The frigate is a combat ship with a displacement of 3000 … 6000 tons, equipped with guided missile weapons. The main purpose is to combat air and submarine enemy while escorting the main forces of the fleet and especially important convoys. A versatile escort ship capable of operating at any distance from the coast. This is the definition for a frigate given by the NATO classification of the 1975 model.
In practice, the missions of a frigate-class ship are much broader - from performing patrol missions in the coastal zone and open sea areas to limited participation in local wars (blockade and unblockade of sea communications, conducting "pinpoint" landings, symbolic fire support for ground forces). Combat campaigns, demonstration of the flag, participation in international naval exercises and search and rescue operations.
A frigate is always a compromise, a modest battleship can a priori become a "super-hero". The meaning of the appearance of frigates is economy in exchange for mass. The specificity of sentinel and escort missions implies the dispersal of forces, which, in turn, entails a requirement to reduce the cost of ships - their combat capabilities are sacrificed for savings. To keep within the estimate, the creators of the frigates are forced to reduce the ship's armament complex, abandon some electronic systems, replacing full-fledged radars and sonar systems with "replicas" with reduced characteristics.
The extremely dense layout and small dimensions negatively affect the survivability of the ship. For example, on American frigates of the "Oliver H. Perry" class (a giant series of 71 units, including export and licensed assembly), a single-shaft power plant was used - a risky decision that contradicts all the rules for designing warships.
The fact that any modern frigate is an incapacitated trough, pretending to be a battleship, became clear a long time ago. The US Navy was convinced of this from its own experience, when the frigate "Stark" was unable to repel an attack by a single Iraqi Air Force aircraft. Having received two missiles on board, "Stark" almost died in the Persian Gulf. 37 sailors became victims of the incident.
Damage to the frigate USS Stark (FFG-31) received during the incident on May 17, 1987.
The British suffered even more during the Falklands War - Her Majesty's unfortunate frigates, pretended to be important destroyers, were beaten by free-fall bombs from subsonic aircraft! A plot worthy of World War II, but not 1982.
The Americans were so disappointed with the combat capabilities of the frigates that, having experimented with numerous "Knox" and "Perry", completely abandoned the further construction of ships of this class. It turned out to be impossible to place all the necessary systems and weapons in the 4000-ton hull. To achieve acceptable characteristics (power, versatility, seaworthiness, high survivability, comfortable accommodation of personnel), a destroyer with a displacement of at least 8,000 tons is required.
As a result, over the past 20 years, the Yankees have been building only large Aegis destroyers of the Orly Burke class. By 2013, 62 of them were riveted - more than frigates in all countries of the world combined. However, there is nothing to be surprised at - with 16 trillion of external debt, it is possible to build starships instead of destroyers.
In order not to forget what a real battle ship looks like. USS Spruance (DDG-111)
Time makes its own adjustments - progress in microelectronics has made it possible to radically reduce the dimensions of radio engineering systems. The small size of the frigate turned out to be its advantage - with the use of stealth technology, the RCS of modern frigates was reduced to the RCS value of a torpedo boat. High technologies and composite materials, undoubted progress in engine building, new weapon systems - all this has significantly increased the efficiency of small escort ships.
The frigate of the beginning of the 21st century has become a versatile warship capable of taking part in low-intensity military conflicts and performing almost the entire range of tasks facing a modern navy.
There is no doubt, other things being equal, the frigate is inferior to the destroyer. But only the Pentagon has unlimited financial opportunities - shipbuilders of other countries have to compromise and create efficient ships without ruinous spending and with a minimum of necessary equipment. Let's see who did it.
Turkish gambit
Full displacement of 4200 tons. The crew is 220 people. Two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines accelerate the frigate to 30 knots. The onboard fuel supply provides a cruising range of 5,000 miles at a cruising speed of 18 knots.
Armament:
- a beam-type Mk.13 launcher (the under-deck store contains 8 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and 32 SM-1MR medium-range anti-aircraft missiles);
- installation of vertical launch Mk.41 (ammunition - 32 anti-aircraft self-defense missiles RIM-162 ESSM);
- 76 mm OTO Melara artillery system;
- anti-aircraft artillery complex of self-defense "Falanx" (six-barreled gun of 20 mm caliber, radar and fire control system, mounted on a single gun carriage);
- anti-submarine system Mk.32 (two TA, six small torpedoes);
- anti-submarine helicopter Sikorsky S-70 Seahawk.
Gaziantep F-490 - ex. American frigate "Clifton Sprague" (FFG-16)
A series of eight Turkish frigates of the G type. In fact, only the names are Turkish here - "Gaziantep", "Giresun", "Gemlik" … Otherwise, these are purely American ships - obsolete frigates of the "Oliver Hazard Perry" class (a series with a "short »Corps), transferred to the Turkish Navy after 15 years of service under the Stars and Stripes.
The second important point is that the Turkish G-type frigates are similar to their predecessors only externally - inside they are in many ways other ships, whose systems and weapons have undergone extensive modernization.
Unlike the dull Perry, the ship's air defense was seriously strengthened - in addition to the "one-armed bandit" (the humorous name of the Mk.13 launcher), 8 cells of the Mk.41 UVP appeared in the bow (a short, "defensive" version - like no matter how the Turks try to load a Tomahawk into it, they will fail). Anti-aircraft missiles RIM-162 ESSM only, 4 in each cell. However, there is an opinion that Turkey did not receive any ESSM. Instead of the promised super-missiles Evolved Sea Sparrow Missle, capable of maneuvering with a 50-fold overload and intercepting targets at a range of 50 km, the Turkish sailors were given the usual RIM-7 Sea Sparrow, with all the ensuing results.
Radio electronics has undergone no less serious changes. The frigates were equipped with a modern Turkish-made GENESIS combat information and control system (built, of course, on Chinese components). The frigates' electronic systems were integrated into the Link 16 military tactical real-time data exchange network (US and NATO standard). The fire control system Mk.92 was added; the hydroacoustic complex was renewed. In addition, the frigates received an integrated ASIST helicopter landing and towing system.
Advantages of Type G frigates:
- high autonomy;
- impressive anti-aircraft ammunition.
Disadvantages of type G frigates:
- archaic design;
- open air defense circuit (once it became fatal for the frigate "Stark");
- single-shaft power plant.
Launch of a Standard-1 Medium Range anti-aircraft missile from an Oliver H. Perry-class frigate
Talwar
Full displacement 4000 tons. The crew is 180 people. Two gas turbine engines of economic speed, two afterburner gas turbine engines. Full speed 30 knots. Cruising range 4850 miles at a cruising speed of 14 knots. The cost of one frigate is $ 500 million.
Armament:
- universal ship firing complex (UKSK) for 8 cells. Ammunition - cruise missiles of the Club-N family (export modification "Caliber") and / or supersonic anti-ship missiles "Brahmos";
- SAM "Shtil-1" (single-beam launcher, 24 missiles);
- 2 anti-aircraft missile and artillery complexes 3R87E "Kashtan" (ammunition of both modules - 64 melee missiles + two twin six-barreled guns with a rotating block of barrels);
- universal gun AK-190, caliber 100 mm;
- 12-barreled rocket launcher RBU-6000 (ammunition - 48 rocket depth charges)
- two torpedo tubes with ammunition load of 16 torpedoes;
- anti-submarine helicopter Ka-28.
A series of six Indian frigates built at Russian shipyards. The base for Talvar was Project 1135 Burevestnik - glorious patrol ships (BOD II rank), massively built for the Soviet Navy in the 1970s (32 units in a series). The Burevestnik was so successful that a whole family of frigates appeared on its base - anti-submarine, border, export modifications.
New weapons and modern electronics "breathed life" into the old design - modification 1135.6 (Indian "Talwar") has become one of the most interesting examples of frigates of the early 21st century: relatively simple, cheap and effective.
"Talwar" became an important stage in the history of the Indian Navy - Indian sailors for the first time received ships with vertical launchers in the below deck space. Modern multipurpose frigates with universal weapons and elements of reducing radar signature (superstructure from side to side, obstruction of the upper side of the side “inward”, reducing the number of radio-contrasting details are the usual methods of stealth technology). New BIUS "Requirement M", three-dimensional radar "Fregat-M2EM" with a phased antenna array.
One of the differences between the Talvar frigates and their European counterparts was the presence of a powerful strike weapons complex - an eight-shot UKSK, cruise missiles for striking ground targets, supersonic anti-ship missiles - a tribute to the traditions of the Soviet Navy.
As practice has shown, Talvar is far from the limit, the modernization potential of the old Burevestnik made it possible to create on its basis an even more formidable ship - Project 1135.6 R / M for equipping the Russian Navy. Unlike the "Indians", these ships will receive a full-fledged complex "Caliber" and an updated SAM "Shtil-1" with under-deck UVP. Currently, there are three ships of this type at Russian shipyards, the lead frigate "Admiral Grigorovich" is planned to be launched in the summer of 2013.
Advantages of the Talvar frigates:
- versatility;
- shock weapons.
Disadvantages of Talvar frigates:
- single-girder launcher of the Shtil air defense missile system, which significantly limits the ship's air defense capabilities;
- low autonomy in terms of fuel reserves (hereditary disease 1135).
Horizon
Full displacement of 7000 tons. The crew is 230 people. Two economic diesel engines, two LM2500 gas turbines. Full speed 30 knots. Cruising range of 7000 miles at a cruising speed of 18 knots. The cost of one frigate is 1.5 billion euros.
Armament:
- PAAMS naval anti-aircraft complex (48 cells of the Sylver A-50 UVP, anti-aircraft missiles of the Aster family);
- 8 anti-ship missiles "Exocet";
- SAM self-defense Sadral (only on French ships);
- 2-3 universal guns OTO Melara of 76 mm caliber;
- 2 automatic cannons of 20 mm caliber;
- small-sized anti-submarine torpedoes MU90 Impact;
- helicopter NH90 or AW101 Merlin.
The overgrown frigate "Horizon" (Horizon, Orizzonte, or CNGF - Common New Generation Frigate) is the result of the joint efforts of France, Italy and Great Britain, who dreamed of creating a European warship of a new generation, and thereby "wipe the nose" of Uncle Sam from his countless Burke-class Aegis destroyers.
The expectations of the Europeans did not come true - the ships built were inferior to the Burke in versatility, while they had an exorbitant cost comparable to the cost of an American destroyer (after all, the Yankees know a lot about standardization and reducing the cost of goods in mass production). Unlike 62 built "Berks", the series of frigates "Horizon" was limited to only four units - two ships each for the Italian and French navies.
The British quarreled with their colleagues in the middle of the "creative path" and, taking the documentation, began to "mold" their own destroyer that meets all the requirements of Her Majesty's fleet.
As a result, twins appeared - the Italian-French frigates "Horizon" and the British air defense destroyers of the "Daring" class. With almost identical dimensions, similar hull lines and superstructure architecture, a destroyer can easily be confused with a frigate. A close acquaintance only reinforces the impression: the same PAAMS air defense system, Sylver vertical launch systems, the i-mast multifunctional mast, the S1850M airborne radar with a phased antenna array, the white cap of the second radar on the top of the foremast …
Stop! And here is an important difference - the British destroyers are equipped with a SAMPSON super-radar with an active HEADLIGHT, which sees the seagull at a distance of 100 km and monitors the airspace within a radius of 400 km from the ship's side. The means of detecting frigates are much more modest - under the white cap on the foremast there is "only" a three-dimensional EMPAR radar.
This circumstance alone explains the difference in the classification of two identical ships - the frigate remains a frigate (albeit the largest in its class), and the British ship, saturated with the most modern electronics, certainly deserves the title of a destroyer.
Advantages of the frigate "Horizon":
- exceptional capabilities in terms of air defense;
- huge autonomy (the frigate is able to cross the Atlantic diagonally);
- high automation.
Disadvantage of frigate "Horizon":
- crazy cost.
Moctik of the Italian frigate Caiao Dulio (D554)
Spanish hidalgo
Full displacement of 5800 tons (+ 450 tons of modernization reserve). The crew is 250 people. Two Caterpillar diesels for economic running, two LM2500 gas turbines. Full speed 29 knots. Cruising range 4500 miles at a cruising speed of 18 knots. The cost of the frigate is $ 1.1 billion.
Armament:
- 48 cells UVP Mk.41 ("tactical" version: anti-submarine rocket torpedo ASROC-VL, long-range anti-aircraft missiles SM-2ER, anti-aircraft self-defense missiles Sea Sparrow and ESSM, - the entire arsenal of US Navy missiles, with the exception of shock Tomahawks. any proportion);
- 8 anti-ship missiles "Harpoon";
- universal artillery gun Mk.45 caliber 127 mm;
- anti-aircraft artillery complex "Meroka", caliber 20 mm;
- 2 automatic cannons "Oerlikon" with manual guidance;
- 2 rocket launchers ABCAS / SSTS;
- 24 small-sized anti-submarine torpedoes Mk.46;
- anti-submarine helicopter Sikorsky SH-60B LAMPS III system.
Unlike the French and Italians, the enterprising Spaniards did not "reinvent the wheel", but did much easier - they copied the Burke-class Aegis destroyer. However, "copied" sounds disrespectful: the Spaniards carefully studied and adjusted the project of the American destroyer to their requirements. Of course, the "correction" was reduced only to the deterioration of the original design in the weather for cost savings.
As a result, the Alvaro de Basan series appeared - five large frigates, each of which has ½ the Berk's capabilities at a 30% lower cost. The Spaniards retained the main thing - the Aegis combat information and control system with the AN / SPY-1 multifunctional radar. Spanish programmers were directly involved in the creation of the software. In addition, the French Thales Sirius optical-electronic detection system and the FABA Dorna own-produced weapon control system were installed on the frigates.
There were also drawbacks - unlike its progenitor, the frigate lost its third AN / SPG-62 fire control radar, which limited the De Basan's capabilities in repelling massive air attacks. However, the Spaniards are not worried about this - the frigate is unlikely to have to go into a serious battle, and even if it has to, the American Aegis destroyer Orly Burke will always be nearby.
In an effort to compensate for the weakening of the frigate's weapons complex, the Spaniards installed several systems on it that did not fit into NATO standards - rocket-propelled bombs and a 12-barreled Meroka anti-aircraft complex of their own design.
Advantages of the frigate "Alvaro de Basan":
- Aegis system;
- universal UVP Mk.41 for 48 cells;
Disadvantages of the frigate "Alvaro de Basan":
- The Spanish Navy received an excellent warship, whose capabilities correspond to the funds invested in it.
French from Singapore
Full displacement of 3200 tons. Crew of 90 people. Four MTU diesels provide 27 knots of full speed. Cruising range 4200 miles at 18 knots.
Armament:
- 32 cells UVP Sylver A-50 (anti-aircraft missiles of the Aster family);
- 8 anti-ship missiles "Harpoon";
- universal artillery gun OTO Melara of 76 mm caliber (rate of fire 120 rds / min.);
- 2 self-defense systems "Typhoon" caliber 25 mm;
- anti-submarine small-sized torpedoes EuroTorp A244 / S Mod 3;
- anti-submarine helicopter Sikorsky S-70.
The most modern warships in Southeast Asia are the magnificent six of Singapore's Formidebl-class frigates (Grozny). The most modern technical solutions, unique electronics, long-range Aster-30 anti-aircraft missiles, a multipurpose weapon system, an impressive ammunition load - all this fit in a hull with a displacement of just over 3 thousand tons. Formidebl is one of the most effective naval weapon systems!
In the form of "Formidebl" familiar features slip … Well, of course! This is the French stealth frigate Lafayette, a special modification for the Singapore Navy.
Appeared in 1996, the futuristic frigate intrigued the whole world: for the first time in world practice, stealth technology found such widespread use in the design of a serial ship - even the bow of the deck with anchor windlasses was hidden under a special casing. No protruding radio-contrast elements in the guise of a frigate!
In addition, Lafayette had decent weapons and excellent seaworthiness - a successful project was appreciated in many countries of the world. French shipbuilders have received a hefty order book: the most "picky" countries have undoubtedly chosen Lafaite as their main surface ship. So there were interpretations based on Lafayette - Al Riyadh (Saudi Arabian Navy), Kang Ding (Republic of Taiwan Navy) and, finally, Formidebl (Singapore Navy).
Each of them was distinguished by an exclusive set of equipment and weapons - the prefabricated structure of the frigate of eighty 300-ton modules made it possible to realize any wishes of the customer. All other things being equal, the Singapore variant is considered the most successful.
"Surkuf" F711 - French frigate of the "Lafaite" class
