Type 14 Frigates

Every so often even the best navies acquire ships that can only be described as second rate ... and in the case of the Type 14 Blackwood-class frigates this was actually how they were classified.

The twelve* ships of the Blackwood-class were built for the Royal Navy between 1953 and 1958, and were intended to counter the powerful submarine fleet of the Soviet Union. Despite the fact that they seem to have been almost universally disliked, they were in active service until the late 1970's, and were then part of the Reserve Fleet until the mid-1980s. The ships were all named after British captains who served during the Napoleonic Wars: Blackwood, Duncan, Dundas, Exmouth, Grafton, Hardy, Keppel, Malcolm, Murray, Palliser, Pellew, and Russell.

The design was such that they were pretty well incapable of performing anything other than an anti-submarine role, although they did act as fishery protection vessels during the so-called 'Cod War' with Iceland over fishing rights. Their main anti-submarine armament was two x triple Limbo anti-submarine mortars, two x twin Mk. 20 anti-submarine torpedo tubes (only carried on Blackwood, Exmouth, Malcolm, and Palliser), and a sonar fit that was a good as that carried on the much larger Type 12 frigates (the Whitby, Rothesay, and Leander classes). They were also armed with three (later two) 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns.

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* Three were also built for the Indian Navy. They were:

• Khukri, which was sunk on 8th December 1971 during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, by the Pakistani submarine PNS Hangor.
• Kirpan, which was badly damaged and put out of action on 8th December 1971 during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, by the Pakistani submarine PNS Hangor. She was repaired and later handed over to the Indian Coast Guard in 1978.
• Kuthar, which was handed over to the Indian Coast Guard in 1978.

Type 15 Frigates

The Type 15 Frigates were – like the Type 16 Frigates – converted from War Emergency Programme destroyers. Twenty three destroyers were converted into Type 15 Frigates, four R-class (Rapid, Relentless, Rocket, and Roebuck), one T-class (Troubridge), thirteen U/V-class (Grenville, Ulster, Ulysses, Undaunted, Undine, Urania, Urchin, Ursa, Venus, Verulam, Vigilant, Virago, and Volage), and five W/Z-class (Wakeful, Whirlwind, Wizard, Wrangler, and Zest).

What the ships looked like before conversion:

The conversions entailed:

• The removal of all the existing superstructure, weaponry, and masts
• The complete overhaul of the existing propulsion system
• The extension of the existing forecastle deck towards the stern of the ship, leaving only a small quarterdeck at the stern
• The addition of a new single-level superstructure which incorporated a fully enclosed bridge, an operations room, and a sonar room
• The addition of new a lattice mast to carry the enhanced radars, HF/DF, and communications equipment that was now fitted
• The addition of two x triple Limbo anti-submarine mortars, which were fitted aft (N.B. Rapid, Roebuck, Venus, Verulam, Vigilant, Virago, Volage, Wakeful, Whirlwind, Wizard, and Wrangler were fitted with 2 x triple Squid anti-submarine mortars in lieu of the Limbos)
• The addition of a twin 4-inch dual purpose gun (mounted aft) and a twin 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun (mounted forward)

What the ships looked like after conversion:

The conversions were undertaken between 1949 and 1957, and the last ships (Rapid, Grenville, and Ulster) were broken up in 1981

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The Royal Canadian Navy converted two destroyers (Algonquin (ex-Valentine) and Crescent) and the Royal Australian Navy converted four Q-class destroyers (Quadrant, Quickmatch, Queenborough, and Quiberon) along similar lines.

The Canadian ships differed somewhat in terms of their armament (Algonquin and Crescent had a US twin 3-inch gun in place of the Bofors anti-aircraft guns and were fitted with Squid anti-submarine mortars) and their radar fit, the latter including more American equipment. Of the four Australian ships, Quadrant was equipped with Squid anti-submarine mortars and the other three had Limbo anti-submarine mortars.

Type 16 Frigates

At the end of the Second World War the Royal Navy had a major headache that it needed to solve. It had a large number of escort ships (frigates and corvettes) in reserve, most of which were either worn-out or did not have a speed advantage over the new, faster submarines that the Germans had been building and which – no doubt – the Soviets would copy. The Navy also had a large number of relatively new fleet destroyers in reserve which were not as well equipped as the frigates and corvettes when it came to anti-submarine warfare.

The Admiralty decided to solve the problem by converting some of its stock of fleet destroyers into fast escorts. It proposed two designs:

• The Type 15 Frigate: this was a relatively expensive and more extensive conversion which would take some time to put into effect
• The Type 16 Frigate: this was a cheaper alternative which would ensure that the Royal Navy had some fast anti-submarine escorts available in a relatively short time

Three destroyers of the O/P-class (Orwell, Paladin, and Petard) and seven of the T-class (Teazer, Tenacious, Termagant, Terpsichore, Tumult, Tuscan, and Tyrian) were chosen for conversion. (These were all War Emergency Programme destroyers and shared a common basic design.)

What the ships looked like before conversion:

The conversions entailed:

• The removal of the existing main gun armament, which was replaced by a twin 4-inch dual purpose gun mounted immediately forward of the bridge
• The replacement of the existing anti-aircraft armament with seven Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft guns
• The addition of two x triple Squid anti-submarine mortars, which were mounted aft
• The retention of a quadruple set of 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes

What the ships looked like after conversion:

The conversions were undertaken between 1949 and 1955, and the last ship (HMS Petard) was broken up in 1967.

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Between 1957 and 1959 two ex-O-class destroyers of the Pakistan Navy – Tippu Sultan (ex-Onslow) and Tughril (ex-Onslaught) – were returned to the UK for conversion along the lines of the Type 16 Frigates.

HMS Girdle Ness

During the early 1960s I was very keen on joining the Royal Navy, and my interest included knowing as much as I could about the various types and classes of ships were in service. Unfortunately poor eyesight meant that my plans never came to fruition ... but I still retain an interest in all things naval to this day.

At the time one ship that intrigued me was HMS Girdle Ness. She was the trials ship for the Seaslug surface-to-air missile system and was very much a ‘one off’ design. She seemed to have a very large superstructure for the size of her hull, and her only armament was a triple Seaslug launcher that was positioned ahead of her bridge.

HMS Girdle Ness began life as a repair and maintenance ship, and was one of twenty one such ships in the Beachy Head-class. They were all Victory-type ships (i.e. an enhanced version of the Liberty ship with more powerful engines and increased speed). She was originally named Penlee Point and was built by Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd. (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada). She was laid down on 7th December 1944, launched on 29th March 1945 and commissioned on 6th September 1945.

On entering service Girdle Ness was used as an accommodation ship at Rosyth from 1946 to 1952, being placed in reserve in 1951. In February 1953 she was moved to Devonport Dockyard, Devon, for conversion into a trials ship. The conversion began in May 1953 and was completed in 1956, and Girdle Ness was re-commissioned on 24th July.

During her conversion the entire superstructure was removed and most of the forward part of the hull gutted to provide space for the missile launcher and its attendant magazines. When she was finally completed in her new guise she had a large, boxy bridge structure forward of which was a triple Seaslug launcher.

One of the reasons why Girdle Ness was chosen for conversion was a result of a 1950 Admiralty Ship Design Policy Committee recommendation. The committee proposed that three missile-equipped types of ship would be required by the Royal Navy:

• A: Task Force Ship, capable of 30 knots, and armed with 2 x triple Seaslug launchers
• B: Ocean Convoy Escort, capable of 17 knots, and armed with 2 x triple Seaslug launchers
• C: Coastal Convoy Escort, capable of 12 knots, and armed with 1 x triple Seaslug launchers

The Girdle Ness was chosen to be a prototype for the Type C: Coastal Convoy Escort, although this idea was dropped before she came into service. (The Director of Naval Construction gave consideration to the conversion of light fleet aircraft carriers into A: Task Force Ships, but after initial drawings were made, the whole idea was dropped.)

During the course of her life as a missile trials ship Girdle Ness fired 209 Seaslug missiles. When the trials ended, she returned to Devonport and was paid off on 5th December1961. She was then reclassified as an accommodation ship, and after her return to Rosyth she was re-commissioned on 1st December 1962 and served alongside HMS Duncansby Head at Donibristle. HMS Girdle Ness was decommissioned in early 1970 and was scrapped in Faslane from August 1970 onwards.

The Royal Navy's Type classification system

After the Second World War, the Royal Navy adopted a system that classified surface escorts by function:

• Type 1X (and later Type 2X) were Anti-Submarine Frigates
• Type 4X were Anti-Aircraft Frigates (this later evolved into the "Destroyer" Type series)
• Type 6X were Aircraft-Direction Frigates
• Type 8X were Multi-Role Destroyers

The following is a list of the surface escort Types:

• Type 11: Diesel powered anti-submarine frigates based on hull of Type 41/61 frigates. NOT BUILT
• Type 12: Whitby-class: Steam powered, high-speed first-rate anti-submarine frigates.
• Type 12M: Rothesay-class: Modified version of the original Type 12 design.
• Type 12I: Leander-class: An improved Type 12, general purpose frigate; a very successful design which was used by the Royal Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal New Zealand Navy; the Indian Navy, the Royal Netherlands Navy, the Chilean Navy, and the Indonesian Navy (ex-Netherlands).
• Type 14: Blackwood-class: Steam powered, high-speed, second-rate anti-submarine frigates.
• Type 15: High-speed anti submarine frigates; these were full conversions of wartime destroyers from R, T, U, V, W, and Z class.
• Type 16: High-speed anti submarine frigates; these were limited conversions of wartime destroyers from the O, P, and T classes.
• Type 17: A third-rate anti-submarine frigates, similar in concept to the wartime corvettes. NOT BUILT
• Type 18: High-speed anti-submarine frigates; these were an intermediate conversion of wartime destroyers of the N, S, T, and Z classes. NOT BUILT
• Type 19: Very high-speed gas-turbine powered anti-submarine frigates. NOT BUILT
• Type 21: Amazon-class: Commercially-designed gas-turbine powered general purpose frigates.
• Type 22: Broadsword-class: Large, gas-turbine powered, anti-submarine frigates.
• Type 23: Duke-class: Gas-turbine and diesel powered, anti-submarine frigates.
• Type 24: A cheap frigate design intended for export. NOT BUILT
• Type 25: A more capable development of the Type 24 design. NOT BUILT
• Type 26: Formerly known as the Future Surface Combat Ship, it is now called the Global Combat Ship. (Eight are projected to be built, with the first coming into service in the mid 2020s.)
• Type 31: A proposed lighter, cheaper, general purpose frigate to supplement the Type 26. (Five are projected to be built, with the first coming into service in the mid 2020s.)
• Type 41: Leopard-class: Diesel-powered anti-aircraft frigate; it shared its hull design with the Type 61 frigate.
• Type 42(i): High-speed coastal escort; also known as the East Coast frigate. NOT BUILT
• Type 42(ii): Sheffield-class: Gas-turbine powered, fleet area-defence anti-aircraft destroyer.
• Type 43: Large gas-turbine powered, fleet area-defence anti-aircraft destroyer. NOT BUILT
• Type 44: A smaller version of the Type 43 intended as a cheaper alternative. NOT BUILT
• Type 45: Daring-class: Fleet area-defence anti-aircraft destroyer.
• Type 61: Salisbury-class: Diesel powered aircraft-direction frigate; it shared its hull design with the Type 41 frigate.
• Type 62: M-class: High-speed aircraft-direction frigate; full conversion of wartime destroyers of the M-class. NOT BUILT
• Type 81: Tribal-class: Steam/gas-turbine powered, general purpose frigates; intended for ‘showing the flag’ in areas that were former British colonies or that had been part of the UK ‘sphere of influence’.
• Type 82: Bristol-class: Large steam/gas-turbine powered fleet anti-aircraft and anti-submarine destroyers.

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The proposed Black Swan-class ‘sloop-of-war’ – some of whose projected roles would normally be performed by a light frigate – has not yet been given a Type classification.

The final ships are added to the fleet ... for the moment!

I seem to have finally reached a natural place to stop in my model ship-building project, and have added the following ships to my fleet:

• Two armoured cruisers

• Three protected cruisers

• Seven more merchant ships

This gives a total of:

• Eight battleships
• Four armoured cruisers
• Six protected cruisers
• Twelve merchant ships

I now have more than enough ships for the naval wargame I aim to run at this year's Conference of Wargamer (COW2016), although I would like to add some more ships (especially torpedo boats and destroyers) in due course. What I need to do now is to paint the ships that I have finished and to do some work on the rules I intend to use.

Soldiers of the Queen (SOTQ): Issue 163

The latest copy of SOTQ (Soldiers of the Queen, the quarterly journal of the Victorian Military Society) was delivered on Saturday morning whilst we were away, and I have only just manged to get around to reading it.

The articles included in this issue are:

• Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890): 'Ruffian Dick' in India by David Howell
• Second Sikh War, 1848-1849: Tipperary Tactic in the Punjab by Harold E Raugh, Jr.
• The Sad Case of Edward Bouverie Pusey: A damaged career partially restored by John Sly
• Book Reviews
• About the VMS

I enjoyed reading all three articles, and cannot pick any particular one as being better than the rest.

Nugget 289

I managed to collect the latest edition of THE NUGGET (N289) from the printer this morning, and I hope to post it out to members of Wargame Developments tomorrow.

I have already uploaded the PDF versions of THE NUGGET and THE NUGGET COLOUR SUPPLEMENT to the Wargame Developments website, and both are now available for members of Wargame Developments to read online or to download and print.

IMPORTANT: Please note that this is the seventh issue of THE NUGGET to be published for the 2015-2016 subscription year, and that members who have not already re-subscribed can still do so if they want to. This can be done by visiting the relevant page on the Wargame Developments website.

Bristol: A driver's nightmare!

On Friday and Saturday Sue and I made what seems to have become an annual visit to Bristol. I have a friend who is a fellow Freemason, and every year he has invited us down so that I can attend a meeting of his Lodge or Chapter, after which Sue and the other ladies join us for what we term a 'white table' or 'after meeting' meal.

Bristol is a lovely city ... but it has what I consider to be amongst the worst one-way systems I have ever had to drive through. I have yet to pay Bristol a visit and not get lost at some point! Signs pointing you towards a destination seem to disappear without notice or are so badly placed that you end up in the wrong lane at the junction where you need to turn. Last year what should have been a ten minute-long drive took nearly an hour when I missed the turning we should have taken and ended up on the road going out of Bristol to the east when I should have been going north!

In an attempt to avoid getting lost during this visit we used the satnav to navigate us across the city to our hotel. Despite a minor hiccough due to a road that the satnav told us to use being closed, we actually managed to get to our hotel in Clifton without getting too badly lost! It is a hotel that we have stayed in before because it is within walking distance of the Masonic Centre in Bristol, and despite having changed hands since our last visit, it was a great place to stay overnight.

The Bristol Masonic Centre.

We arrived at our hotel just after 3.00pm On Friday, and after parking our car, unloading our luggage, booking in, and dropping off our luggage in our room, Sue and I went for a walk around Clifton Village. It is a rather up-market area, with lots of small restaurants, fashion boutiques, coffee houses, wine bars, and the inevitable estate agents! Our walk took us to the edge of the Avon Gorge, from where we had an excellent view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

The Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Overlooking the Clifton end of the bridge was a building that looked rather like a lighthouse or small fort. It is – in fact – a camera obscura and it was featured in an episode of the Canadian crime series, MURDOCH MYSTERIES, entitled THE MURDOCH IDENTITY.

The Camera Obscura.

On Saturday we were able to leave the car parked in the hotel's car park, walk to the Centre – where the meeting was great, the meal afterwards very good indeed, and the company was exceptionally welcoming and friendly – and then take a taxi back again afterwards.

We almost got lost getting from the hotel to the M32 motorway, but by just after 5.00pm we were on our way home. Despite appalling weather for the last half of the journey, we arrived home a little after 8.00pm tired but already looking forward to going back to Bristol at some point in the future.

The fleet is growing!

My model ship-building has continued apace, and the following ships have been added to my growing fleet:

• Four additional battleships

• Three protected cruisers

• Four more merchant ships

I have further ships 'on the stocks' and they will be added to the fleet in due course.