Q&A · 24:33-25:09

An uncrewed Flower-class concept for future convoy escort

A future counterpart to the Flower-class corvette could be a trawler-sized uncrewed escort controlled within a screen led by a larger frigate or destroyer.

Question

What might the future equivalent of a Flower-class convoy escort look like?

Short answer

A trawler-sized uncrewed vessel acting as a force multiplier under the air-defence and command cover of a larger ship such as a Type 26 or Type 83.

Notes

The comparison is functional rather than visual. Flower-class corvettes gave wartime convoys numerous modest escorts; an uncrewed surface vessel could restore that distribution of hulls without demanding a full crew for each one. A larger combatant at the centre would provide command, overwatch, and air defence. The smaller vessels would widen the anti-submarine screen and multiply the area a convoy group could search.