makes me believe there is a hangar in there, indispensable for ASW mission.

I guess that, in theory, exhaust could somehow be integrated into the mast, so we simply can't see it from this angle. Kind of like on Gowind 1000. But that design at least forked out the exhaust to left and right of the command bridge. I see many issues with exhaust smoke in practice if the exhaust is really just flush with the mast, at the back of it.

Then again, it's possible this is not a new class at all, but a sole test and demonstrator ship. To test a myriad of possible things. In which case most bets are off, design wise.

1) Sa'ar 6-class corvette Israeli Navy Displacement 1,900 long tons Length 90 m
2) Project 22160 corvette Russia navy Displacement 1965 long tons Length 91 m

 

[test1979]

If those 97 by 14 meter estimates are correct, we can sort of deduce its tonnage. Gowind 2500, for example, displaces 2600 t and is 102 m long and has a 16 m beam. But then Meko 100 corvettes are smaller, at 98 m long and 15 m across, and they displace between 2500 and 3000 t, depending on actual models, sensors and weaponry. So, right how, 2500 tons, give or take, seems plausible for this new ship.

It is strange indeed that a ship of this size does not have clear exhaust stack. Intakes could, I guess be simply hidden behind the sensor mast. I can't recall a design this big using waterline exhaust, though. Swedish Visby has it, is also very stealthy but that's a sub 700 t ship.

Plus, I would wager this ship's main role will be ASW warfare. As an OPV it doesn't make any sense. Why invest so much in stealth and why have a VLS if it's just an OPV? For air defense it's clearly too small and also trying to squeeze out a general purpose vessel, antiship missiles included, from such a hull is not productive. I seriously doubt this ship will feature antiship missiles.

But on the other hand, the vls may well be packed with rocket launched stand off torpedos. It may even have a few cells dedicated for anti air missiles, if the sensors allow it. Likely something new and compact then, more compact than HQ16.

If ASW role is prominent, then underwater or even near waterline exhaust is a liability, as it'd make the ship louder.
But if it doesn't have a hangar then we'd be seeing a more normal looking exhaust stack. The fact there is none, makes me believe there is a hangar in there, indispensable for ASW mission.

I guess that, in theory, exhaust could somehow be integrated into the mast, so we simply can't see it from this angle. Kind of like on Gowind 1000. But that design at least forked out the exhaust to left and right of the command bridge. I see many issues with exhaust smoke in practice if the exhaust is really just flush with the mast, at the back of it.

Then again, it's possible this is not a new class at all, but a sole test and demonstrator ship. To test a myriad of possible things. In which case most bets are off, design wise.

There are indeed larger waterline exhaust frigates than this, the 3000 ton C28A frigate that China built for Algeria, so I highly doubt this is a new product ordered by Algeria

 

[snake65]

If those 97 by 14 meter estimates are correct, we can sort of deduce its tonnage. Gowind 2500, for example, displaces 2600 t and is 102 m long and has a 16 m beam. But then Meko 100 corvettes are smaller, at 98 m long and 15 m across, and they displace between 2500 and 3000 t, depending on actual models.

Then again, it's possible this is not a new class at all, but a sole test and demonstrator ship. To test a myriad of possible things. In which case most bets are off, design wise.

This could be anything
Test ship is a reasonable suggestion, there was a one-off trimaran patrol/rescue ship, for instance. A new gun and new integrated mast and new bridge.
It could be an export ship, if some country managed to purchase Bofors stealth turret but I can't imagine which of the regular customers could manage that.
If this is a prototype for serial production we'll see at least another one very soon.

 

[Totoro]

1) Sa'ar 6-class corvette Israeli Navy Displacement 1,900 long tons Length 90 m
2) Project 22160 corvette Russia navy Displacement 1965 long tons Length 91 m

Good catch, forgot about Braunschweig corvettes and their Saar derivative. Those are indeed big vessels with waterline exhausts. Question remains of noise and thus possible ASW usage complications. As far as i can tell, neither Braunschweigs nor 22160 are meant for ASW ops. Saar 6 does do it, but it's more of a general purpose ship. It might've been an acceptable trade off for the Israelis, knowing Israel doesn't have nearby enemies with capable submarine forces.

C28A is also a good addition. Generally that large ships can afford going with topside exhausts, as they have enough room. Why do some such large ships still go with waterline exhausts, as topside exhausts are a superior solution for larger ships? Underwater exhaust does help with infrared signature. But given other drawbacks, not sure if that's really worth it.
Of course, since one has gone so far to lower radar cross section, it's only natural to lower the IR signature as well. That does check out.
But could it then be that ASW is NOT gonna be ship's main role?
If so, what role can it have? I still don't think an expensive ship is suited to OPV. And antiship missile attacks performed from ships are growing more pointless in general in this day and age.

 

[para80]

Good catch, forgot about Braunschweig corvettes and their Saar derivative. Those are indeed big vessels with waterline exhausts. Question remains of noise and thus possible ASW usage complications. As far as i can tell, neither Braunschweigs nor 22160 are meant for ASW ops. Saar 6 does do it, but it's more of a general purpose ship. It might've been an acceptable trade off for the Israelis, knowing Israel doesn't have nearby enemies with capable submarine forces.

Worth noting also the very much ASW focused Brandenburg class frigates have both waterline exhausts and smokestacks. Not sure what the internal arrangement is and whether it can be flexibly routed (the ships have CODOG). But its really not something just for smaller combatants. There's also the question on newer designs whether they can for instance creep through pure electric drive as required when ASW-hunting.

 

[Maikeru]

Alex Luck on the case:

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[KangarooPriest]

The rised deck for the VLS could suggest it could take strike lenght versions of it. It is quite deep compared to the 054 next to it

A replacement for the Type 22 missile boats? Seems excessively large for that but I can't imagine why else you'd need strike-length cells.

Testbed would make sense to me, but since the PLAN's not exactly hurting for hulls right now, I don't see why they'd put VLS cells on a test platform. Even if it's some sort of new cell type, it'd make more sense to just install it on the weapons test ship.

 

[Andy1974]

If this is for the PLAN then it likely has IEPS, which means it may have underwater exhausts to reduce IR when running the diesel generators and can go silent by running on battery.

There is also a possibility that this is a fully electric ship.

 

[TK3600]

A replacement for the Type 22 missile boats? Seems excessively large for that but I can't imagine why else you'd need strike-length cells.

Testbed would make sense to me, but since the PLAN's not exactly hurting for hulls right now, I don't see why they'd put VLS cells on a test platform. Even if it's some sort of new cell type, it'd make more sense to just install it on the weapons test ship.

Can't be missile boat, I can't see a place dedicated for anti-ship missile.

VLS could be for stealth purpose. I don't see a CIWS mount anywhere. Perhaps having a raised gun turret or HQ-10 is bad for stealth.

 

[KangarooPriest]

Can't be missile boat, I can't see a place dedicated for anti-ship missile.

VLS could be for stealth purpose. I don't see a CIWS mount anywhere. Perhaps having a raised gun turret or HQ-10 is bad for stealth.

Looks like a HQ-10 above the hangar, in about the same position it's installed on the 056.