Argus class Aircraft Carrier HMS Glorious

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It became so big that I'm spinning it off Alternative Warships of Nations into its own thread...

 

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Argus class aircraft carrier HMS Glorious

She was the last of 4 Argus class aircraft carriers ordered in 1951 and completed 1958-61. Her sister ships were Argus, Courageous and Furious.

They were built to the 35,000 ton aircraft carrier design which IOTL was proposed after the 1952 Carrier was abandoned. Although the dimensions are not known it is likely that they would have looked like an enlarged Victorious after her 1950-58 rebuild. Details that are available include that they would have had 3 shafts (like Victorious) but producing 135,000shp instead of 111,000shp. The defensive armament was four twin 3in/70 with MRS3 directors instead of six American twin 3in mountings as fitted to Victorious. The crew was 300 officers and 2,100 ratings, total 2,400 all ranks, the same as the rebuilt Victorious.

They were Standard A ships. This meant that they had the Type 984 radar with the Comprehensive Display System (CDS) (32 or 48 track) and Direct Plot Transmission (DPT); a fully angled flight deck; steam catapults (2 BS Mk 4 with lengths of at least 151 feet compared to 145 feet in Victorious) and Mk 13 arrester gear. This meant they could operate the Buccaneer, Scimitar and Sea Vixen.

They were designed to carry 47 aircraft made up of 12 Scimitars, 12 Sea Vixens, 9 Buccaneers, 8 AS Gannets, 4 AEW and 2 SAR helicopters. However, in practice they carried 38 aircraft made up 12 Scimitars (later 12 Buccaneers), 12 Sea Vixens, 8 Whirlwind HAS Mk 7 (later Wessex HAS Mk 1), 4 AEW Skyraiders (later Gannet AEW Mk 3) and 2 SAR helicopters.

POD January 1946. An even more austere Austerity Era forces the Admiralty to cancel Hermes and the cruisers Blake, Lion and Tiger which IOTL were suspended and then resumed in the early 1950s as part of the 1951 Rearmament Programme.

In common with OTL the Admiralty planned to modernise all 6 Illustrious class fleet carriers, but by 1948 it had decided that new ships would be more cost effective. It wanted to build four 53,000 ton carriers of the OTL 1952 Type instead of the 4 Illustrious rebuilds that were planned between 1948 and 1954. The Treasury would not provide the money, but it would provide the money for four 35,000 ton ships. The estimated cost in 1954 was £18 million per ship compared to £26 million for the 1952 Carrier so that four Argus class could have been built for the cost of three 1952 Carriers. All four ships took longer to build and cost more than planned, but it was still possible to pay for them with the money used to rebuild Victorious and complete Blake, Hermes, Lion and Tiger IOTL.

IOTL the aircraft carrier plan in 1951 was for 6 fleet carriers (Ark Royal, Eagle and 4 modernised Illustrious class) and 6 trade protection ships (4 Centaur and 2 Colossus class). The 1954 Defence Review reduced this to 3 fleet carriers (Ark Royal, Eagle and Victorious) and 3 trade protection ships (3 Centaur class with Hermes replacing Bulwark on completion). Then the 1957 Defence Review changed this to 5 strike carriers (Ark Royal, Centaur, Eagle, Hermes and Victorious) and 2 commando carriers (Albion and Bulwark).

ITTL the aircraft carrier plan in 1951 was for 6 fleet carriers (4 Argus class, Ark Royal and Eagle) and 6 trade protection ships (3 Centaur and 3 Colossus class). This was altered under the 1954 Defence Review to the 6 fleet carriers (4 Argus, Ark Royal and Eagle) as before, but upon the completion of the Argus class Centaur would replace Triumph as cadet training ship while Albion and Bulwark would replace Ocean and Theseus in the Home Fleet Training Squadron. The 1957 Defence Review retained all 9 ships, but the 6 fleet carriers became strike carriers and the 3 training carriers became commando carriers to conform to the new East of Suez strategy.

The extra strike carrier meant 4 would be available at all times and the extra commando carrier allowed 2 to be available at all times. This allowed 2 strike carriers and one commando carrier to be East of Suez at any one time.

IOTL the 5 strike carriers available in the first half of the 1960s had a combined capacity of 56 fighters and 44 strike aircraft (total 100 aircraft). That is Ark Royal 24, Centaur 12, Eagle 24, Hermes 16 and Victorious 24. However, because one ship was always having a long refit (Eagle 1959-64 followed by Hermes 1964-66) only 4 fighter and 4 strike squadrons were maintained. ITTL the 6 strike carriers available in the first half of the 1960s had a combined capacity of 72 Sea Vixens and 72 Buccaneers, but because 2 ships were permanently refitting the number of fighter and strike squadrons was still maintained at 4 of each, albeit with a standardised strength of 12 aircraft per squadron.

The price to pay for this improvement was a larger wages bill. The 5 strike carriers of OTL had a combined crew of over 10,700 (Ark Royal, Eagle and Victorious 2,400 each, Hermes 2,100 and Centaur 1,400). The 6 ships of TTL a combined crew of 14,400 for an increase of 3,700 and the third commando carrier needed about 1,000 men for her crew. However, IOTL Eagle was out of commission 1959-64 which reduced the manning requirement to 8,300 and when she was replaced by Hermes 1964-66 it only increased to 8,600. ITTL 2 of the 6 aircraft carriers were having long refits so about 9,600 sailors were required at any one time an increase of 1,000 to 1,300 over OTL. Similarly one of the 3 TTL commando carriers was always having a long refit.

IOTL the completion of Hermes in 1959 allowed Eagle to have a long refit to bring her up to Standard A. ITTL Courageous was completed in 1959 instead of Hermes, but Eagle still had her 1959-64 refit. ITTL the completion of Glorious in 1961 allowed Ark Royal to have a Standard A refit 1961-66, which was more extensive (and more expensive) than her 1967-70 refit of OTL.

As a result the Royal Navy had 6 Standard A strike carriers in 1966 instead of 2 Standard A (Eagle and Victorious), one Standard A-Star (Hermes) and 2 Standard C ships (Ark Royal and Centaur).

ITTL the 1959-64 refit of Eagle was followed by Courageous 1964-66, Glorious 1966-68 and Eagle again 1968-70. Meanwhile the TTL 1961-66 refit of Ark Royal was followed by Argus 1966-68, Furious 1968-70 and Ark Royal again 1970-72. These refits were paid for with the money spent of the 1964-66 refit of Hermes, the 1967-70 refit of Ark Royal and the conversions of Blake and Tiger to helicopter carriers.

The 1959-64 refit of Eagle and 1961-66 refit of Ark Royal included fitting the Type 984M radar which had solid state electronic components and Action Data Automation (ADA) was fitted instead of the CDS fitted to the Argus class. Ark Royal was Phantomised as part of her 1961-66 refit and Eagle had the necessary modifications as part of her 1968-70 refit.

ITTL instead of the P.1154RN 1962-64 and then the Spey-Phantom from 1964 a clean sheet of paper twin-Spey fighter was developed by Hawker Siddeley to replace the Sea Vixen in the Fleet Air Arm. This aircraft named the Spectre was capable of operating from the Argus class.

In 1960 IOTL the Admiralty decided to build five 53,000 ton strike carriers to replace the existing force between 1970 and 1980. ITTL the Royal Navy possessed six ships that could carry a useful number of Buccaneers and Spectres. The hulls and machinery of Ark Royal and Eagle would wear out in 1975, but the Argus class would be good until at least the first half of the 1980s. Therefore the replacement plan as at 1960 was for six 35,000 ton carriers with 24 fighters and strike aircraft aboard or three 60,000 ton ships with 48 fighters and strike aircraft aboard to enter service between 1975 and 1985.

The three big ships would be cheaper to build and to operate. However, the 35,000 ton design better suited the East of Suez strategy because six ships could cover more trouble spots and double up if necessary. Furthermore the 35,000 ton design had some export potential and the super carrier did not. There was no way that the operators of the Colossus and Majestic class aircraft carriers could afford the 60,000 ton design, but some of them might be able to afford the 35,000 ton design.

 

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Argus class aircraft carrier HMS Glorious - Part 2

As the order for the 2 aircraft carriers required to replace Eagle and Ark Royal did not have to be placed until 1970 there was no 1966 Defence Review and therefore no plan to phase out the existing aircraft carriers by the end of 1974. However, the next year it was still decided to withdraw from East of Suez by the end of 1974 and soon after the withdrawal date was brought forward to the end of 1971.

As 3 of the 6 carriers were needed to support the requirement to maintain 2 East of Suez this resulted in the decommissioning and scrapping of Ark Royal and Eagle in 1972 without replacement.

It also resulted in the sale of Argus to the Royal Australian Navy in 1973. She was renamed HMAS Australia to replace Melbourne and Sydney (still in service with a reduced crew as a fast transport). However, the Australians didn't buy any surplus Buccaneers or Spectres for her air group. Instead she was operated as a CVS with the Skyhawks, Trackers and Wessexes (later replaced by Sea Kings) previously operated by Melbourne.

This left 3 Argus class strike carriers and 3 Centaur class commando carriers in the Royal Navy with a requirement for the one-to-one replacement of all 6 ships. Unfortunately the British economy wasn't reading the script. The commando carriers were paid off in 1976 and plans for a replacement class abandoned under 1975 Defence Review which was necessary because of the recession created by the 1973 oil crisis.

However, programme to replace the Courageous, Furious and Glorious was unaffected. The replacement for Courageous named Indomitable was ordered in 1973, laid down the same year, launched in 1977 and completed in 1980. The replacement for Furious named Implacable was ordered in 1976, laid down the same year, launched in 1978 and completed in 1982. The final ship of the class named Indefatigable was ordered in 1978, laid down the same year, launched in 1981 and completed in 1985.

The RAN planned to buy an Indomitable to replace Australia (ex-Argus) in the middle of the 1980s. It was to have been built by Swan Hunter after Indefatigable. However, Indomitable became surplus to requirements as a result of the 1981 Defence Review and was to be transferred to the RAN when Indefatigable was completed. This plan was in turn cancelled after the Falklands War resulted in the British Government deciding to maintain a force of 3 strike carriers after all. A change of government in Australia resulted in HMAS Australia being paid off in May 1982 without replacement although her hull and machinery weren't expected to wear out until 1990.

 

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Argus class aircraft carrier HMS Glorious - Part 3

In Part 1 the strike carriers had their big refits as follows:

At Portsmouth

1961-66 Ark Royal
1966-68 Argus
1968-70 Furious
1970-72 Ark Royal​

At Devonport

1959-64 Eagle
1964-66 Courageous
1966-68 Glorious
1968-70 Eagle​

However, I wrote that before I decided that Ark Royal would be paid off in 1972 following the accelerated withdrawal from East of Suez.

As related before the 4 Argus class ships were competed with the same standard of electronics as the OTL Hermes as completed and Victorious as rebuilt. That is the Type 984 radar, the Comprehensive Display System (CDS) (AFAIK in its 24-track version) and Direct Plot Transmission (DPT). IOTL Eagle in her 1959-64 refit had a Type 984 version fitted and AFAIK this was an improved version with transistors instead of valves. Instead of CDS she received Action Data Information (ADA) which ran off 3 Ferranti Poseidon computers and (AFAIK) could track 48 targets. ITTL Ark Royal had her electronics upgraded to Eagle's standard in her 1961-66 refit. All 4 Argus class had their Type 984 "transistorised" and the CDS replaced by ADA as part of their 1960 long refits.

IOTL only 6 CDS systems went to sea because in addition to the ones fitted to Hermes and Eagle there were the systems fitted to the 4 County class Batch 1 guided missile destroyers. ITTL 20 went to sea. This consisted of 4 in the Argus class, 4 in the County class Batch 1 and 12 in the "fast" Type 41 anti-aircraft frigates built in place of the OTL Type 41, Type 61 and Battle class fleet picket conversions.

AFAIK only 11 Poseidon computers went to sea IOTL. That is the 3 in Eagle's ADA system and the pairs in the ADAWS Mk 1 systems fitted to the 4 County class Batch 2 guided missile destroyers. ITTL 64 went to sea made up of 18 spread among the 6 strike carriers, 8 in the 4 County class Batch 2, 16 in the 8 oldest Type 41s as part of their late 1960s modernisations and 20 in the 10 Leander class Batch 3. I'm hoping that the increase in the number built will reduce the unit cost significantly so that the cost of the extra systems wasn't prohibitive.

In the early 1970s consideration was given to fitting the Type 988 radar and ADAWS Mk 3 (planned for the OTL CVA.01) to the Argus class. The idea was rejected because the Indomitable class was expected to complete 1978-81 and the remaining service life of the Argus class did not justify the cost.

ITTL the RN planned to buy Hawker Siddeley P.139 AEW/Cod aircraft. However, the number of aircraft required was cut from 40 to 20 when the strike carrier force was cut from 6 to 3 ships as part of the East of Suez withdrawal. This made the purchase of 15 E-2C Hawkeyes and 5 C-2A Greyhounds more cost effective. They replaced the Gannets in 849 Naval Air Squadron in the middle of the 1970s. The squadron had a training flight and one flight of 4 Hawkeyes and one Greyhound detached to the 2 operational aircraft carriers, with the surplus aircraft either having an extended maintenance period or in the attrition reserve.

Although 3 strike carriers were retained after the withdrawal from East of Suez only 2 air groups were retained because one of the 3 ships was always refitting. Each air group consisted of 38 aircraft made up of:

a squadron of 12 Hawker Siddeley Spectre FG Mk 1 fighters
a squadron of 12 Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S Mk 2 strike aircraft
a squadron of 9 Westland Sea King HAS Mk 1 or 2 ASW helicopters and 3 Westland Whirlwind HAR Mk 9 helicopters for SAR and Vertrep
a flight of 4 Grumman Hawkeye AEW Mk 1 and one Grumman Greyhound COD Mk 1 for airborne early warning and carrier-on-board delivery respectively​

The Buccaneer squadrons were 800 and 809. The Spectre squadrons were 892 and 899. 736NAS the Buccaneer OCU and 767NAS the Spectre OCU were disbanded in 1972 and from then on FAA strike and fighter pilots did their operation conversion on these types with the RAF's Buccaneer and Spectre OCUs respectively.

The two ships present at the 1977 Review of the Fleet were Courageous and Furious because Glorious was refitting. Also present was HMAS Australia (formerly Argus) in place of HMAS Melbourne which was there IOTL.

 

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Argus class aircraft carrier HMS Glorious - Part 4 - Surface Combatants
Cruisers

The 3 Tiger class eventually completed 1959-61 IOTL were cancelled and scrapped in 1946 ITTL although they had been launched. 3 of the older Southampton and Colony class cruisers were run on until the middle of the 1960s instead.

In common with aircraft carriers the TTL Admiralty had decided that it was more cost effective to build new cruisers than rebuild the older ones. Therefore Belfast's 1955-59 refit of OTL didn't happen ITTL and neither did the rebuild of Swiftsure begun in 1956 and abandoned in 1960. The money and dockyard capacity released by not rebuilding these cruisers was used to accelerate the conversion of Triumph to a heavy repair ship. IOTL it was begun in 1956 but not completed until 1965. ITTL it was still begun in 1956 but was completed in 1960.

However, there was still not enough money to build any of the guided missile cruisers that were planned in the 1950s ITTL. There weren't any escort cruiser designs to succeed them because the Royal Navy was setting its sights lower. Rather than the force of 5 escort cruisers and 5 strike carriers of 53,000 tons planned in 1960 IOTL it realised that the Treasury would only provide the money to build (and man) 3 escort cruisers and 3 large strike carriers or no escort cruisers and 6 smaller strike carriers of the 35,000 ton type. The Admiralty decided to go for 6 strike carriers of the 35,000 ton type and not escort cruisers to support them because it was more flexible.

Large Destroyers

The Admiralty was forced to cancel all 16 Daring class destroyers at the end of World War II rather than only 8 of them. IOTL the 8 Darings that were built were completed 1952-54 and in ITTL their place was taken by re-commissioning the 8 Battle class destroyers that went into the Reserve Fleet in the late 1940s.

ITTL the Americans offered a licence on the Terrier and Tatar missile systems on favourable terms in the middle of the 1950s which led to the cancellation of Sea Slug in the 1954 Defence Review on the grounds that the American missiles would be in service sooner and cheaper. It didn't work out like that because the 8 County class destroyers built with the system ITTL didn't enter service any earlier and they weren't any cheaper to build. OTOH the TTL County class carried 60 Terriers instead of 30 Sea Slugs due to the more efficient stowage system. Furthermore the American target indication radars were lighter than the Type 901 which enabled 2 to be fitted instead of one so they could engage twice as many targets. The Mk 10 launchers fitted to the TTL County class were also capable of firing the ASROC which was built under licence in Australia instead of Ikara.

The 4 Batch 1 ships were fitted with Terrier, but the 4 Batch 2 ships were fitted to fire the Standard SM-1ER missile. The licence to build the American missiles included export rights in the Commonwealth (less Canada) and Europe (less France and Spain). Thus the Dutch and Italian cruisers fitted with Terrier in the 1960s were fitted with British built Terrier systems. The Australian, Dutch, German and Italian guided missile destroyers and frigates built in the 1960s and 1970s were also fitted with British built Tatar or Standard MR systems.

ITTL the requirement was for 2 Terrier/Standard ER armed destroyers per strike carrier for a total of 12. Originally the plan was to build 4 County class Batch 3 with the Standard ER missile and ADAWS Mk 2. However, this was replaced by the Heavy Destroyer project. This was effectively an Anglicised Kidd class destroyer. The main armament was two Mk 26 launchers each fed by a 44-round magazine. 4 SPG-51 target indicator radars were fitted so it could engage twice as many aircraft as the TTL County and OTL Type 82 destroyer. The Anglicisation was that the Type 988 radar replaced the American SPS-48 radar, one single 4.5" Mk 8 gun replaced the 2 single 5" mountings and 4 Olympus gas turbines replaced the American LM2500 units. It would have been possible to replace the Mk 26 launchers and their magazines with a pair of 61-cell Mk 41 launchers and give them the New Threat Upgrade or Aegis in the 1980s.

As at 1966 the plan was to build 12 of these ships. That is 4 to build which would be ordered in 1967 to bring the GMD force up to the required strength of 12 ships. Then 8 would be built to replace the County class as new ships were considered more cost effective than upgrading the Counties. However, the order for the first 4 was deferred in 1966 and the entire class was cancelled a year later when it was decided to reduce the strike carrier force from 6 ships to 3 when the withdrawal from East of Suez was completed.

The plan to modernise the 8 County Batch 1 and 2 ships to Batch 3 standard was revived. The Batch 1 ships were modernised first and the Batch 2 ships were actually brought up to Batch 4 standard with the Type 2016 sonar instead of the Type 184 and a more advanced ADAWS system than the Mk 2. Although not as capable as the projected Heavy Destroyer and just as expensive to run the modernised Counties of TTL were a great improvement over the OTL Counties. All 8 ships enjoyed much longer service lives in spite of the large crews needed for them.

Small Destroyers and Frigates

ITTL 60 AS versions of the Type 12 were built in place of the 41 Type 12, 12 Type 14 and 7 Type 81 built IOTL. Because I have wanked the development of light helicopters for the Royal Navy the first 18 built (instead of the 6 Whitby and 12 Type 14 frigates) looked like the OTL Rothesay class after their 1966-72 refits (less the Sea Cat). These were followed by 42 Leanders built in place of the 9 Rothesays, 26 Leanders and 7 Type 81s built IOTL.

ITTL 12 AA versions of the Type 12 were built in place of the OTL Type 41, Type 61 and Battle class fleet picket conversions. The TTL version of Type 41 had the Whitby class hull and machinery. They had the same armament as the OTL Type 41 but more aircraft direction capability than the OTL Type 61 because the larger hull allowed a height finding radar and the 6-track CDS to be fitted. Unlike the real Types 41 and 61 the TTL version was fast enough to work with the strike carriers, which is why 4 extra ships were built instead of the Battle class fleet picket conversions. As they were more useful than the OTL ships the first 8 were fitted with the small ship version of ADA in the second half of the 1960s and the ships built in place of the 4 Battle class conversions had ADAWS Mk 4 fitted in the early 1970s.

ITTL the Indian Navy bought 8 Type 12 in place of the 2 Type 12, 3 Type 14 and 3 Type 41 they bought IOTL. The RNZN bought 4 Leanders instead of the OTL 2 Rothesays and 2 Leanders. The SAN bought 3 Leanders instead of the 3 Rothesays of OTL. Chile bought 2 Leandres as OTL. The RNLN bought 6 Leanders built in Dutch yards as OTL. Finally as OTL the RAN bought 6 Type 12s built in their own yards, but instead of the hangar and flight deck for a Wasp helicopter their River class were completed with an Australian built ASROC launcher.

ITTL there was no Ikara modernisation of the Leander class because there was no Ikara. Instead all 42 Leanders built for the RN ITTL were fitted with ADAWS Mk 5 and 6 anti-submarine torpedo tubes. The Limbo AS mortar was removed so that the Wasp helicopter could be replaced by the Lynx.

ITTL the RN planned to follow the Leander class with a Standard MR armed frigate propelled by all gas turbine machinery. However, it grew into a small destroyer and was named the Light Destroyer to distinguish it from the Standard ER armed Heavy Destroyer. It had an enlarged Type 42 Batch III hull with uprated Olympus and Tyne gas turbines (possibly GOGAG instead of COGOG) to maintain the OTL speed. The first 14 Light Destroyers were armed with one 4.5" Mk 8 gun, one Mk 13 launcher serving a magazine for 40 Standard MR or Harpoon missiles and 6 anti-submarine torpedo tubes. However, the hull was large enough for a pair of Phalanx CIWS and 8 Harpoon missiles to be fitted later on. The hangar and flight deck large enough for one Merlin or 2 Lynx helicopters.

14 Light Destroyers Batch 1 were built in place of the 8 Type 21 and 6 Type 42 Batch 1 ships even though they were more expensive than the OTL ships. 8 Batch 2 ships were built instead of the 4 Type 22 Batch 1 and 4 Type 42 Batch 2. 14 Batch 3 were built instead of the 6 Type 22 Batch 2, 4 Type 22 Batch 3 and 4 Type 42 Batch 3 ships. This brought the total built for the Royal Navy up to 36 in 3 batches.

The 14 Light Destroyers Batch 1 had the OTL Type 42 Batch 1 electronics, that is ADAWS Mk 4, the Type 965P radar, the Type 184M sonar and a pair of SPG-51 radars in place of the Type 909 target indicator sets. Subsequent batches received ADAWS Mk 7, the Type 1022 radar, the Types 2031 and 2050 sonar as and when they became available IOTL.

The money spent on developing Sea Dart and Sea Wolf IOTL was spent on improving the Anglicised Standard Missile system ITTL. This included a British equivalent to the New Threat Upgrade which was installed on the 14 Batch 3 Light Destroyers and refitted to the surviving Batch 1 and 2 ships. The destroyers and frigates bought by the Australians, Dutch and Italians in the 1980s that were fitted with American built Standard MR systems would have had British built ones ITTL, which might have included the British NTU equivalent. The 16 Type 23 frigates of TTL had a Mk 41 launcher firing Standard MR missiles in place of the VL Sea Wolf system and probably had the British equivalent of the NTU too.

In common with OTL sale of 2 Type 42s to Argentina, one Light Destroyer was built in the UK and another built in Argentina ITTL. Also in common with OTL the Australians cancelled plans to build up to 10 Light Destroyers in their own yards, but then bought 4 from British yards, instead of 4 American built Perry class patrol frigates. The Australians then planned to build 6 Light Destroyers in their own yards instead of the 6 Australian built Perry class planned IOTL, but in the event only 2 were built.

 

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Argus class aircraft carrier HMS Glorious - Part 5 - The 1970s

After Argus, Ark Royal and Eagle were paid off in 1972 the Three Follies as the RAF along with the anti-carrier elements in Parliament and the Media had dubbed Courageous, Furious and Glorious carried on with two ships in full-commission and the third in refit or reserve. Although the normal air group was 38 aircraft (12 Spectres, 12 Buccaneers, 4 Hawkeyes, one Greyhound and 9 Sea Kings) another 6 to 9 Spectres or Buccaneers could be squeezed in. The extra aircraft were often carried during exercises and were provided by the naval elements of the RAF's Buccaneer and Spectre operational conversion units. By 1980 the Spectres were armed with 4 Sky Flash and 4 Sidewinder anti-aircraft missiles and a pair of 30mm cannon.

The early paying off of Ark Royal resulted in Glorious taking her place in the 1976 BBCTV fly-on-the-wall documentary series Sailor. Another minor change to history is that all 3 ships were extras in the BBCTV drama series Warship about HMS Hero a fictional Leander class frigate. One of Hero's commanding officers was Commander Alan Glenn, a former Fleet Air Arm fighter pilot, portrayed by Bryan Marshall. IOTL his previous posting to HMS Hero was a Phantom pilot on Ark Royal, but ITTL it would have been a Spectre pilot on Glorious. I have a hazy memory of the scene where he received news of his appointment taking place on Ark Royal so ITTL it would have been filmed aboard Glorious.

Courageous paid off at the end of 1978 to provide the crew for Indomitable, which was due to commission the following year. Furious paid off in 1981 to provide the crew for Implacable, which was due to commission in 1982. At that time Glorious was due to pay off after Implacable had completed her working up. Then she would go into the Standby Squadron at Chatham and only be moved onto the Disposal List when Indefatigable completed her working up, which at that time was expected to be in 1984. Then the Royal Navy would have Implacable and Indefatigable in full commission, which would allow Indomitable to pay off for her first long refit.

Then the 1981 Defence Review happened.

The strike carrier force was to be reduced from the current force of 3 would be reduced to 2. Under the current system one ship was always in refit/reserve so that one would always be available in peace and two in war. Under the new system there would be periods when no ships would be available in peace and only one usually available in war. However, the current force of 2 air groups would be retained.

Under the new plans Glorious would be paid off and scrapped after Implacable completed working up instead of spending a few years in reserve pending the completion and working up of Indefatigable. Indomitable was sold to Australia, but the actual transfer would not take place until Indefatigable was completed.

Meanwhile the Albion, Bulwark and Centaur, which had been converted to commando carriers under the 1957 Defence Review and survived the withdrawal from East of Suez were paid off in 1976 as a result of the 1975 Defence Review, which also cancelled the planned class or replacement ships. All 3 ships went straight onto the Disposal List and had gone to the breakers by 2nd April 1982.

The former light fleet carrier HMS Triumph, which ITTL completed its conversion to heavy repair ship by 1960 instead of 1965 was also paid off as a result of the 1975 Defence Review and plans to build a replacement ship were abandoned too. My copy of British Warships and Auxiliaries 1981 by Mike Critchley would say that she was in the Reserve Fleet at Chatham (for Disposal) in both timelines. Scrapping began between then and 2nd April 1982.

The Landing Platforms Dock (LPD) Fearless and Intrepid also survived the 1960 defence cuts. However, they ceased to be fully operational warships following the 1975 Defence Review. One ship was always in refit/reserve and was rotated with the other which became the cadet training ship. They replaced the frigates in the Dartmouth Training Squadron, which had in turn replaced Triumph in the cadet training role in the 1950s. Both ships were to be discarded without replacement under the 1981 Defence Review, but this had not been carried out at 2nd April 1982.

IOTL Blake and Tiger were paid off at the end of the 1970s to provide the crews for Bulwark and Hermes after it had been decided to retain them until the Invincible class through deck cruisers were completed. British Warships and Auxiliaries 1981 said that Blake was in reserve and Tiger was for disposal. Neither ship appeared in the TTL version of the book because they were scrapped incomplete in 1946 along with Lion.

In the middle of the 1960s there were about 80 destroyers and frigates in commission, which the withdrawal from East of Suez reduced to 70. The 1975 Defence Review reduced this to 60 and the 1981 Defence Review reduced it to 42 plus 8 in reserve.

According to my copy of British Warships and Auxiliaries 1981 there were 55 destroyers and frigates in full commission plus 3 on trials and training duties and 12 in the Standby Squadron at Chatham as follows:

6 large guided missile destroyers (Bristol and 5 Counties) all in commission plus one County (Kent) as a harbour training ship
19 modern "frigoyers" (8 Type 21, 3 Type 22 and 8 Type 42) plus 9 building (3 Type 22 and 6 Type 22)
26 Leander class frigates of which 25 were in commission and the 26th was in the Standby Squadron at Chatham
9 Rothesay class frigate of which 5 were in commission, 2 were trials and training ships and 2 were in the Standby Squadron at Chatham
1 Whitby class in service as a training ship plus one (Eastbourne) as a harbour training ship
7 Tribal class in the Standby Squadron at Chatham
1 Type 41 in the Standby Squadron at Chatham
1 Type 61 in the Standby Squadron at Chatham plus one (Salisbury) as an accommodation ship.​

In addition to the above there was also one Daring class destroyer and 3 Type 14 frigates on harbour service.

The TTL copy of that book would still have shown 70 destroyers and frigates of which 55 were in full commission, 3 were trials and training ships and 12 were in the Standby Squadron. However, the composition of that force would be different as follows:

8 County class "heavy" destroyers, all in full commission
19 Light Destroyers (in place of the Type 21, 22 and 42) with 9 more building
42 Leander class frigates of which 28 were in full commission, one was a training ship, one was a trials ship and 12 were in the Standby Squadron at Chatham
1 Whitby class frigate as a training ship plus another 6 as harbour training or accommodation ships​

In addition to the above there would be one Battle class destroyer on harbour service instead of the Daring class ship of OTL.

Also note that all 8 Counties had retained both twin 4.5" gun turrets and all 42 Leanders still had their twin 4.5" turret because none of them had them removed to make way for Exocet SSMs or the Ikara anti-submarine missile. All 19 Light Destroyers had been fitted with 8 Harpoon SSM.

IOTL there were 14 "frigoyers" armed with area defence SAM systems (5 Counties with Seaslug, Bristol with Sea Dart and 8 Type 42 with Sea Dart). ITTL the force was nearly doubled to 27 made up of 8 Counties armed with Standard SM-1ER (plus 2 target indicator radars instead of one in the OTL ships) and 19 Light Destroyers armed with Standard SM-1MR (with 2 target indicator radars like the OTL Type 42). They also had a better air search radar than the Type 965. They were either fitted with licence built SPS-48 radars or the Type 1022 or even the Type 1030. This was possible because there was no Sea Wolf and therefore no Type 967/968 radar. Therefore the money and design resources could be concentrated on Types 1022 and 1030.

 

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Aircraft Carriers

IOTL the task force was built around Hermes and Invincible carrying 20 Sea Harriers between them plus 2 squadrons of ASW Sea Kings plus some troop carrying Sea King and Wessex helicopters aboard Hermes.

ITTL the task force was built around Glorious and Indomitable carrying 24 Spectres, 24 Buccaneers, 18 ASW Sea Kings and 8 Hawkeyes between them. They probably landed their SAR helicopters and Greyhound cod aircraft at Ascension Island to help make room for more Spectres and Buccaneers. The Spectres would have similar performance to the OTL Spey Phantom and be armed with 4 Sky Flash and 4 Sidewiner air-to-air missiles.

Indomitable which takes the place of Invincible has the same electronics as the OTL ship including ADAWS Mk 6 and the Type 1022 radar. but she doesn't have Sea Dart like Invincible did. In fact apart from some single 40mm Bofors guns she has no fixed armament. She was fitted for 3 Phalanx CIWS, which she wasn't due to receive until her first major refit, which wasn't due until Indefatigable completed and was cancelled after the sale to Australia was announced anyway. It had been intended that the ship would be completed with the Standard SM-1 missile with two SPG-51 radars and a magazine for 40 missiles. However, this was deleted before the ship was ordered because she would be escorted by enough ships armed with area defence SAMs.

Glorious which takes the place of Hermes still has her Type 984 radar, but it had its valves replaced by transistors in her 1966-68 refit. The CDS was replaced by Action Data Automation in the same refit. Her fixed armament was still eight 3" guns in four twin turrets of the type fitted to the Tiger class IOTL. Therefore AFAIK Glorious had better electronics and a heavier fixed armament than Hermes in the Falklands.

Destroyers and Frigates

AFAIK the ships of these types involved in the war were:

County class Antrim and Glamorgan (2)
Type 82 Bristol (1)

Type 42 Sheffield, Coventry, Exeter, Glasgow and Cardiff (5)
Type 21 Avenger, Ardent, Antelope, Arrow and Alacrity directly involved (5)
Type 21 Active and Ambuscade involved in supporting operations (2)
Type 22 Broadsword and Brilliant (2)

Type 12 Leander class Andromeda, Argonaut, Minerva and Penelope (4)
Type 12 Rohesay class Plymouth and Yarmouth (2)​

That is 21 ships in the main task force and 2 ships involved in subsidiary operations. Of these 2 ships were armed with Sea Slug Mk 2, 7 ships (including Invincible) were armed with Sea Dart and 3 ships were armed with Sea Wolf.

ITTL there would be roughly the same number of ships as follows:

4 ALT County class
12 Light Destroyers plus 2 on subsidiary operations
6 Leander class​

The 4 ALT County class (which were the quartet built in place of the 4 OTL Batch 2 ships) formed the close escort of the strike carriers.

As related before the ALT County Batch 1 was armed with Terrier in place of Seaslug Mk 1 and Standard SM-1ER was substituted for Seaslug Mk 2 in the Batch 2 version. Other changes were that 2 licence built SPG-55 radars were carried instead of the single Type 901 and the magazine could accommodate a mix of 60 Asroc, Standard and Terrier missiles instead of the 30 Seaslugs IOTL. However, these changes might have required a larger hull and more powerful machinery.

My guess is that in 1982 their magazines would normally have been filled with 12 Asroc and 48 Standard missiles, but the Asrocs would have been replaced with more Standards for the Falklands as the air threat was considered to be greater than the submarine threat.

Their mid-life refit had brought them up to "Batch 4" standard. The Type 965 radar was replaced by a Type 1022, ADAWS Mk 1 was replaced by ADAWS Mk 6 or 7 and the Type 184 sonar was replaced by the Type 2016. If they were lighter a pair of SPG-51 radars might have replaced the SPG-55 radars originally fitted. ITTL the Batch 2 ships did not have one of their 4.5" Mk 6 turrets removed to make way for Exocet SSMs. They also had a pair of Sea Cat SAM systems as OTL.

The Light Destroyers that replaced Types 21, 22 and 42 were crosses between the OTL Type 42 Batch 3 and the proposed Australian Light Destroyer. They were armed with one 4.5" Mk 8 gun, 6 lightweight anti-submarine torpedo tubes, 8 Harpoon SSM in two quadruple launchers and 40 Standard SM-1MR missiles fired from a single Mk 13 launcher. The larger hull required also meant there was space for a hangar and flight deck large enough for 2 Lynx or one Merlin size helicopter.

The 14 Batch 1 ships built instead of the OTL Type 21 and Type 42 Batch 1 should have had ADAWS Mk 4, the Type 965P radar, the Type 184M sonar and a pair of SPG-51 target indicator radars. The 8 Batch 2 ships built instead of the Type 22 Batch 1 and Type 42 Batch 2 had ADAWS Mk 7, Type 1022 radar in place of the Type 965P and Type 2016 sonar in place of the Type 184M. However, because these ships took longer to build than intended it would be possible for at least the last 4 Batch 1 ships to be completed with the Type 1022 and I also think that the other ships would have had the Type 1022 installed in refits by April 1982.

Thus the task force had 16 ships firing air defence SAMs (4 Standard ER and 12 Standard MR) instead of 9 IOTL (of which 9 had Sea Dart and 2 Seaslug).

IOTL the Leander class frigate Andromeda had been fitted with Sea Wolf and the other 3 Leanders that took part were the "Exocet" version. ITTL the 6 Leanders that were part of the task force had one twin 4.5" Mk 6 gun turret, 6 lightweight ASW torpedo tubes and one Sea Cat SAM system plus a hangar and flight deck capable of accommodating a Lynx helicopter. I had previously written that ADAWS Mk 5 would have been fitted, but I now think they would have been fitted with CAAIS which AFAIK was cheaper. The cheaper refits of TTL are because I think that given the remaining live of the hulls it would have been more cost effective to build more new ships instead of the refitting the Leanders to the standard of OTL. However, ITTL instead of more ships I have used the money to build better ships in the form of the Light Destroyer which combines the ASW capability of the Type 22 with the AAW capability of the Type 42.

 

[Some Bloke]

Would the type 81 even be conceived here?

 

[NOMISYRRUC]

Would the type 81 even be conceived here?

It might have been designed, but it wasn't built.

ITTL 60 AS versions of the Type 12 were built in place of the 41 Type 12, 12 Type 14 and 7 Type 81 built IOTL. Because I have wanked the development of light helicopters for the Royal Navy the first 18 built (instead of the 6 Whitby and 12 Type 14 frigates) looked like the OTL Rothesay class after their 1966-72 refits (less the Sea Cat). These were followed by 42 Leanders built in place of the 9 Rothesays, 26 Leanders and 7 Type 81s built IOTL.

 

[KillerT]

Personally I would as it's a logical extension of the Counties suitably updated, in this case probably mounting two SM1/2ER launchers in place of Ikara and Sea Dart. Hmm got the escort cruiser after all...

 

[NOMISYRRUC]

Personally I would as it's a logical extension of the Counties suitably updated, in this case probably mounting two SM1/2ER launchers in place of Ikara and Sea Dart. Hmm got the escort cruiser after all...

Do you mean along the lines of this?

ITTL the requirement was for 2 Terrier/Standard ER armed destroyers per strike carrier for a total of 12. Originally the plan was to build 4 County class Batch 3 with the Standard ER missile and ADAWS Mk 2. However, this was replaced by the Heavy Destroyer project. This was effectively an Anglicised Kidd class destroyer. The main armament was two Mk 26 launchers each fed by a 44-round magazine. 4 SPG-51 target indicator radars were fitted so it could engage twice as many aircraft as the TTL County and OTL Type 82 destroyer. The Anglicisation was that the Type 988 radar replaced the American SPS-48 radar, one single 4.5" Mk 8 gun replaced the 2 single 5" mountings and 4 Olympus gas turbines replaced the American LM2500 units. It would have been possible to replace the Mk 26 launchers and their magazines with a pair of 61-cell Mk 41 launchers and give them the New Threat Upgrade or Aegis in the 1980s.

As at 1966 the plan was to build 12 of these ships. That is 4 to build which would be ordered in 1967 to bring the GMD force up to the required strength of 12 ships. Then 8 would be built to replace the County class as new ships were considered more cost effective than upgrading the Counties. However, the order for the first 4 was deferred in 1966 and the entire class was cancelled a year later when it was decided to reduce the strike carrier force from 6 ships to 3 when the withdrawal from East of Suez was completed.

 

[KillerT]

Sort of, although I'd have a slightly longer hull, revised gun armament, improved helicopter provision, but then maybe better waiting until your TL Type 43 pops up?

As an aside Someone on shipbucket did a rather vicious looking County mounting a 6in gun in a new Mk28 turret, extra long helideck and hangar.

 

[NOMISYRRUC]

I was going to have one of my Heavy Destroyers built instead of HMS Bristol but decided to put the money towards the County class Batch 1 modernisations.