History, Politics And Current Affairs

Sea-Launched Missiles

UGM-133A Trident II (D5)
The Royal Navy’s ultimate weapon and main armament of the four Vanguard class bombers; will also form the main armament of the Dreadnought class. While the missile can carry up to twelve Re-entry Vehicles, in British service the missile will carry no more than six British designed warheads. How many RVs individual missiles carry is classified, but it is known that a Vanguard class boat will currently deploy with no more than ninety-six warheads on-board. Since the UK apparently has two-hundred and twenty-five warheads there is no technical reason why the number of warheads on the deployed missiles could not be increased. The RN is also planning to upgrade its Tridents to D5 LE standard.

BGM-109 Tomahawk
Procured in the 1990s to give the navy’s Fleet Submarines the capability to attack land targets, the Tomahawk is carried in variable numbers by the Swiftsure, Trafalgar and Astute class boats. The RN currently only uses the Block III C model with a unitary warhead but has ordered the improved Block IV. While the RN does not use the surface ship launched variant, the Type 45 and 46 can carry the missile. The future Type 26 frigate will also have strike length Mk.41 VLS tubes capable of carrying the Tomahawk.

UGM/RGM-84 Harpoon
The RN uses two variants of the Harpoon missile – the submarine launched Royal Navy Sub-Harpoon, a variant of the UGM-84, and a surface-ship launched variant. Both variants have been upgraded to Block 1D standard. The Harpoon is currently used by the S, T and A class submarines, and the Type 22 Batch 2 (reconstructed) and 3, Type 23, Type 24, Type 45 and Type 46. Harpoon may also arm the future Type 26 depending on the timeline of the planed successor missile.

MM38 Exocet
Very much a legacy system due to leave service in the next few years; the Exocet currently arms the surviving Type 12M, Type 21 and Type 22 Batch 1 and 2 frigates. Interestingly the MM40 was to have armed the Type 23 frigates; however, the navy changed to the Harpoon after the Falklands War. It seems that despite the perceived threat of Exocet the RN felt that the missile’s performance was less than spectacular; most of the warheads of the missiles that hit targets do not seem to have functioned.

GWS-32 Garfish
One of the most advanced, and expensive surface to air missiles in the world, the Garfish forms the main armament of the Type 45 destroyers and the Type 46 cruisers. The missile is formed of two-stages, the upper being powered by a ramjet that can propel it to speeds in excess of Mach. 6. With the sensitive nature of the technology the Garfish has not been sold for export (although it was offered to Australia), and export variants of the Type 45 destroyer have been armed with American Standard missiles. It has been rumoured that the navy and RAF are currently exploring an ABM variant of the missile. Broadsword, the Garfish’s land-based sibling, was procured by the RAF as a replacement for the ageing Bloodhound SAM.

GWS-30 Sea Dart
Another legacy system due to leave service shortly; Sea Dart forms the main armament of the Type 42 destroyers and single Type 82 as well as arming the three Invincible class CVSA. In its current Mod.3 variant the Sea Dart is still considered to be an effective weapon against most threats that it will face. Unlike its successor, Garfish, Sea Dart also has a surface-to-surface capability. Sea Dart also has the distinction of the first successful engagement and destruction of an enemy missile, in this case an Iraqi Silkworm SSM that had been fired at USS Missouri.

Sea Wolf
The RN’s primary point defence missile. Three variants are currently in service:
GWS-25: The original version of the system to enter service; used a trainable six-round, manually loaded launcher. This variant was used by Type 22 frigates (two launchers) and modified Type 12M frigates (one launcher).
GWS-26: The vertical launch variant of the system; interestingly during Sea Wolf’s development in the 1970s a vertical launch version was tested aboard the old HMS Loch Fada. However, for reasons unknown this development path was not followed until the design of the Type 23 started. Today the vertical launch variant of Sea Wolf arms the Type 23 frigates, Type 24 corvettes, Type 45 and Type 46, and the RFA Fort Victoria class Replenishment Ships.
GWS-28: Known as ‘Lightweight Sea Wolf’; being quite a heavy system Sea Wolf could not be installed on smaller ships or be added easily as additional armament to larger ships. LWT Sea Wolf used a four-cell launcher similar to that of the obsolete Sea Cat and lighter directors to try and solve this issue. Today the LWT Sea Wolf arms the Invincible class CVSA, the Type 42 Batch 3 destroyers and the RFA Wave class Fast Fleet Tankers. LWT Sea Wolf was also installed for trials purposes aboard two Type 12M frigates and the last two Type 21 frigates in RN service. It is not planned to fit the system to any further ships as Sea Wolf is due to be replaced in the next decade.

RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM)
First trialled aboard HMS York in 2001, RAM now arms the Type 45 and 46, Ocean class LPH and Type 25 class corvettes. The ease of installing and supporting RAM is probably one of the reasons for LWT Sea Wolf not being used more widely in the Royal Navy. It is likely that RAM will arm further ships in the RN and RFA, including the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. It is also possible that the RN will use the simpler SeaRAM on future warships.

GWS-22 Seacat
Only nominally in service as the system is still installed on three Type 12M frigates used for static trials, or as Harbour Training Ships. Whether the Seacat systems aboard these ships is still operational, or whether there are any missiles still in RN stocks is unknown.

Air-Launched Weapons

AIM-120 AMRAAM
The primary armament of the Sea Harrier FA.2; the navy initially procured the A variant of the missile, sharing its stocks with the RAF. Today it uses the C-5 and C-6 variants. There are currently no plans to procure the D variant as the replacement for the Sea Harrier, the Scimitar, will be armed with the Meteor.

ASRAAM
The secondary missile used by the Sea Harrier, although it is not seen on the aircraft as often as the AMRAAM. The ASRAAM will also be used by the Scimitar.

30mm ADEN
A revolver cannon developed in the immediate post-war period. The ADEN armed all British fighter aircraft until the Tornado. The cannon has been proven in combat, notably in the Falklands War. The Sea Harrier typically carries two cannons in pods under the fuselage, although these may be replaced by additional AMRAAM.

2-inch RP
The RN equivalent to the SNEB used by the RAF. As the latter rocket pod had not been cleared for shipboard use, the navy retained some stocks of those rockets in case Sea Harriers needed rockets. As it was used by Apaches supporting the RM, the newer CRV7 was cleared for shipboard use, also being used by RAF Harriers deployed aboard carriers.

Sea Eagle
Developed to replace the obsolescent Martel, the Sea Eagle gives the Sea Harrier, which can carry two of the missiles, a formidable anti-ship capability. The Sea Eagle is currently being upgraded to allow it to better operate in the littoral environment and to keep it viable until its replacement enters service in the middle of the next decade.

ALARM
An anti-radiation missile which can be carried by the Sea Harrier, although has seldom been seen on the aircraft outside of testing.

Brimstone
Another weapon that the Sea Harrier has been cleared to carry, but again has seldom been seen in an operational setting. It has been suggested that the Brimstone would be an effective anti-FAC weapon.

Sea Skua
A lightweight SSM carried by the Lynx and Merlin helicopters; proved to be very effective during the Falklands and Gulf Wars.

Mark 11 depth charge
One of the oldest weapons used by the RN, the Mod 2 is the current variant of the weapon in service, with a Mod 3 in development. Retained for use against targets in shallow waters, surfaced submarines, and small targets like Swimmer Delivery Vehicles.

WE.177A
Now only found in its Nuclear Depth Bomb configuration; the WE.177A can be found in the magazines of the three CVSA and some surface warships. It can be dropped by Lynx and Merlin helicopters, and in theory at least, the FAA’s Sea Harriers.

Misc.
The Royal Navy also uses a variety of air dropped weaponry, including 1,000lb bombs, in both LGB and ‘dumb’ configuration, BL755, CVR-7.

Guns

114mm (4.5 inch) Vickers Mark.8
The standard Medium Calibre Gun for RN surface warships since the 1970s; fitted to all frigates and destroyers (other than the first two batches of the Type 22) up to the first batch of Type 45. Most RN ships now have the Mod 1 version of the gun, which has an all-electric loading mechanism and the distinctive reduced radar cross section ‘Kryten’ gun-house.

155mm (6.1 inch) BAES Mark.9
The Mark 9 started life as the ‘155mm Third Generation Maritime Fire Support’ (155 TMF), which would involve fitting the 155mm 39.cal gun barrel removed from British Army AS-90s (which were being fitted with 52.cal barrels) to the gun-house of a Mark 8. Land trials followed by sea-going trials aboard HMS Dauntless led to the Mark 9 being adopted as the main gun for the Type 45 destroyer and Type 23M frigate.

Royal Ordnance L7 105mm
The main gun armament of the Castle class corvettes. They were removed from Centurion tanks held in storage.

Oto Melara 76 mm/62cal Compact
The main gun armament of the Loch class corvettes and the Peacock class patrol vessels.

Oerlikon 30 mm twin cannon
Fitted to Type 42 destroyers in the aftermath of the Falklands War, this weapon was carried by them until the early 1990s when they were replaced by either Phalanx CIWS (Batch 1 and 2) or LWT Sea Wolf (Batch 3). The mounts were placed in storage, six later being used to arm the three Apollo class sonar support ships.

L/60 Bofors Gun Mk.9
The final mark of the famous Bofors left in RN and RFA service; most have since been replaced by lighter 20 and 30mm weapons. As in 1982, many Bofors mounts were brought out of storage to arm ships brought out of reserve and those taken up from trade.

Goalkeeper
A Dutch designed CIWS that uses the GAU-8 30mm cannon which arms the A-10. Fitted to two of the three Invincible class, the Albion class LPD, Type 22 Batch 3, and Type 23M. While a highly effective weapon the Goalkeeper mount requires a significant deck penetration, which means it is not as easy to fit as the Phalanx, the main reason why it is not more widely employed in the fleet.

Phalanx
Probably the most popular CIWS in the Western World, the Phalanx is fitted to most RN warships and many RFA vessels. Being largely self-contained and with minimal deck penetration the Phalanx is relatively easy to install and support. The RN is currently in the process of upgrading to Block 1B mountings.

DS30B 30mm
A single mount carrying a 30mm Oerlikon cannon; is fitted to most RN major and minor warships and many RFA. The navy will shortly upgrade to the DS30M Mk.2 version, which replaces the Oerlikon cannon with a Bushmaster II 30mm cannon.

GAM BO 20mm
A simple hand operated mount employing the Oerlikon KA 200 20mm cannon; is fitted to most warships in the fleet, other than the Type 23. It is also used as the main armament of some minor warships and aboard many RFA.

20mm Mk.7A
Another design that dates to the Second World War; while an old design was still an effective way to increase the defensive armament of auxiliary vessels and RFA; was another weapon that was brought out of storage during World War Three.

Close Range Weapons
The RN and RFA fit their ships with a variety of close-range weapons, including the L7 GPMG and Mk.44 Mini-Gun. Sailors are also armed with a variety of small arms also used by the Royal Marines and British Army. Browning HMG and elderly L4 ‘Bren Guns’ were also seen on British vessels during the war.

Torpedoes

Sting Ray
The Sting Ray (sometimes written as Stingray) is the standard lightweight torpedo in RN service; it can be employed by fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and surface warships. The current version in service is the Mod.1, which gives the weapon an enhanced capability against small conventional powered submarines and targets in shallow, coastal waters. The Mod.2 is in development.

Mark 46
An American built lightweight torpedo, which was the primary RN surface and air launched ASW weapon prior to the Sting Ray entering service. The RN retained some Mod. 5 variants of the torpedo in reserve in 2005.

Spearfish
A heavyweight torpedo which arms all of the RN’s submarine fleet; said by its manufacturer to be the world’s fastest torpedo, the top speed is classified, but is said to be between 70 and 80 knots. Spearfish will continue to be upgraded to keep it viable until the mid-2030s.

Tigerfish
A heavyweight torpedo in service between 1979 and 2004. Early models had unreliability problems, but the Mod 2 variant had an 80% reliability. Which was, admittedly less than the RN hope for. In 2005 some Tigerfish remained in storage, but none were carried by operational submarines.

Future Weapons

Sea Ceptor
The naval variant of the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAAMM), which will replace the Rapier and Sea Wolf SAM, and in the longer term the ASRAAM missile. With a significantly longer-ranger than the missiles it will replace and an active-seeker, amongst other features, Sea Ceptor will be a game changer. It is planned that it will replace Sea Wolf on the Type 45 destroyers and Type 23 frigates and will arm the planned Type 26 frigates. It can also relatively easily be fitted to platforms as small as 50m OPVs. It is likely that it will form part of the defensive armament of the Queen Elizabeth class carriers.

Sea Venom
Formerly known as Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (Heavy), Sea Venom will serve as the replacement for the venerable Sea Skua missile, arming the Wildcat HMA.2 and Merlin HMA.2, which will carry up to four each. The missile is designed to deal with FAC and warships up to corvette in size and should be easy to integrate onto platforms already using Sea Skua.

Martlet
The Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (Light) counterpart to Sea Venom; the missile is designed to counter small boat and fast inshore attack craft threats. Like the Sea Venom is will arm the Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, although it is also likely that the missile will be carried by the Wildcat AH.1s operated by the RM. The missile will be carried in a five-round launcher, with a Wildcat, or Merlin being capable of carrying four launchers; alternatively, a combination of two Sea Venoms and two five-round Martlet launchers would be possible. Martlet has also been test fitted to a modified 30mm mount. It is likely that it will form the close-in armament of RN warships and RFAs.

Meteor
Already in service with RAF Typhoons, Meteor will arm the Scimitar FGR.1 and 2, replacing AMRAAM. MBDA has carried out work to allow the Meteor to be carried internally in the Scimitar’s weapons bays.

Joint Strike Missile
A multi-role version of the Norwegian Naval Strike Missile (NSM); when the Norwegian Army procured the AS90, it was agreed that in return that the UK would procure the NSM. This agreement was initially partially fulfilled by procuring the land-based version of NSM, and later by the future procurement of the JSM to arm the Scimitar as a replacement for Sea Eagle.

GAU-22/A
A four-barrelled variant of the GAU-12 Equalizer, this weapon will be carried in a pod by the FAA's (and RAF's) Scimitars. It had initially been planned that British F-24s would be armed with a single 27mm Mauser cannon for commonality with the Typhoon, however both to save money and remembering the fiasco of the 25mm ADEN, the MoD has decided to fit the same gun as other users.

Next Generation Interim Surface Ship Guided Weapon
With Harpoon Block 1C due to go out of service in the early 2020s and the likelihood that its successor will not be ready, the RN has instigated the I-SSGW programme to cover the potential gap. Several weapons, including the Harpoon Block II+, LRASM, Naval Strike Missile and RBS-15 Mk.4, have been offered to meet the requirement.

Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASuW)
Also known as Perseus, the FC/ASuW is an Anglo-French programme to produce a stealth hypersonic cruise missile. It will weigh around 800 kg and has a payload comprising one 200 kg main and two 50 kg subsidiary warheads. The missile will be VLS launched, being compatible with both the American Mk.41 and the French A70 Sylver. In RN service it will arm the Type 26 frigate and the Type 45 and 46. Depending on their final configuration, it may also arm the Type 31 and 32.

SPEAR 3
A development of the Brimstone, currently under development for the RN and RAF. The F-24B will be able to carry four missiles in its internal bays. The RN is also considering procuring a ‘Sea Spear’ variant, to counter ‘swarm-attacks’.

155mm (6.1 inch) BAES Mark.9 Mod.1
The RN is planning to refurbish and upgrade its Mark 9 guns between the mid-2010s and early 2020s. As part of this upgrade, the gun barrel will be changed from ex-British Army 39 calibre taken from AS90s, to new-build 52 calibre barrels.

Bofors 57 mm L/70
Planned as the replacement for the Oto Melara 76 mm. They will be initially fitted to the Tyne class Batch 3 patrol vessel. It will also arm the Type 31, probably the Type 32 and any future corvette sized combatants.

Replacement Nuclear Depth Weapon
With the WE.177A approaching the twilights of its service the RN is investigating a replacement. What this will be, or what its delivery platform will be is unclear. It does appear that the RN does want some sort of stand-off weapon, so that helicopters will no longer put themselves at risk.

Direct Energy Weapons & railguns
The RN has several ongoing research programmes into the development of DEW, probably initially as a replacement for CIWS and RAM. The UK is also part of a multi-national American led railgun programme. It has been proposed that the main gun armament of the future Type 83 destroyer could be a railgun.

Active Torpedo Defence
The RN is part of an American led, pan-NATO project to produce an active torpedo defence system. It is at a very early stage of development.