NavalNews has been doing some digging on the Type 32.
the real surprise in today’s announcement is the mention for the first time of the “Type 32”. Early rumors associated the term with an export variant of Type 31, T4X (Type 45 destroyer replacement), the
Littoral Strike Ship project (which appears to be abandoned) or even a typo.
Naval News learned from a reliable UK source that this is in fact some sort of “pre program” put in place for budgetary reasons in anticipation of a future potential “Type 31 Batch 2”. The source added that this potential “Type 31 Batch 2” may not necessarily be based on the Type 31 design.
Is this what happened to the illusory T31s in the 'at least' five?
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news...aritime-force/
One asumes if there are to be extra escort vessels this means extra helicopters or RPVs to extend their sensor and weapons range. Also will need to
magic up find crews and aircrews from somewhere,
Regarding a base port for a CV, HMG has invested a modest £23.8 million to "triple the size of its base" at Duqm, Oman - the port even has a drydock which could take QNLZ or POW. Granted, it is rather close to Iran.
Still, I am old fashioned and consider the RN to have only 2/3s of a carrier capability. So permanently basing one East of Suez seems a tad over ambitious. They then also have to address airgroup numbers as well if the other is to be operable from the UK when one is not in refit or on workup. There was a reason for planning to keep two old carriers in service as well if CVA-01 and 02 had actually been built.
If Singapore will
HMS Simbang (RNAS Sembawang) be resurrected for shore support of aircraft? If Oman where, RAFO Masirah is close to Duqm but RAFO Adam might make more sense