GW series of British Missile Cruisers

[Tzoli]

And again, speculative reconstructions based off limited data really belong in the artwork sections and not project threads.

I do not agree. 80-90% of never-were designs are speculative because of the limited data avaiable, and for us artist we have to think hard how these designs had looked like!
Of course there will be inaccuracies because of the lack of Information!
You could put almost all my drawings to the theoretical thread because of this, including the Iowas, Lions and the recent Vickers and Armstrong export designs.
I'm not making hypothetical what ifs like Nuclear Montanas, Anti-Ship Missile armed Nimitzes and such. For those I have a separate thread for.

I've posted here to discuss them and if suggested make them better.

 

[Petrus]

Here you've got the sketches of early British GW ships of 1954-1955 from the "Postwar Naval Revolution".

 

[Petrus]

And here you've got data on the British GW ships from the book.

 

[uk 75]

Hood,Tzoli

One of the problems with all our unbuilt or unfinished projects is the lack of good original drawings, artwork and models.
I think that if someone is trying to produce modern substitutes they should be allowed to post them in a suitable thread as long as it is made clear it is not original material.
The problem with moving these away from the main thread on the project is that sometimes they are the best references we have.

 

[Hood]

I agree with Tzoli that reconstructing any never were is always speculative because unless you have reliable detailed plans then you have to make up the details to fit the illustration.
But I do make a distinction between never-were artworks.

In the first case; for example, those images Petrus has posted formed the basis of my drawings, they provide a useful outline of the major systems and structures and layout but they are diagrams and you need to add propellers, deck fittings, portholes, antennas, bridge equipment etc. So its at least 30-40% interpretation. You get to something pretty close to the real project as intended, probably around 80% accurate.

Trying to do that without source drawings and basing it off the available data is 100% interpretation, its not quite fantasy what-if but its close. You have to guess the style, the layout and everything else. Ten artists in this case would design ten completely different ships and nobody knows which would be close to the real thing, you might get 20-30% accuracy at best. But once its on the web it gets into search engines and before you know it, its stated as gospel truth.

 

[Tzoli]

Here is the current state of GW-1, the slow escort design:

Based on the comment of a too early helicopter deck (Though the Westland Whirlwind first flown in 1953) and by giving it the full radar suite I've reworked the aft part and now it looks more like a compact Missile Escort ship, though 10.000tons displacement for a ship which is shorter then the Dido though much beamier and without armour is a bit weird in my opinion.

 

[Jemiba]

... But once its on the web it gets into search engines and before you know it, its stated as gospel truth.

Indeed, that's a major problem here, and it's the reason, why often read statements like ".. this is type XYZ"
are dangerous, if there are only evidences, like a gap in a number of designations, but no reliable proof.
Nevertheless, experience shows, that something posted here, easily is accepted as truth, no matter in which
section it was shown ... after copy-and-paste and embezzling the source, it's not easily recognisable either !

So I would recommend to clearly mark such reconstructions, which have source grade 1 (do you remember Scott's
system ? ) with a clue like "Speculative ! Based on conjectures !" on the drawing itself.
That doesn't make sure, that it won't be taken as undeniable truth by some. And, of course, such an inscription
can be removed from the reposted drawing, but that would be truly deliberate faking and there's no cure for
that, I think. The best we can do, is to build hurdles against unintended misconceptions.

 

[Tzoli]

That is why I always include a small rectangle on the corners showing my name and the design. If it's hypothetical I write it there though nowadays I don't do those.

 

[Tzoli]

In the NIGS thread:

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/rn-nuclear-nigs-ship.8253/page-9#post-382181

We encountered something interesting.
During the GW series of development including the Counties and the abortive missile cruisers apart from the Sea Slug there were different missile were considered. There are mentions for a very early Type 985 radar which was later in 1958/59/60 envisioned as the British SCANFAR for the NIGS designs, but on this paper it was from 1955, and there was another unknown radar, the "Trackwell"
The Missiles apart from the Sea Slug are:
Talos
SS (Seaslug maybe?)
S.R.B.R. (Short Range Ballistic Rocket maybe? )
R.F.
Bristol 1 3/4

The question is what could be the R.F. Missile (Only single lanunchers associtated with it)
As for the SRBR could that be the US's Redstone? Or did the British had SRBM's under development in the 1950's?

Type 985 was associated for 8 single launchers in GW 59 though GW 61-63 feature the RF missile with Trackwell radars.
The SRBR's and Bristol Stage 1 3/4's had no control radar associated.

 

[zen]

We need more information on this Trackwell system.

It could be a multirole type like SPG59 for Tychon. That would explain why there is no separate TIR systems.

 

[Tzoli]

What is TIR by the way? Or TIA in case of the Bristol variants?
Telemetry "radar"? I suspect its mission but don't know how would it look like.

 

[zen]

Target Illiminating Radar

TIA?
Now you've got me!

 

[Tzoli]

Maybe TIA stands for Target Illumination Apparatus? Though their number vary GW 70 and 71 had 3 for 6 launchers while 72-73 only has a Beacon while the rest past GW74 had both Beacon and TIA mostly 6 TIA

 

[Tzoli]

And the GW1 design finally finished:

Royal Navy GW1 Convoy Escort Design by Tzoli on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com

The design had the following characteristics:
Dimensions: 147.52m (wl) x 21,34 x 5,41m
Displacement: 10.319tons (full load)
Engines: 15.000shp, Steam Turbines (Probably English Electric Y100), 2 shafts
Range: 23.900km at 22km/h (12.900nm at 12knots)
Speed: 33km/h (18knots)
Armour: unknown probably 51mm Deck over Machinery and Magazines, 89mm Belt over Machinery and 64mm over Magazines (Missile and Guns)
Armaments:
2x2 3"/70 (76mm/70) QF Mk N1 AA Guns,
4x2 40mm/70 OQF Mk XI AA Guns,
1x2 GWS.1 Sea Slug SAM

Sensors:
2x Type 901 Missile Control/Director Radar
6x Type 903 Fire-control Radar, one for each MRS.3 director
1x Type 960 Air Search Radar
1x Type 974 Surface Search/Navigation Radar
1x Type 982 Air Search Rada
1x Type 983 Height Finder Radar
1x Type 992 Target indication/Surface/Air Search Radar

 

[Grey Havoc]

(Tried to paste in a Thumbs up emoj but even though it shows up in editing, the system won't allow it to go in the finished post.)
Would have been very handy in both peace and war, methinks.

 

[Tzoli]

Am I assuming correctly that in the datapage above at the missile storage the letters 'D' and 'H' means Diagonal and Horizontal loading eg the upper deck loading structure should be much smaller for the Diagonal loading method then for the Horizontal eventually adopted?

Though Friedman says this:

The trouble was that missile stowage was a matter of volume much more than of weight. GW 24 used 'Tube' stowage, the missiles being carried in two sets of side-by-side tubes, three missiles deep, each leading to a launcher rail, each tube being three missiles long (but with spaces left so that missiles could be checked out , so tubes were actually two missiles long). It was impossible to adopt the denser 'coke machine' or revolving-drum methods being adopted by the US Navy for its contemporary Terrier, because Sea Slug was a relatively fat missile , with its boosters wrapped around it.

Later:

Missile layouts had changed considerably, as it became clear that Sea Slug with its wrap-around boosters could not be broken clown further for stowage. That made 'tube' stowage, in which missiles sat in tandem in lattice-work tubes, preferable at least for twelve to forty-eight missiles, with multiple tube providing stowage for larger numbers. Attempts at deep stowage had not succeeded.

in the appendix:

In deep stowage, as used in the test ship Gird!e Ness, missiles were stowed one atop the other in cradles. When needed, they were grabbed one by one by a crane overhead, moved to an opening in a watertight bulkhead , and rammed through. By way of contrast, tube stowage entailed continuous positive control of the missile, which was easy to move fore and aft using lugs to hold it to the stowage rails. Its railed supports had to move sideways (traversing) to move it off the fore-and-aft direction, bur that was not too difficult to arrange. Sea Slug was also relatively easy to fin before launching; the need to stow it fully-assembled complicated stowage system design.
The capacity of later 'County' class missile destroyers was greatly increased, nearly to that planned for the missile cruisers, by stowing some missiles partly assembled and assuming they would not be fired with the assembled ones. DNC disliked the considerable open volume of deep-stowage magazines and pointed out that they could not be vented satisfactorily. However, their worst feature was surely that the missile on its grab was not under full control unless a very complicated rigid grab was used.

So Maybe D means Drum storage, T, Tube Storage but what could H be? (Though in the Table for GW24 the letter is H not T, of course Friedman too could had made an error here.)
Or D for Deep, H for Horizontal eg Tube storage but what could T mean in this aspect?

 

[Tzoli]

Here is the somewhat reduced version, the GW2 which was shorter by 6 meters and interchanged the Type 982/83 radar duo with a single Type 277Q set:

Royal Navy GW2 Convoy Escort Design by Tzoli on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com

The design had the following characteristics:
Dimensions: 141.43m (wl) x 21,34 x 5,41m
Displacement: 9.870tons (full load)
Engines: 15.000shp, Steam Turbines (Probably English Electric Y100), 2 shafts
Range: 23.900km at 22km/h (12.900nm at 12knots)
Speed: 33km/h (18knots)
Armour: unknown probably 51mm Deck over Machinery and Magazines, 89mm Belt over Machinery and 64mm over Magazines (Missile and Guns)
Armaments:
2x2 3"/70 (76mm/70) QF Mk N1 AA Guns,
4x2 40mm/70 OQF Mk XI AA Guns,
1x2 GWS.1 Sea Slug SAM

Sensors:
1x Type 277Q Surface/Air Search/Height Finder Radar
2x Type 901 Missile Control/Director Radar
6x Type 903 Fire-control Radar, one for each MRS.3 director
1x Type 960 Air Search Radar
1x Type 974 Surface Search/Navigation Radar
1x Type 992 Target indication/Surface/Air Search Radar

 

[Tzoli]

For Horizontal and Tilted loading the missile stowage would be horizontal. But for Drum storage I wonder if the Seaslug could ve stored vertically and loaded to the launcher vertically like that of the Vickers export missile cruiser design using two drum loaders for the much smaller Oerlikon missiles?

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/gw-series-of-british-missile-cruisers.8124/page-3#post-251548

Or in case of Sea Slug the drums storing the missiles horizontally?
I assume Drum storage was better for firing more missiles in less time but require large vertical space?

 

[zen]

For Horizontal and Tilted loading the missile stowage would be horizontal. But for Drum storage I wonder if the Seaslug could ve stored vertically and loaded to the launcher vertically like that of the Vickers export missile cruiser design using two drum loaders for the much smaller Oerlikon missiles?

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/gw-series-of-british-missile-cruisers.8124/page-3#post-251548

Or in case of Sea Slug the drums storing the missiles horizontally?
I assume Drum storage was better for firing more missiles in less time but require large vertical space?

I suspect so, as a 20ft long missile would take up at least three decks. Though such a system ought to present a lot of flexibility for the future.

 

[Tzoli]

I've just made a two drum storage for GW1 and the hull allows two 18 (12 missiles in the outer 6 in the inner circle) missile drums either side by side or diagonally (like on the Vickers Cruiser) and the Cage launcher too could be easily modified for full vertical loading position I assume the launchers represented here are actually good for the Vertical loading versions as well:

More missiles could be stored in simple vertical boxes next to the drums I presume.

 

[Hood]

I would say that; D = deep, T = tube, H = horizontal
Note that GW24 is the last design on the table to have a magazine suffix, all other designs from GW25 onwards are not listed as horizontal tube magazines became the norm.
T and H were essentially the same but I think the 'H' magazines were far larger on multiple levels and that some of the missiles were stored above the upper deck in a deckouse, note most of the 'H' layouts have 90 or 60 missiles, these were large magazines. The Deep magazines were the same but essentially inside the hull. The tube ultimately won out as the best use of space.

I have never seen a vertical stowage solution for Sea Slug, as Friedman states such a magazine was impractical due to the size of the weapon with its boosters. Also fins and boosters had to be assembled as well not to mention the need for checkout spaces to keep the missiles in good condition with again some disassembly and reassembly required.

Incidentally you have proved it in your drawing, there is no way those drums will fit in the hull, the curvature of the underwater hull and propeller shafts etc at that point would make it impossible.

 

[Tzoli]

Sounds logical. and the large drums would mean the missile launcher was further from the aft and thus less space could be allocated for the large Type 901 missile director radars!
The larger missile number in the early GW series are most likely the result of the missile being still in development, for example in 1950 the Sea Slug haf a 19"-6" long, 16" diamater body with maximum wing span of 5'-3"

Ohh! I should read more the the few other papers I have regarding the GW series!
D indeed means "Deep Hold" Stowage but H means "Hanger Stowage" and by this analogue T most likely "Tube Stowage"
I've attached all my papers my friend shared with me ages ago.
So with Deep Hold upper deck superstructure regarding missile storage should be minimal or non existing, For Hanger that would be a large upper deck structure but wider compared to the Counties and T should be the County style long box shape?

 

[zen]

Drums like that are best arranged along the main axis of the ship, tandem not side-by-side. But the propulsion shafts could still conflict with this.
Raising it up starts to affect stability margins.

 

[Tzoli]

Here is design GW3, essentially a slightly lengthened GW1 and doubled engine power which together with the finer hull form (GW1 and 2 described having Merchant like hull forms) resulted in a considerable increase of speed:

Royal Navy GW3 Convoy Escort Design by Tzoli on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com

The design had the following characteristics:
Dimensions: 149.05m (wl) x 21,34 x 5,41m
Displacement: 10.700tons (full load)
Engines: 30.000shp, Steam Turbines (Probably English Electric Y100), 2 shafts
Range: Unknown probably 15-21.900km at 22km/h (8-12.900nm at 12knots)
Speed: 45km/h (24,5knots)
Armour: unknown probably 51mm Deck over Machinery and Magazines, 89mm Belt over Machinery and 64mm over Magazines (Missile and Guns)
Armaments:
2x2 3"/70 (76mm/70) QF Mk N1 AA Guns,
4x2 40mm/70 OQF Mk XI AA Guns,
1x2 GWS.1 Sea Slug SAM

Sensors:
2x Type 901 Missile Control/Director Radar
6x Type 903 Fire-control Radar, one for each MRS.3 director
1x Type 960 Air Search Radar
1x Type 974 Surface Search/Navigation Radar
1x Type 982 Air Search Radar
1x Type 983 Height Finder Radar
1x Type 992 Target indication/Surface/Air Search Radar

 

[Tzoli]

Next is GW4 the companion variant of GW3 similarly how GW2 was the companion to GW1

Royal Navy GW4 Convoy Escort Design by Tzoli on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com

The design had the following characteristics:
Dimensions: 142.95m (wl) x 21,34 x 5,41m
Displacement: 10.230tons (full load)
Engines: 30.000shp, Steam Turbines (Probably English Electric Y100), 2 shafts
Range: Unknown probably 15-21.900km at 22km/h (8-12.900nm at 12knots)
Speed: 45km/h (24,5knots)
Armour: unknown probably 51mm Deck over Machinery and Magazines, 89mm Belt over Machinery and 64mm over Magazines (Missile and Guns)
Armaments:
2x2 3"/70 (76mm/70) QF Mk N1 AA Guns,
4x2 40mm/70 OQF Mk XI AA Guns,
1x2 GWS.1 Sea Slug SAM

Sensors:
1x Type 277Q Surface/Air Search/Height Finder Radar
2x Type 901 Missile Control/Director Radar
6x Type 903 Fire-control Radar, one for each MRS.3 director
1x Type 960 Air Search Radar
1x Type 974 Surface Search/Navigation Radar
1x Type 992 Target indication/Surface/Air Search Radar

 

[Tzoli]

Following with GW5 which is exactly the same as GW3 just missile stowage of Hanger type rather Deep Stowage:
Visual difference being the missile loading part is much higher and somewhat wider

Royal Navy GW5 Convoy Escort Design by Tzoli on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com

The design had the following characteristics:
Dimensions: 149.05m (wl) x 21,34 x 5,41m
Displacement: 10.700tons (full load)
Engines: 30.000shp, Steam Turbines (Probably English Electric Y100), 2 shafts
Range: Unknown probably 15-21.900km at 22km/h (8-12.900nm at 12knots)
Speed: 45km/h (24,5knots)
Armour: unknown probably 51mm Deck over Machinery and Magazines, 89mm Belt over Machinery and 64mm over Magazines (Missile and Guns)
Armaments:
2x2 3"/70 (76mm/70) QF Mk N1 AA Guns,
4x2 40mm/70 OQF Mk XI AA Guns,
1x2 GWS.1 Sea Slug SAM

Sensors:
2x Type 901 Missile Control/Director Radar
6x Type 903 Fire-control Radar, one for each MRS.3 director
1x Type 960 Air Search Radar
1x Type 974 Surface Search/Navigation Radar
1x Type 982 Air Search Radar
1x Type 983 Height Finder Radar
1x Type 992 Target indication/Surface/Air Search Radar

 

[Grey Havoc]

Thumbs Up! (again)

 

[Tzoli]

GW6 will be similar but for the GW7-10 and 10A I will use a somewhat modified arrangement for the guns and boats as well as a slightly different hull to look more apart from these. But there is only much I can do when the only difference between these designs are the length of the hull and the Radar suite.


In case of the Counties the installation of the GWS.21 Seacat SAM was a last ditch modification? As it emerged only in 1958/59 and by this time the Counties design was far complete and they were about to be laid down.

 

[Tzoli]

As I said, here is GW6 the modified shorter version of GW5:

Royal Navy GW6 Convoy Escort Design by Tzoli on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com

The design had the following characteristics:
Dimensions: 142.95m (wl) x 21,34 x 5,41m
Displacement: 10.230tons (full load)
Engines: 30.000shp, Steam Turbines (Probably English Electric Y100), 2 shafts
Range: Unknown probably 15-21.900km at 22km/h (8-12.900nm at 12knots)
Speed: 45km/h (24,5knots)
Armour: unknown probably 51mm Deck over Machinery and Magazines, 89mm Belt over Machinery and 64mm over Magazines (Missile and Guns)
Armaments:
2x2 3"/70 (76mm/70) QF Mk N1 AA Guns,
4x2 40mm/70 OQF Mk XI AA Guns,
1x2 GWS.1 Sea Slug SAM

Sensors:
1x Type 277Q Surface/Air Search/Height Finder Radar
2x Type 901 Missile Control/Director Radar
6x Type 903 Fire-control Radar, one for each MRS.3 director
1x Type 960 Air Search Radar
1x Type 974 Surface Search/Navigation Radar
1x Type 992 Target indication/Surface/Air Search Radar

 

[Tzoli]

As promised the slightly different hulled new quarter series first design: GW7

Royal Navy GW7 Convoy Escort Design by Tzoli on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com

The design had the following characteristics:
Dimensions: 149.35m (wl) x 21,34 x 5,41m
Displacement: 10.000tons (full load)
Engines: 30.000shp, Steam Turbines (Probably English Electric Y100), 2 shafts
Range: Unknown probably 15-21.900km at 22km/h (8-12.900nm at 12knots)
Speed: 46km/h (24,8knots)
Armour: unknown probably 51mm Deck over Machinery and Magazines, 89mm Belt over Machinery and 64mm over Magazines (Missile and Guns)
Armaments:
2x2 3"/70 (76mm/70) QF Mk N1 AA Guns,
4x2 40mm/70 OQF Mk XI AA Guns,
1x2 GWS.1 Sea Slug SAM

Sensors:
2x Type 901 Missile Control/Director Radar
6x Type 903 Fire-control Radar, one for each MRS.3 director
1x Type 960 Air Search Radar
1x Type 974 Surface Search/Navigation Radar
1x Type 982 Air Search Radar
1x Type 983 Height Finder Radar
1x Type 992 Target indication/Surface/Air Search Radar

 

[Tzoli]

GW8 is here:

Royal Navy GW8 Convoy Escort Design by Tzoli on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com

The design had the following characteristics:
Dimensions: 143.25m (wl) x 21,34 x 5,41m
Displacement: 9.500tons (full load)
Engines: 30.000shp, Steam Turbines (Probably English Electric Y100), 2 shafts
Range: Unknown probably 15-21.900km at 22km/h (8-12.900nm at 12knots)
Speed: 46km/h (24,8knots)
Armour: unknown probably 51mm Deck over Machinery and Magazines, 89mm Belt over Machinery and 64mm over Magazines (Missile and Guns)
Armaments:
2x2 3"/70 (76mm/70) QF Mk N1 AA Guns,
4x2 40mm/70 OQF Mk XI AA Guns,
1x2 GWS.1 Sea Slug SAM

Sensors:
1x Type 277Q Surface/Air Search/Height Finder Radar
2x Type 901 Missile Control/Director Radar
6x Type 903 Fire-control Radar, one for each MRS.3 director
1x Type 960 Air Search Radar
1x Type 974 Surface Search/Navigation Radar
1x Type 992 Target indication/Surface/Air Search Radar

 

[Tzoli]

GW9:

Royal Navy GW9 Convoy Escort Design by Tzoli on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com

The design had the following characteristics:
Dimensions: 149.35m (wl) x 21,34 x 5,41m
Displacement: 9.168tons (full load)
Engines: 30.000shp, Steam Turbines (Probably English Electric Y100), 2 shafts
Range: Unknown probably 15-21.900km at 22km/h (8-12.900nm at 12knots)
Speed: 46km/h (24,8knots)
Armour: unknown probably 51mm Deck over Machinery and Magazines, 51mm Belt over Machinery and Magazines (Missile and Guns)
Armaments:
2x2 3"/70 (76mm/70) QF Mk N1 AA Guns,
4x2 40mm/70 OQF Mk XI AA Guns,
1x2 GWS.1 Sea Slug SAM

Sensors:
2x Type 901 Missile Control/Director Radar
6x Type 903 Fire-control Radar, one for each MRS.3 director
1x Type 960 Air Search Radar
1x Type 974 Surface Search/Navigation Radar
1x Type 982 Air Search Radar
1x Type 983 Height Finder Radar
1x Type 992 Target indication/Surface/Air Search Radar

 

[Tzoli]

Follows GW10:

Royal Navy GW10 Convoy Escort Design by Tzoli on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com

The design had the following characteristics:
Dimensions: 143.25m (wl) x 21,34 x 5,41m
Displacement: 9.500tons (full load)
Engines: 30.000shp, Steam Turbines (Probably English Electric Y100), 2 shafts
Range: Unknown probably 15-21.900km at 22km/h (8-12.900nm at 12knots)
Speed: 43km/h (24knots)
Armour: unknown probably 51mm Deck over Machinery and Magazines, 89mm Belt over Machinery and 64mm over Magazines (Missile and Guns)
Armaments:
2x2 3"/70 (76mm/70) QF Mk N1 AA Guns,
4x2 40mm/70 OQF Mk XI AA Guns,
1x2 GWS.1 Sea Slug SAM
Sensors:
1x Type 277Q Surface/Air Search/Height Finder Radar
2x Type 901 Missile Control/Director Radar
6x Type 903 Fire-control Radar, one for each MRS.3 director
1x Type 960 Air Search Radar
1x Type 974 Surface Search/Navigation Radar
1x Type 992 Target indication/Surface/Air Search Radar

 

[Tzoli]

GW10A seems to be a unique proposal as the speed was increased from the previous standard of 24kots convoy speed to 29knots which to my knowledge are not fleet speed of 30+ preferably 32knots. No mention to ASW equipment in the table.

Royal Navy GW10A Convoy Escort Design by Tzoli on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com

The design had the following characteristics:
Dimensions: 170.68m (wl) x 21,34 x 5,41m
Displacement: 11.685tons (full load)
Engines: 60.000shp, Steam Turbines (Probably English Electric Y100), 2 shafts
Range: Unknown probably 15-21.900km at 22km/h (8-12.900nm at 12knots)
Speed: 54km/h (29knots)
Armour: unknown probably 51mm Deck over Machinery and Magazines, 51mm Belt over Machinery and Magazines (Missile and Guns)
Armaments:
2x2 3"/70 (76mm/70) QF Mk N1 AA Guns,
6x2 40mm/70 OQF Mk XI AA Guns,
1x2 GWS.1 Sea Slug SAM
Sensors:
2x Type 901 Missile Control/Director Radar
8x Type 903 Fire-control Radar, one for each MRS.3 director
1x Type 960 Air Search Radar
1x Type 974 Surface Search/Navigation Radar
1x Type 982 Air Search Radar
1x Type 983 Height Finder Radar
1x Type 992 Target indication/Surface/Air Search Radar

 

[A Tentative Fleet Plan]

GW10A seems to be a unique proposal as the speed was increased from the previous standard of 24kots convoy speed to 29knots which to my knowledge are not fleet speed of 30+ preferably 32knots. No mention to ASW equipment in the table.

Royal Navy GW10A Convoy Escort Design by Tzoli on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com

The design had the following characteristics:
Dimensions: 170.68m (wl) x 21,34 x 5,41m
Displacement: 11.685tons (full load)
Engines: 60.000shp, Combined Steam and Gas Turbines (Probably English Electric Y100 and Y102), 2 shafts
Range: Unknown probably 15-21.900km at 22km/h (8-12.900nm at 12knots)
Speed: 54km/h (29knots)
Armour: unknown probably 51mm Deck over Machinery and Magazines, 51mm Belt over Machinery and Magazines (Missile and Guns)
Armaments:
2x2 3"/70 (76mm/70) QF Mk N1 AA Guns,
6x2 40mm/70 OQF Mk XI AA Guns,
1x2 GWS.1 Sea Slug SAM
Sensors:
2x Type 901 Missile Control/Director Radar
8x Type 903 Fire-control Radar, one for each MRS.3 director
1x Type 960 Air Search Radar
1x Type 974 Surface Search/Navigation Radar
1x Type 982 Air Search Radar
1x Type 983 Height Finder Radar
1x Type 992 Target indication/Surface/Air Search Radar

The postwar British fleet speed was 28 knots.

 

[Tzoli]

Question:
Do the Royal Navy developed or developing anything resembling a Short Ranged Ballistic missile in the 1950's? Something along the lines of the PGM-11 Redstone?

 

[Tzoli]

Now we got into the larger ship sizes with the fast convoy escort of GW11:

Royal Navy GW11 Convoy Escort Design by Tzoli on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com

The design had the following characteristics:
Dimensions: 178.30m (wl) x 21,94 x 5,41m
Displacement: 13.990tons (full load)
Engines: 120.000shp, Combined Steam and Gas Turbines (Probably English Electric Y100 and Y101), 4 shafts
Range: Unknown probably 15-21.900km at 22km/h (8-12.900nm at 12knots)
Speed: 59km/h (32knots)
Armour: unknown probably 51mm Deck over Machinery and Magazines, 89mm Belt over Machinery and 64mm over Magazines (Missile and Guns)
Armaments:
4x2 3"/70 (76mm/70) QF Mk N1 AA Guns,
6x2 40mm/70 OQF Mk XI AA Guns,
1x2 GWS.1 Sea Slug SAM
Sensors:
2x Type 901 Missile Control/Director Radar
10x Type 903 Fire-control Radar, one for each MRS.3 director
1x Type 960 Air Search Radar
1x Type 974 Surface Search/Navigation Radar
1x Type 982 Air Search Radar
1x Type 983 Height Finder Radar
1x Type 992 Target indication/Surface/Air Search Radar



I'm transitioning from my previous hull and superstructures to the GW14 sketch drawing to show some evolution. Though I think I will re-draw these if I ever get access to the original sketches for these proposals.

 

[Tzoli]

And the other fast escort, GW12:

Royal Navy GW12 Convoy Escort Design by Tzoli on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com

The design had the following characteristics:
Dimensions: 190.50m (wl) x 21,94 x 5,41m
Displacement: 16.815tons (full load)
Engines: 120.000shp, Steam Turbines (Probably English Electric Y100), 4 shafts
Range: Unknown probably 15-21.900km at 44km/h (8-12.900nm at 24knots)
Speed: 59km/h (32knots)
Armour: unknown probably 51mm Deck over Machinery and Magazines, 89mm Belt over Machinery and 64mm over Magazines (Missile and Guns)
Armaments:
4x2 3"/70 (76mm/70) QF Mk N1 AA Guns,
6x2 40mm/70 OQF Mk XI AA Guns,
1x2 GWS.1 Sea Slug SAM
Sensors:
2x Type 901 Missile Control/Director Radar
10x Type 903 Fire-control Radar, one for each MRS.3 director
1x Type 960 Air Search Radar
1x Type 974 Surface Search/Navigation Radar
1x Type 982 Air Search Radar
1x Type 983 Height Finder Radar
1x Type 992 Target indication/Surface/Air Search Radar


This design is quite big for escort missions, though it did carry 120 missiles!

 

[Tzoli]

While GW11 and 12 were the largest proposals so far in the series, the next two GW13 and 13A goes the other way around and reduced the hull size as much as possible:

Royal Navy GW13 Convoy Escort Design by Tzoli on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com

The design had the following characteristics:
Dimensions: 121.92m (wl) x 19,81 x 5,41m
Displacement: 7.000tons (full load)
Engines: 30.000shp, Steam Turbines (Probably English Electric Y100), 2 shafts
Range: Unknown probably 15-21.900km at 22km/h (8-12.900nm at 12knots)
Speed: 43km/h (24knots)
Armour: unknown probably 51mm Deck over Machinery and Magazines, 89mm Belt over Machinery and 64mm over Magazines (Missile and Guns)
Armaments:
6x2 40mm/70 OQF Mk XI AA Guns,
1x2 GWS.1 Sea Slug SAM
Sensors:
1x Type 277Q Surface/Air Search/Height Finder Radar
2x Type 901 Missile Control/Director Radar
6x Type 903 Fire-control Radar, one for each MRS.3 director
1x Type 960 Air Search Radar
1x Type 974 Surface Search/Navigation Radar
1x Type 992 Target indication/Surface/Air Search Radar



I've used the sketch drawing of GW14 to make this version.

 

[Tzoli]

GW13A is the same as GW13 just with 4 rather then 6x 40mm Bofors Guns. Every other aspect like hull size, tonnage and radar types remains the same (of course only 4x Type 903's because of only 4 MRS.3 directors)

Royal Navy GW13A Convoy Escort Design by Tzoli on DeviantArt

www.deviantart.com