The proposed patrol frigate is described as a 4,750-ton vessel for waters where a destroyer or carrier group would be excessive. Its basic requirement is enough defensive armament for relatively minor threats. The fit discussed includes a 57 mm gun, generally one 30 mm cannon, and a 21-cell Rolling Airframe Missile launcher. Sixteen Naval Strike Missiles or 48 Hellfires are presented as alternatives. Containerised mission payloads are being discussed, with their eventual uses unsettled. The design derives from the Legend-class cutter, while a later production batch could use a substantially different design.
Chapter · 1:24:41-1:26:35
A cutter-derived patrol frigate for US naval presence
The proposed 4,750-ton frigate uses a modest weapon fit and cutter ancestry to serve presence missions below the level of a major battle group.