Active Royal Navy weapon systems explained

This is a list of Active Royal Navy weapon systems.

Guns

4.5-inch Mark 8 naval gun

See main article: 4.5-inch Mark 8 naval gun. The 4.5adj=onNaNadj=on Mark 8 gun can be found on all the Royal Navy's frigates and destroyers and was used from the Falklands War to the War in Iraq. The gun can fire up to 24 high explosive shells per minute, each weighing more than, at targets more than away – this can be extended to nearly if special extended-range shells are used.

The main purpose of the gun is naval gunfire support – artillery bombardment of shore targets. In this role the gun is capable of firing the equivalent of a six-gun shore battery. It can still be used as an anti-ship weapon.[1]

30 mm DS-30B Mk 1/DS30M Mark 2 naval gun

See main article: 30mm DS30M Mark 2 Automated Small Calibre Gun. The 30 mm DS-30B Mk 1 and DS30M Mark 2 are 30mm automated naval gun systems designed to defend ships from fast inshore attack craft armed with short-range weaponry. The DS30M Mark 2 system consists of a 30 mm Mark 44 Bushmaster II cannon on a fully automated mount with an off-mount electro-optical director (EOD). The systems are fitted to all Type 23 frigates (Mk2s), Type 45 destroyers (said to be carrying Mk1s as of 2021), Batch 2 s (OPVs) (Mk2s), Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessels (Mk1s), Sandown-class minehunter (Mk1) and several Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships (Bay, Tide and Wave classes) all reported to be carrying Mk1s when they have weapons packages added. The system is capable of being deployed on the aircraft carriers and, but as of 2021 had not been fitted.[2] [3] [4]

Oerlikon 20 mm cannon

See main article: Oerlikon 20 mm cannon. The Oerlikon cannon can be found on the s, the Batch 1 River-class OPVs, the primary casualty receiving ship, and the multi-role replenishment ship .[4]

Browning .50-calibre (12.7 mm) heavy machine gun

See main article: M2 Browning. The Browning .50-calibre heavy machine gun can be found fitted to ships, the first of which was in 2014,[5] and in 2021 it was reported that had also been fitted with them.[6]

7.62 mm miniguns

See main article: Minigun. All Royal Navy ships carried miniguns for close in defence.[7] [8] But the system was scheduled to be retired from service in 2023 and replaced with Browning .50 caliber heavy machine guns.[9]

7.62 mm General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG)

See main article: FN MAG. GPMGs are used for close in defence.[7] [8]

Close-in weapon systems

Phalanx 20 mm

See main article: Phalanx CIWS. The Phalanx Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) is an anti-ship missile defence system. It is fitted to the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers,, the Type 45 destroyers as well as the s and and Fort Victoria-class replenishment oilers in the RFA. It is also currently in the designs for the new Type 26 frigate. During Operation Telic, Phalanx guns were removed from ships and were crewed by Royal Navy personnel based at Basra airport, as part of the Centurion C-RAM system.[10]

Phalanx is now the only CIWS fitted to Royal Navy ships following the decommissioning of, and the Type 22 frigates which were equipped with Goalkeeper. The last active Goalkeeper system was removed from when she entered extended readiness in 2016.

Torpedoes

Spearfish torpedo

See main article: Spearfish torpedo. The Spearfish torpedo is the Royal Navy's heavyweight torpedo, weighing nearly 2MT, which is carried by both the attack submarines and ballistic missile submarines. It has a range of more than with a speed in excess of and can be used either against other submarines or ships of any size. It carries a explosive charge and is guided either by its in-built sonar or via a copper-cadmium wire.[11]

The Spearfish is undergoing a major upgrade program which will provide sophisticated advances in its homing, warheads, tactical and fueling systems, as well an upgraded guidance link.[12]

Sting Ray torpedo

See main article: Sting Ray torpedo. The Sting Ray torpedo is the Royal Navy's lightweight torpedo which is designed to be carried by the anti-submarine helicopters AgustaWestland Merlin and Lynx Wildcat. It has a range of around with a speed of more than and is designed to be used predominantly against submarines. It carries a explosive charge which is powerful enough to punch through the double hulls of modern submarines.[13] It is also integrated on board the Type 23 frigates, deployed by two twin torpedo launchers.

Depth charges

The Mk11 Depth Charge is a depth charge used by Lynx Wildcat or Merlin Mk2 helicopters to attack enemy submarines.[14]

Mine disposal system

Seafox

See main article: Seafox drone. The Seafox Mine Disposal System is an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) used by both the and -class minehunters to counter naval mines. The unit incorporates a remotely controlled surveillance system in order to identify a target, guided from the parent ship via fibre optic cables. Once a mine has been identified, an expendable autonomous or remote guided unit is guided to the target and detonates a shaped charge to destroy the mine. Four independent reversible motors and a hover thruster provide high manoeuvrability, allowing for exact placement prior to charge detonation. The Seafox has been used by the Royal Navy clearing coastal waters in both Iraq and Libya conflicts.

Surface-to-air missiles

Sea Ceptor

The Sea Ceptor missile is currently being integrated into the Type 23 frigates, as a replacement to the Sea Wolf missile. It has a maximum range over and can reach Mach 3. The manufacturer states it has a "wide target set", including the capability to engage small naval vessels, which would give the missile a limited surface-to-surface role. A Royal Navy officer of the Type 23 frigate HMS Westminster stated: "Westminster managed to explore the real potential of the system during her training and to say it is a real game changer is an understatement. Unlike its predecessor, the system is capable of defending ships other than Westminster herself. Whether it's engaging multiple air threats or fast incoming attack craft, Sea Ceptor represents a massive capability upgrade for the Type 23 frigate."[15]

Sea Viper

See main article: Sea Viper. The Sea Viper is the main weapon of the Type 45 destroyers. As part of PAAMS, it can defend an entire naval task group against aerial threats up to away.

Internationally, the Sea Viper system is known as Principal Anti-Air Missile System. It comprises the SAMPSON radar, a Combat Management System, S1850M long-range radar, the Sylver vertical launching system and Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles, which are highly manoeuvrable and capable of speeds over Mach 4.[16]

Anti-ship missiles

Naval Strike Missile

See main article: Naval Strike Missile. In November 2022, UK Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, confirmed that Norway's Naval Strike Missile would be purchased to equip a total of eleven of the Royal Navy's Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers on an interim basis.[17] [18] Beginning in late 2023, the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) began being fit to a total of 11 Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers in a 2×4 canister configuration to replace the Harpoon Block 1C anti-ship missile, which was formally retired at the end of 2023.[19] The missile also has the capability to attack land targets.[20]

The permanent replacement for Harpoon will be the FC/ASW (Future Cruise/Anti Ship Weapon), first announced in 2016, it will fly at hypersonic speed and will equip the new Type 26 frigates from 2028.[21] [22] In October 2021 this was put on hold.[23] [24] Then it was announced in November that the introduction of these weapons may be delayed until the 2030s.[25]

Martlet

See main article: Lightweight Multirole Missile. The Martlet is a lightweight air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missile under development by Thales Air Defence for the United Kingdom. As of 2021, Martlet entered initial service on the Fleet Air Arm's AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat in the air-to-surface mode with up to twenty Martlet missiles envisaged for deployment on a single Wildcat helicopter. The missile is intended to counter light fast attack boats.[26] Full operating capability is anticipated in 2025.[27]

The Martlet has also been tested in the surface-to-surface mode on the Type 23 frigate, using a launcher mounted on the side of the 30 mm cannon, as a relatively inexpensive missile to use against small craft and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Sea Venom

See main article: Sea Venom (missile). The Sea Venom is a helicopter-launched lightweight anti-ship missile developed by MBDA to replace the Sea Skua. Sea Venom missiles were reported deployed with Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters operating as part of the Royal Navy's carrier strike group in 2021.[28] The missile weighs and has a warhead of . However, operating challenges were reported in 2023 as "ongoing" and full operating capability for Sea Venom was delayed until 2026.[29] [30] It is optimized to attack fast inshore attack craft (FIAC), however it can also damage targets up to corvette size.[31]

Land attack missiles

Tomahawk missile

See main article: Tomahawk (missile family). The Tomahawk missile, also known as TLAM (Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missile), allows the Navy's submarines to strike at targets on land accurately. The missile has been in use with the Royal Navy since the late 1990s and has been used in the Kosovo conflict and in the campaigns in the War in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is fired from a boat's torpedo tubes. Once it reaches the surface, a booster rocket ignites to propel the missile skywards. The Tomahawk then heads for its target at, delivering a explosive warhead.

The Tomahawk IV is the latest version of the missile. It has a longer range than its predecessors and can be directed at a new target in-flight, and can also beam back images of the battlefield. In British service it is fitted to all and -class submarines.[32] It is currently planned to be phased out of service in the United States Navy, with no more weapons to be produced after 2015, meaning that it may no longer be an option for the Royal Navy from around the end of the decade.[33] The UK last bought 65 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles in July 2014.[34]

Trident II D5 ballistic missile

See main article: UGM-133 Trident II. The Trident nuclear missile is Britain's nuclear deterrent. Carried only by the four submarines, the missiles travel up to at over . Each Vanguard boat can carry up to sixteen missiles, and each missile can deliver up to eight warheads. Each variable yield warhead can have a yield up to 100 kt.[35]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 4.5IN MK8 GUN (archive) . royalnavy.mod.uk . 19 February 2021 . 10 April 2014 . http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140410004405/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Weapons-Systems/4-5in-Gun . bot: unknown .
  2. Web site: Supporting the fleet's gun system . 36 . July 2017 . 108 . Desider . 19 February 2021.
  3. Web site: Close-in defence for the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers. navylookout.com. 28 April 2021. 30 April 2021.
  4. Web site: The all-rounder – the 30mm Automated Small Calibre Gun in focus . Navy Lookout. 13 January 2021 . 29 March 2023.
  5. Web site: Atherstone Increasing the Calibre of MCM . November 25, 2014 . royalnavy.mod.uk . . 10 August 2014.
  6. News: February 9, 2021 . Lancaster Lays Down the Lead Testing Extra Firepower . . March 12, 2021.
  7. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140410004410/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Weapons-Systems/Gunnery Royal Navy Gunnery (archive)
  8. Web site: HMS Darings Warfare Department . http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100616001232/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/type-45-destroyers/hms-daring/departments/the-warfare-department . dead . 2010-06-16 . Royal Navy website . 2010-06-08 .
  9. Web site: In focus: the 50 cal heavy machine gun in Royal Navy service . Navy Lookout . 5 May 2023 . 5 May 2023.
  10. Web site: Phalanx (archive) . royalnavy.mod.uk . 19 February 2021 . 10 April 2014 . http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140410004413/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Weapons-Systems/Phalanx . bot: unknown .
  11. Web site: Spearfish Torpedo (archive) . royalnavy.mod.uk . 19 February 2021 . 10 April 2014 . http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140410004420/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Weapons-Systems/Spearfish-Torpedo . bot: unknown .
  12. http://www.baesystems.com/product/BAES_020819?_afrLoop=249474503819000&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=null&baeSessionId=kG49TBQbV2dJGLZYw1Rx1jmpyzGLJbrjTfxSsFGQLbQxGJJhCG3x!-391540760#%40%3F_afrWindowId%3Dnull%26baeSessionId%3DkG49TBQbV2dJGLZYw1Rx1jmpyzGLJbrjTfxSsFGQLbQxGJJhCG3x%2521-391540760%26_afrLoop%3D249474503819000%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26_adf.ctrl-state%3Dw1e40hthm_4 BAE Systems Spearfish torpedo
  13. Web site: Sting Ray torpedo (archive) . royalnavy.mod.uk . https://web.archive.org/web/20120524053849/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Weapons-Systems/Sting-Ray-Torpedo . 19 February 2021. 2012-05-24 .
  14. Web site: Michael . Fallon . Type 26 Global Combat Ship . parliament.uk . 9 October 2014 . 12 March 2019.
  15. Web site: Missile success for HMS Westminster as second ship to fire new Sea Ceptor. www.royalnavy.mod.uk. en. 2018-03-21.
  16. Web site: Sea Viper (archive) . royalnavy.mod.uk . https://web.archive.org/web/20120524053812/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Weapons-Systems/Sea-Viper . 19 February 2021. 2012-05-24 .
  17. News: 23 November 2022 . Royal Navy to buy the Naval Strike Missile . Navy Lookout . 23 November 2022.
  18. News: 23 November 2022 . Royal Navy ships to be fitted with advanced new missile system . . 23 November 2022.
  19. Web site: 19 December 2023 . First NSM fit on RN Type 23 frigate . Janes . Scott . Richard . 23 April 2024.
  20. Web site: Norges ukjente supervåpen: Marinefartøyene har kryssermissiler. www.vg.no. 30 May 2016 .
  21. Web site: UK AND FRANCE CONFIRM FC/ASW CONCEPTION PHASE STARTING IN MARCH 2017. 16 December 2016. MBDA. August 5, 2022.
  22. Web site: Royal Navy's Type 26 Frigates to be equipped with cruise missiles by 2028 Navy Lookout. August 5, 2022. www.navylookout.com. 9 July 2021.
  23. News: Cabirol . Michel . Sous-marins australiens : le programme franco-britannique de missiles de croisière en suspens . French . . 4 October 2021. August 5, 2022.
  24. News: GroizeIeau . Vincent . Missiles : le programme franco-britannique FMAN/FMC en suspens . Mer et Marine . 1 October 2021 . French. August 5, 2022.
  25. Web site: Royal Navy rows back on plans to acquire new anti-ship missiles before 2030s Navy Lookout . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20211104094541/https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-rows-back-on-plans-to-acquire-new-anti-ship-missiles-before-2030s/ . 4 November 2021 . August 5, 2022.
  26. Web site: Watch a Royal Navy Wildcat Helicopter Fire Its First Operational Martlet Missile. 22 October 2021 .
  27. Web site: Martlet achieves progress in operating capabilities . UK Defence Journal . Allison . George . 23 July 2023.
  28. Web site: RN Wildcats field new anti-surface guided weapons for CSG21.
  29. Web site: Royal Navy’s Sea Venom light anti-ship missile full operating capability delayed until 2026 . Navy Lookout . 21 June 2023.
  30. Web site: In focus: the Wildcat multi role helicopter in service with the Royal Navy . Save the Royal Navy . 2019-02-04 . 2020-05-12.
  31. News: Light Naval Strike: MBDA's Sea Venom / ANL Missile . Defense Industry Daily . 19 December 2018.
  32. Web site: Tomahawk Cruise Missile (archive) . royalnavy.mod.uk . 19 February 2021 . 10 April 2014 . http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140410004423/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Weapons-Systems/Tomahawk-Cruise-Missile . bot: unknown .
  33. Web site: Tomahawk Cancellation an Error of Defense Strategy and Alliance Policy . heritage.org . 2 April 2014 . 19 February 2021.
  34. Web site: United Kingdom - Tomahawk Block IV Torpedo Launched Land-Attack Missiles . dsca.mil . 1 July 2014 . 19 February 2021.
  35. Web site: Trident D5 Ballistic Missile (archive) . royalnavy.mod.uk . 19 February 2021 . 10 April 2014 . http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140410004424/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Weapons-Systems/Trident . bot: unknown .