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== Design ==
== Design ==
These ships were designed to provide anti-aircraft escorts to convoys and light fleet aircraft carriers of the Sydney and Virkant class and act as light destroyers on detached duties, as a result they were not built for fleet carrier task force speed, 28 knots of RN Victorious and Audacious class and made only {{convert|24|kn|km/h}}.They were designed in late WW2 and immediately after as part of the 1944 project for a common hull A/S. A/A and A/D frigates and the legned and design of the Type 41 was completed by December 1947 <ref> D.K. Brown & G. Moore. Rebuidling the Royal Navy. Naval Design since 1945. Seaforth. Barnssley (2013) p 74 </ref> Unlike other post war frigates the Type 41 had a full destroyer armament of Two twin Mk 6 4.5 turrets and were far more powerful than the late 1940s RN Battle class or Weapon class destroyers. Like the RAN (1950) Battle class variant - ( actually the Royal Navy variant, for war emergency production) and the unbuilt 1942- 2 turret RN G destroyer, which the 1944 Common hull escort closely resembles (shipyards building the T41, like Dennys Glasgow yard had been provided with the full Gallant class, 1944 ship plan ,<ref>I. Buxton. Shiyard Apprentice. Ships Monthly 4/2019,p36 &39 </ref>, the Type 41 used the latest twin RN Mk 6 semi auto 4.5 turets, and with diesel electric propulsion they achieved long range and low fuel use.The first production orders were in 1951/2 and 1952/3 programmes and In 1953 11 Type 41s with additional names like Cougar and Cheetah were planned along with 10 Type 61 frigates, <ref> Brown & Moore (2012)p 73-4 </ref>. They shared a common hull and machinery with the [[Salisbury class frigate|Type 61 or ''Salisbury'' class]] aircraft direction vessels. The radar fit of the Salisbury AD frigates was when introduced was largely identical, to the Reconstructed Dido class AD cruiser Royalist, while the Type 41 radar fit emphasised surface fighting not AW/AA/AD, HMS Leopard has a navigation radar, and the new 992 for long range surface target indication and 960M for LRAW while in the T61 had 4 LRAW systems, 293, 977M, 960M and 982M. An intended anti-submarine version, the Type 11 class (see [[Type system of the Royal Navy]]), was cancelled due to the low top speed being insufficient to combat contemporary adversaries, although in reality frigates and destroyers, moving at more than 25 knots create turbulence which blinds their own sonars and can only engage fast moving subs by using a helicopter with its own sonar or an observer able to see the sub thru a translucent ocean.The type 41s were still fitted with the best late 1950s RN sonar 170 and 174 which was still a good passive sonar in the 1970s but they had only minimal a/s mortar. By 1955 success had been achieved, with difficulty and limitations in developing new steam turbines giving 30 knot speed and the range to take convoys across the Atlantic, for [[Whitby class frigate|Type 12]]. As a result the orders for the new diesel frigates were cancelled or changed to orders for Type 12 or sold to India. Within a few years of the Type 41's introduction in the late 1950s they were regarded as obsolete for their intended function as anti aircraft convoy escorts, particularly, as the planned fitting of two twin 3/70 Mk 6 AA guns to replace the interim twin 4.5 Mk 6 was abandoned in Jan 1955, due to cost and the view AA guns were obsolete, against jets and missiles <ref> Brown & Moore. Rebilding the RN (2012) p 73-74 & N, Friedman. British Destroyers and Frigates after WW2. Seaforth. Barnsley (2012) p 208-211 </ref> and the failure of the power ramming for the twin 4.5 inch guns intended to boost the rate of fire from 14rpm to 24rpm, the abandonment of their STAAG, CIWS mount and replacement of the experimental version of the fast rotating 992 target indicators with the slower onto the screen standard cheese 993. Only a short range 262 radar MRS1 provided secondary AA fire control for the main armament.
These ships were designed to provide anti-aircraft escorts to convoys and light fleet aircraft carriers of the Sydney and Virkant class and act as light destroyers on detached duties, as a result they were not built for fleet carrier task force speed, 28 knots of RN Victorious and Audacious class and made only {{convert|24|kn|km/h}}.They were designed in late WW2 and immediately after as part of the 1944 project for a common hull A/S. A/A and A/D frigates and the legend and design of the Type 41 was completed by December 1947 <ref> D.K. Brown & G. Moore. Rebuidling the Royal Navy. Naval Design since 1945. Seaforth. Barnssley (2013) p 74 </ref> Unlike other post war frigates the Type 41 had a full destroyer armament of Two twin Mk 6 4.5 turrets and were far more powerful than the late 1940s RN Battle class or Weapon class destroyers. Like the RAN (1950) Battle class variant - ( actually the Royal Navy variant, for war emergency production) and the unbuilt 1942- 2 turret RN G destroyer, which the 1944 Common hull escort closely resembles (shipyards building the T41, like Dennys Glasgow yard had been provided with the full Gallant class, 1944 ship plan ,<ref>I. Buxton. Shiyard Apprentice. Ships Monthly 4/2019,p36 &39 </ref>, the Type 41 used the latest twin RN Mk 6 semi auto 4.5 turets, and with diesel electric propulsion they achieved long range and low fuel use.The first production orders were in 1951/2 and 1952/3 programmes and In 1953 11 Type 41s with additional names like Cougar and Cheetah were planned along with 10 Type 61 frigates, <ref> Brown & Moore (2012)p 73-4 </ref>. They shared a common hull and machinery with the [[Salisbury class frigate|Type 61 or ''Salisbury'' class]] aircraft direction vessels. The radar fit of the Salisbury AD frigates was when introduced was largely identical, to the Reconstructed Dido class AD cruiser Royalist, while the Type 41 radar fit emphasised surface fighting not AW/AA/AD, HMS Leopard has a navigation radar, and the new 992 for long range surface target indication and 960M for LRAW while in the T61 had 4 LRAW systems, 293, 977M, 960M and 982M. An intended anti-submarine version, the Type 11 class (see [[Type system of the Royal Navy]]), was cancelled due to the 25 knot top speed, being insufficient to exercise and run with fast carrier task forces, particularly with HMS Eagle, the flagship, commisioned in 1951. However in a real war, frigates and destroyers, moving at more than 25 knots create turbulence which blinds their own sonars and can only engage fast moving subs by using a helicopter with its own sonar or an observer able to see the sub thru a translucent ocean.The type 41s were still fitted with the best late 1950s RN sonar 170 and 174 which was still a good passive sonar in the 1970s but they had only minimal a/s mortar. By 1955 success had been achieved, with difficulty and limitations in developing new steam turbines giving 30 knot speed and the range to take convoys across the Atlantic, for [[Whitby class frigate|Type 12]]. As a result the orders for the new diesel frigates were cancelled or changed to orders for Type 12 or sold to India. Within a few years of the Type 41's introduction in the late 1950s they were regarded as obsolete for their intended function as anti aircraft convoy escorts, particularly, as the planned fitting of two twin 3/70 Mk 6 AA guns to replace the interim twin 4.5 Mk 6 was abandoned in Jan 1955, due to cost and the view AA guns were obsolete, against jets and missiles <ref> Brown & Moore. Rebilding the RN (2012) p 73-74 & N, Friedman. British Destroyers and Frigates after WW2. Seaforth. Barnsley (2012) p 208-211 </ref> and the failure of the power ramming for the twin 4.5 inch guns intended to boost the rate of fire from 14rpm to 24rpm, the abandonment of their STAAG, CIWS mount and replacement of the experimental version of the fast rotating 992 target indicators with the slower onto the screen standard cheese 993. Only a short range 262 radar MRS1 provided secondary AA fire control for the main armament.


The ''Leopard'' class was also fitted with an early type of hydraulic stabiliser system consisting of two fins that could be extended outside the main hull to port and starboard, from a compartment between the two engine rooms. Gyro controlled with a relatively simple control system, they proved very effective in use. During testing every 3 months at sea, the ship could be easily driven into a 20°+ roll from the manual control on the bridge. Prior warning had to be given to allow stowage of loose items over the ship's tannoy system before testing was carried out. Slight reduction in top speed was also noticed when in use.
The ''Leopard'' class was also fitted with an early type of hydraulic stabiliser system consisting of two fins that could be extended outside the main hull to port and starboard, from a compartment between the two engine rooms. Gyro controlled with a relatively simple control system, they proved very effective in use. During testing every 3 months at sea, the ship could be easily driven into a 20°+ roll from the manual control on the bridge. Prior warning had to be given to allow stowage of loose items over the ship's tannoy system before testing was carried out. Slight reduction in top speed was also noticed when in use.

Revision as of 03:35, 4 September 2019

Leopard class
HMS Jaguar (F37)
Class overview
Operators
Built1953–1960
In commission
  • 1957-1982 (British service)
  • 1958-1992 (Indian service)
  • 1978-2013 (Bangladesh service)
Planned5 British & 3 Indian
Completed4 British & 3 Indian
Cancelled1 British
Retired7
General characteristics
TypeAir Defence Frigate
Displacement
  • 2,300 long tons (2,337 t) standard
  • 2,520 long tons (2,560 t) full load
Length340 ft (100 m) o/a
Beam40 ft (12 m)
Draught16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion
  • 8 × Admiralty Standard Range ASR1 diesels, 14,400 shp (10,738 kW), 2 shafts
  • 220 tons oil fuel[1]
Speed24 knots (28 mph; 44 km/h)
Range7,500 nmi (13,900 km) at 16 kn (30 km/h)
Complement205 or 235
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Type 960 air search radar, later;
  • Type 965 AKE-1 air search radar
  • Type 293Q target indication radar, later;
  • Type 993 target indication radar
  • Type 277Q height finding radar
  • Type 974 navigation radar
  • Type 285 fire control radar on director Mark 6M
  • Type 262 fire control radar on director CRBF
  • Type 262 fire control radar on STAAG mount
  • Type 1010 Cossor Mark 10 IFF
  • Type 174 search sonar
  • Type 164 attack sonar
Armament

The Type 41 or Leopard class were a class of anti-aircraft defence frigates built for the Royal Navy (4 ships) and Indian Navy (3 ships) in the 1950s.[2][3]

Design

These ships were designed to provide anti-aircraft escorts to convoys and light fleet aircraft carriers of the Sydney and Virkant class and act as light destroyers on detached duties, as a result they were not built for fleet carrier task force speed, 28 knots of RN Victorious and Audacious class and made only 24 knots (44 km/h).They were designed in late WW2 and immediately after as part of the 1944 project for a common hull A/S. A/A and A/D frigates and the legend and design of the Type 41 was completed by December 1947 [4] Unlike other post war frigates the Type 41 had a full destroyer armament of Two twin Mk 6 4.5 turrets and were far more powerful than the late 1940s RN Battle class or Weapon class destroyers. Like the RAN (1950) Battle class variant - ( actually the Royal Navy variant, for war emergency production) and the unbuilt 1942- 2 turret RN G destroyer, which the 1944 Common hull escort closely resembles (shipyards building the T41, like Dennys Glasgow yard had been provided with the full Gallant class, 1944 ship plan ,[5], the Type 41 used the latest twin RN Mk 6 semi auto 4.5 turets, and with diesel electric propulsion they achieved long range and low fuel use.The first production orders were in 1951/2 and 1952/3 programmes and In 1953 11 Type 41s with additional names like Cougar and Cheetah were planned along with 10 Type 61 frigates, [6]. They shared a common hull and machinery with the Type 61 or Salisbury class aircraft direction vessels. The radar fit of the Salisbury AD frigates was when introduced was largely identical, to the Reconstructed Dido class AD cruiser Royalist, while the Type 41 radar fit emphasised surface fighting not AW/AA/AD, HMS Leopard has a navigation radar, and the new 992 for long range surface target indication and 960M for LRAW while in the T61 had 4 LRAW systems, 293, 977M, 960M and 982M. An intended anti-submarine version, the Type 11 class (see Type system of the Royal Navy), was cancelled due to the 25 knot top speed, being insufficient to exercise and run with fast carrier task forces, particularly with HMS Eagle, the flagship, commisioned in 1951. However in a real war, frigates and destroyers, moving at more than 25 knots create turbulence which blinds their own sonars and can only engage fast moving subs by using a helicopter with its own sonar or an observer able to see the sub thru a translucent ocean.The type 41s were still fitted with the best late 1950s RN sonar 170 and 174 which was still a good passive sonar in the 1970s but they had only minimal a/s mortar. By 1955 success had been achieved, with difficulty and limitations in developing new steam turbines giving 30 knot speed and the range to take convoys across the Atlantic, for Type 12. As a result the orders for the new diesel frigates were cancelled or changed to orders for Type 12 or sold to India. Within a few years of the Type 41's introduction in the late 1950s they were regarded as obsolete for their intended function as anti aircraft convoy escorts, particularly, as the planned fitting of two twin 3/70 Mk 6 AA guns to replace the interim twin 4.5 Mk 6 was abandoned in Jan 1955, due to cost and the view AA guns were obsolete, against jets and missiles [7] and the failure of the power ramming for the twin 4.5 inch guns intended to boost the rate of fire from 14rpm to 24rpm, the abandonment of their STAAG, CIWS mount and replacement of the experimental version of the fast rotating 992 target indicators with the slower onto the screen standard cheese 993. Only a short range 262 radar MRS1 provided secondary AA fire control for the main armament.

The Leopard class was also fitted with an early type of hydraulic stabiliser system consisting of two fins that could be extended outside the main hull to port and starboard, from a compartment between the two engine rooms. Gyro controlled with a relatively simple control system, they proved very effective in use. During testing every 3 months at sea, the ship could be easily driven into a 20°+ roll from the manual control on the bridge. Prior warning had to be given to allow stowage of loose items over the ship's tannoy system before testing was carried out. Slight reduction in top speed was also noticed when in use.

Service

They were used mainly as pure patrol frigates, notably on the South American station operating out of Simonstown in South Africa, and on Cod War duties. In 1972 it was decided not to refit HMS Puma again, as purchasing the half sister of the class, the former Black Star ordered by Ghana, and commissioning it as HMS Mermaid, would cost less than a Type 41 refit. HMS Leopard finished its service in the 1975-6 cod war, having given an Icelandic gunboat a 30-second warning that it would open fire with its 4.5 guns. HMS Lynx was the last of the class operational in 1977, attending the Spithead 1977 fleet review. HMS Jaguar was reactivated, from the standby squadron for the 3rd Cod War, but sprang too many leaks on the voyage to Iceland and sailed back to Chatham in the UK.

HMS Jaguar and HMS Lynx were sold to the Bangladesh Navy in 1978 and 1982 respectively, and were retired in 2013.

Construction programme

Pennant Name (a) Hull builder
(b) Main machinery manufacturers 		Ordered Laid down Launched Accepted into service Commissioned Estimated building cost[8] Fate
F14 HMS Leopard (a) HM Dockyard, Portsmouth
(b) Vickers Armstrong (Engineers) Ltd, Barrow-in-Furness
(b) Peter Brotherhood Limited, Peterborough[9] 		21 August 1951[10] 25 March 1953[11] 23 May 1955[11] December 1958[9] 30 September 1958[11] £3,545,000[9] Paid off for last time 12 December 1975.[12] Broken up 1977.[11]
F27 HMS Lynx (a) John Brown and Co Ltd, Clydebank
(b) Crossley Brothers Ltd, Manchester
(b) British Polar Engines Ltd, Glasgow[13] 		28 June 1951[10] 13 August 1953[11] 12 January 1955[11] 14 March 1957[13] 14 March 1957[11] £2,720,000[13] Sold to Bangladesh 12 March 1982, renamed Abu Bakr.[14] Decommissioned 22 January 2013.
F34 HMS Puma (a) Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Co Ltd, Greenock
(b) HM Dockyard, Chatham
(b) British Polar Engines Ltd, Glasgow[15] 		28 June 1951[10] 16 November 1953[11] 30 June 1954[11] April 1957[15] 27 April 1957[11] £2,914,000[15] Paid off for last time June 1972.[12] Broken up 1976.[11]
F37 HMS Jaguar (a) Wm Denny Bros Ltd, Dumbarton
(b) Crossley Bros Ltd, Manchester[16] 		28 June 1951[10] 2 November 1953[11] 20 July 1957[11] December 1959[16] 12 December 1959[11] £3,772,000[16] Sold to Bangladesh 6 July 1978 for £2 million,[14] renamed Ali Haider.[11] Decommissioned 22 January 2013.
F34 INS Brahmaputra (ex-HMS Panther) (a) John Brown and Co Ltd, Clydebank[17] 1954[17] 20 October 1955[17] 13 March 1957[17] 31 March 1958[17] Ordered HMS Panther, but transferred to India 1953.[11] Decommissioned 30 June 1986 [18] Broken Up 1986.[17]
F37 INS Beas (a) Vickers Armstrongs (Shipbuilders) Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne [17] 1954[17] 29 November 1956[17] 9 October 1958[17] 24 May 1960[17] Decommissioned 22 December 1992[18] Broken up 1992.[17]
F38 INS Betwa (a) Vickers Armstrongs (Shipbuilders) Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne[17] 1954[17] 29 May 1957[17] 15 September 1959[17] 8 December 1960[17] Decommissioned 31 December 1991[18] Broken Up 1988.[17]

A fifth Royal Navy vessel, HMS Panther was ordered twice. The first was transferred to India in 1953 before being laid down, a replacement was cancelled in 1957, before being laid down.[11]

See also

Media related to Leopard class frigates at Wikimedia Commons

Footnotes

  1. ^ Gardiner, p. 156
  2. ^ Purvis,M.K., 'Post War RN Frigate and Guided Missile Destroyer Design 1944-1969', Transactions, Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA), 1974
  3. ^ Marriott,Leo, 'Royal Navy Frigates Since 1945', Second Edition, ISBN 0-7110-1915-0, Published by Ian Allan Ltd (Surrey, UK), 1990
  4. ^ D.K. Brown & G. Moore. Rebuidling the Royal Navy. Naval Design since 1945. Seaforth. Barnssley (2013) p 74
  5. ^ I. Buxton. Shiyard Apprentice. Ships Monthly 4/2019,p36 &39
  6. ^ Brown & Moore (2012)p 73-4
  7. ^ Brown & Moore. Rebilding the RN (2012) p 73-74 & N, Friedman. British Destroyers and Frigates after WW2. Seaforth. Barnsley (2012) p 208-211
  8. ^ "Unit cost, i.e. excluding cost of certain items (e.g. aircraft, First Outfits)."
    Text from Defences Estimates
  9. ^ a b c Navy Estimates, 1959-60, pages 230-1, List and particulars of new ships which have been accepted or are expected to be accepted into HM service during the Financial Year ended 31 March 1959
  10. ^ a b c d Moore, George, The dawn of the Salisbury, Leopard and Whitby class frigates in Warship, 2004, pub Conways, 2004, ISBN 0-85177-948-4 page 134.
    Moore gives the dates the vessels were ordered as 21 August 1951 for Leopard and 28 June 1951 for the others.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Gardiner, Robert Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995, pub Conway Maritime Press, 1995, ISBN 0-85177-605-1 page 516.
    This source says that first orders were placed in August 1951, which contradicts the article by George Moore in Warship, 2004
  12. ^ a b Friedman, Norman British Destroyers and Frigates, the Second World War and After, pub Seaforth, 2006, ISBN 978-1-84832-015-4 page 338.
  13. ^ a b c Navy Estimates, 1957-58, pages 234-5, List and particulars of new ships which have been accepted or are expected to be accepted into HM service during the Financial Year ended 31 March 1957
  14. ^ a b Gardiner, Robert Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995, pub Conway Maritime Press, 1995, ISBN 0-85177-605-1 page 23.
  15. ^ a b c Navy Estimates, 1958-59, pages 234-5, List and particulars of new ships which have been accepted or are expected to be accepted into HM service during the Financial Year ended 31 March 1958
  16. ^ a b c Navy Estimates, 1960-61, pages 226-7, List and particulars of new ships which have been accepted or are expected to be accepted into HM service during the Financial Year ended 31 March 1960
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Gardiner, Robert Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995, pub Conway Maritime Press, 1995, ISBN 0-85177-605-1 page 174.
  18. ^ a b c Hiranandani G.M,Transition to Eminence - The Indian Navy 1976 – 90; pub Lancer New Dehli 2005, ISBN 9788170622666

References

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