Danish keeping it flexible
The Royal Danish Navy has, for the past few decades, really been hitting it out of the park in terms of low-cost, flexible, and multi-function patrol frigates. One that allowed ASW, AShM, and MCM modules that could be added or swapped out as needed. You know, what the LCS was supposed to be.
The Flyvefisken and Thetis classes are to the left, and the newer Knud Rasmussen class offshore patrol vessels and Absalon and Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates are to the right. Via Breaking Defense
Besides the small 400-ton Flyvefisken-class patrol vessels with their innovative containerized weapon systems (again, what the LCS was supposed to be), the Danes also produced the excellent follow-on Thetis-class ocean patrol vessels, small 3,500-ton 368-foot surveillance frigates that were good for an 8,700nm cruising rang on an economic diesel plant while carrying a light gun-only armament (although ASMs could be fitted) while being able to carry a Marine platoon and an MH-60 sized helicopter. Plus, they did this with just a 40-50 man complement.
A good recent primer on how the Thetis class is used is in the below 11-minute video from NATO, showcasing the HDMS Triton (F358).
This comes as the Danes are looking towards the new OMT MPV80 program to develop a replacement for these arctic patrol frigates.
These are about as modular and multifunctional as it gets, as befitting the third generation of Danish LCS.
Yes and no. It never worked as many who are unfamiliar with naval matters thought it work rather like a multi-role combat aircraft going from bombs to air-to-air missiles. Ships didn’t return to port one day, switch roles overnight, and go out the next day. It did help with refits immensely. The cost of high end kit sitting shoreside just in case was the reason ‘failed’, even though it didn’t ‘fail’ as it were. Further the cost of developing a hull for a role is only a small part of the overall cost. But there reasons why frigates look like frigates and MCM boats look like MCM boats. So this next stage by the Danes is building on that aspect of flexibility. Modern warships are inherently modular anyway are they not? Most weapons are now housed in the VLS silo. The helicopter is a module. And so on.
I still don’t understand LCS. I don’t understand how the USN could think it a good idea. I am not sure what it says about how the USN viewed the world. The monohull one is pretty though in dazzle camouflage.
Oh! I adore the Thetis class. It is the sort of ship the RN should have for the South Atlantic.