Royal Navy 1975

[uk 75]

After perusing a number of recent books on the Royal Navy I have updated my Royal Navy in 1975 as it would have been if the plans of the 60s had been implemented in full (fantasy of course).

SSBN x 5 (fifth boat is HMS Ramilles, cancelled in 1965)

SSNs x 11 as in real life

SS as in real life (Oberons and Porpoise)

CVA   x3 plus 1 building   HMS Queen Elizabeth (CVA 01) HMS Eagle and HMS Hermes.  HMS Duke of Edinburgh building

Commando Ships x3  HMS Centaur converted to join Bulwark and Albion
Three new build ships laid down, first to join RN in 1976

LPD x2  as in real life

Helicopter Cruisers x3  Seadart equipped cruisers similar but somewhat more limited than the "Invincibles" were programmed but deferred because of the Polaris programme, hence the 2 Tiger conversions.

Type 82 DLG  Up to 8 of these ships were planned, joining only 6 Counties (converted to Seaslug II in all ships)

Type 19 FFGH A design similar in appearance to the Type 22 but smaller and with funnels side by side like the MEKO ships was planned to be ordered to follow on the Leanders.  13 ships programmed.

26 Leanders. Less than in real life as the Type 19 replaced them from 1966 in the building programme.

Other frigates as in real life, being replaced by additional variants of Type 19.

MCM and patrol forces as in real life.

Ice Patrol ship.  An icebreaker called Terra Nova was cancelled in 1966. She would have entered service by 1975 instead of Endurance. Smilar to Canadian designs in appearance.

The big difference of course is the CVA programme which would have meant fewer SSNs and other escorts.