Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 51:56-55:59

Type 83, Type 32, and the risks behind an Anglo-Dutch LHD plan

An F-35B-capable LHD could add useful flight decks, but its size, funding, industrial location, and effect on carrier docking still matter.

Amphibious WarfareBritish Defence PolicyDry DocksF-35BLive Q&ANaval ProcurementQueen Elizabeth Class Aircraft CarriersRosythShipbuildingType 31 FrigateType 32 FrigateType 83 Destroyer
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Question

What should be made of reports that Type 83 and Type 32 are dead and Britain will pursue an LPD or LHD with the Netherlands?

Short answer

An F-35B-capable LHD could help, provided it meets British requirements, but it leaves escort orders and carrier dry-dock capacity as separate problems.

Notes

An Anglo-Dutch LHD would be useful if it could operate F-35Bs, adding flight decks able to share aircraft with the strike carriers. The earlier joint effort is described as having broken down twice, with a previous design too small for British requirements. An amphibious ship would also leave the separate needs for Type 31 follow-on orders and a Type 83 air-defence replacement unresolved. Building an LHD at Rosyth could occupy space required for Queen Elizabeth-class docking because a second suitable dry dock has not been provided. The announced funding figures and press excerpts leave the scale of the amphibious purchase uncertain, so the judgement remains conditional on the published investment plan.