Just a quick idea, but considering that the RN is short of escorts, and given that either Albion or Bulward is on a successful deployment to the Gulf of Aden, why not use the Bay Class in a similar role? Surely one could be permantly deployed to the West Indies, with a team of RN sailors for disaster relief and RMs for drug interdiction. She would have enough space for a couple of helicopters, landing craft (and possibly RM fast boats), and crucially, enough disaster relief stores and equipment to do a proper job. You could either keep the RFA personnel onboard, or fully take them into the RN, in manpower terms 1 scrapped Type 42 almost equals the manpower for 4 x Bay Class.
I know that they are not as fast as a frigate or destroyer, or have the sensors, missiles etc. But, most of the time the sort of the work that escorts do don't require these. This idea would provide 4 more ships to go on the plot, and enable them to be fully utilised.
What do you think? :?:
I know that they are not as fast as a frigate or destroyer, or have the sensors, missiles etc. But, most of the time the sort of the work that escorts do don't require these. This idea would provide 4 more ships to go on the plot, and enable them to be fully utilised.
What do you think? :?: