Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:00:15-1:02:40

Why Type 14 frigates had limited shock resistance

The Type 14's tightly specialized, low-cost ASW design traded away resilience associated with heavier weapons and broader missions.

Anti-Submarine WarfareDamage ControlLimbo MortarRoyal NavyType 14 FrigateWarship Design
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Question

Why did the ships planned for Type 62 frigate conversion have poor shock resistance?

Short answer

Their low-cost, ASW-only design omitted heavier gun systems and some related shock protection, with consequences for hull resilience.

Notes

The question concerns ships proposed for Type 62 conversion, and the explanation turns to the small, inexpensive Type 14 ASW design. Limbo mortars, Mark 20 torpedoes and sonar took priority, with 40 mm guns but no larger main gun. Removing a heavy gun also allowed savings on the protection needed against the effects of firing it. The judgment is that those savings probably went too far and weakened aspects of hull integrity and operational safety.