Type 12I Leander Class Frigate

[Shrike142 1,683]

Type 12I Leander

 

The Type 12I are a derivative of the highly successful Type 12 'Whitby' and Type 12M 'Rothesay' class ASW frigates. They retained the same high-performance hull of the previous classes, but increased the beam and modified the superstructure to carry more modern equipment and facilities, notably an improved RADAR and the Sea Cat Surface to Air Missile.

Unlike the previous Rothesay, they were designed with a Sea Cat launcher, helicopter hangar and flight deck as standard. Despite this, the Sea Cat wasn't ready in time and the first seven ships completed with a two 40mm bofors mounts on the hangar roof instead (which were later replaced). 

 

There were three batches of the Leander produced. The first two batches had slightly different powerplants with Y100 and Y136 machinery respectively, while the third batch used steam atomising Y160 machinery and were broader-beamed.

In addition to this, the class had four separate conversions; Ikara, Exocet-Sea Cat, Exocet-Sea Wolf and Gun.

These conversions will be covered individually and listed in their relative modernity/capability. Weapons present on multiple ships will be detailed in the first ship's section.

 

 

HMS Bacchante F69 (Gun)

 

Spoiler

 

Specifications:

 

Length-Beam-Draft; 113.4 x 13.1 x 5.8

Displacement; 3,251t (full load)

Complement; 260

 

Machinery; 2x Babcock & Willcox Y160 boilers powering 2x White & English Electric geared steam turbines driving two shafts

Speed; 28kn

 

Armament;

2x 4.5"/45 QF Mk V guns in twin mount RP 41 Mk 6

1x Sea Cat GWS-22 quad launcher

1x Limbo AS Mortar 

 

Helicopter; Wasp HAS.1 with 4x SS.11, 2x AS.12, 2x Mk 44 torpedo or 1x Mk 46 torpedo

 

The Weapons:

 

Sea Cat GWS-22

 

Sea Cat was the first surface to air missile used by the Royal Navy.

It was designed to replace the 40mm bofors on all RN ships, especially smaller craft. As such, it was made to fit within the footprint of the twin bofors mounts and to use the same fire directors with minimal modification.

The GWS-22 variant carried by the Leander was the first to use ACLOS, Automatic Command Line-Of-Sight, guidance. In short, the Type 903 RADAR on the fire director would lock-onto and track the target automatically with the missile being automatically guided by the system. It could also be operated manually with RADAR or CCTV tracking and had some anti-surface capability.

 

Limbo

 

Limbo was a heavy anti-submarine mortar developed from the earlier Squid. It fired three depth charges in a triangular pattern around a target, which would detonate at different depths, crushing the submarine in the middle of the blast wave. It was controlled by the ship's SONAR suite.

 

https://www.helis.com/database/unit/346-HMS-Bacchante/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Bacchante_(F69)

http://navweaps.com/Weapons/WMBR_Sea_Cat.php

http://navweaps.com/Weapons/WAMBR_ASW.php

 

 

HMS Ajax F114 (Ikara)

 

Spoiler

 

Specifications:

 

Length-Beam-Draft; 113.4 x 12.5 x 5.5

Displacement; 3,251t (full load)

Complement; 257

 

Machinery; 2x Babcock & Willcox Y100 boilers powering 2x White & English Electric geared steam turbines driving two shafts

Speed; 28kn

 

Armament;

1x Ikara AS Missile

2x Sea Cat GWS-22 quad launchers

1x Limbo AS Mortar 

 

Helicopter; Wasp HAS.1 with 4x SS.11, 2x AS.12, 2x Mk 44 torpedo or 1x Mk 46 torpedo

 

Ikara

 

Ikara is a missile-launched anti-submarine torpedo system. It was developed by the Australians to increase standoff and improve reaction time against enemy submarines.

It did this by launching a glide missile at a target which would then drop a Mk 44 acoustic torpedo right on top of it. In-game, this would allow you to lob a torpedo over and island at a ship. Whether or not it would do anything to said ship is another matter (the Mk 44 has a tiny warhead).

 

Another image:

 

It's a bit easier to see the modifications on this model.

 

 

https://www.helis.com/database/unit/333-HMS-Ajax/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ajax_(F114)

 

 

 

HMS Argonaut F56 (Exocet-Sea Cat)

 

Spoiler

 

Specifications:

 

Length-Beam-Draft; 113.4 x 12.5 x 5.5

Displacement; 3,251t (full load)

Complement; 223

 

Machinery; 2x Babcock & Willcox Y136 boilers powering 2x White & English Electric geared steam turbines driving two shafts

Speed; 28kn

 

Armament;

4x Exocet MM38

2x Sea Cat GWS-22 quad launchers

2x triple 12.8" STWS-1 torpedo tubes for either Mk 44, 46 or Stingray homing torpedoes

 

Helicopter; Lynx HAS.2 with 2x Stingray torpedoes or 4x Sea Skua ASM

 

 

Stingray

 

The Stingray (and Mk 44 and 46) is a lightweight acoustic homing anti-submarine torpedo. It is designed to be launched from aircraft and ships and tracks submarines through passive and active SONARs.

As it is a lightweight AS torpedo, it's warhead is very small so would only be good against light targets in-game. It does however boast a high speed of 45kn and average range.

 

 

https://www.helis.com/database/unit/482-HMS-Argonaut/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Argonaut_(F56)

http://navweaps.com/Weapons/WTBR_PostWWII.php

http://navweaps.com/Weapons/WTUS_PostWWII.php

 

 

HMS Andromeda F57 (Exocet-Sea Wolf)

 

Spoiler

 

Specifications:

 

Length-Beam-Draft; 113.4 x 13.1 x 5.8

Displacement; 3,251t (full load)

Complement; 223

 

Machinery; 2x Babcock & Willcox Y160 boilers powering 2x White & English Electric geared steam turbines driving two shafts

Speed; 28kn

 

Armament;

4x Exocet MM38

1x Sea Wolf GWS-25 in sextuple laucher

2x triple 12.8" STWS-1 torpedo tubes for either Mk 44, 46 or Stingray homing torpedoes

 

Helicopter; Lynx HAS.2 with 2x Stingray torpedoes or 4x Sea Skua ASM

 

Sea Wolf GWS-25

 

Sea Wolf GWS-25 is a point-defence missile used to defend against sea-skimming supersonic missiles (and planes dumb enough to get close). The system is fully automatic and it's modernised version has only just left Royal Navy service, being replaced with the much more advanced Sea Ceptor, a derivative of the ASRAAM.

 

 

https://www.helis.com/database/unit/487-HMS-Andromeda/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Andromeda_(F57)

http://navweaps.com/Weapons/WMBR_Sea_Wolf.php

 

 

All of these ships are highly capable, if lightly armed compared to older vessels, being equipped with advanced Air-Search and Tracking RADARs, SONAR and short range SAMs. They hold an important place in history, being one of the most numerous and long serving units of the Cold War Royal Navy, with Andromeda being the last line of defence of HMS Invincible in the Falklands War.

All three of the Type 12 classes were advanced ships for the time and look gorgeous. Bacchante would fit into the game very well at this time, taking a similar position and role as the JMSDF Frigates in rank 2, but I think we'll have to wait for the others.

 

 

General Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leander-class_frigate

https://www.helis.com/database/sys/183-Leander-class/?o=31&dv=#units

http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/rn/frigates/leander/

https://www.radartutorial.eu/19.kartei/11.ancient3/karte047.en.html

Documentary 'Frigate' - 

 

Edited September 12, 2020 by Shrike142
Added sources, fixed errors

[Princess_Pinch 5,625]

Open for Discussion.

 

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Edited September 12, 2020 by Princess_Pinch

[Shrike142 1,683]

Fixed

O7

[Milocat 4,854]

+1 for at least one of these lovely ships.

[HeavyUnit88 26]

+1 for the gun version. It's the only one that makes sense for now, although I would prefer an earlier type 12 be implemented first. Either from the Rothesay or Whitby class. HMS Yarmouth was already suggested (https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/468799-hms-yarmouth-f101-crazy-y/)

 

 

The Seacat missile system is perfect for implementation into the current naval battles. It's performance and employment would be similar to the Nettuno missile that's already in use with the Italians. 

[Speedycake582 14]

not sure if this counts but there was also the HMAS Stuart (II) it was a River class Destroyer escort and formerly designated Type 12 anti submarine Frigate launched 8th of April 1961

Its armament consisted of both the Ikara anti submarine system and Seacat guided missiles a turret with 2 4.5 inch guns controlled by an M22 Fire Control Radar and Two triple barrel anti-submarine torpedo tubes

 

Edited September 29, 2020 by Speedycake582
text issues

[HeavyUnit88 26]

 

12 hours ago, Speedycake582 said:

not sure if this counts but there was also the HMAS Stuart (II) it was a River class Destroyer escort and formerly designated Type 12 anti submarine Frigate launched 8th of April 1961

Its armament consisted of both the Ikara anti submarine system and Seacat guided missiles a turret with 2 4.5 inch guns controlled by an M22 Fire Control Radar and Two triple barrel anti-submarine torpedo tubes

 

 

 

 

This is a type 12, albeit an Australian derivative that is probably more similar to the earlier Rothesay class than the Leander class suggested here.

 

The more I think about it, this probably would be the best edition to introduce in game. In addition to the twin 4.5", Seacat and Limbo mortars that are on the British ships it also has the MK 32 triple torpedo launchers that are on the Chikugo class and can be used in the anti surface role.

 

The Ikara could be a fun weapon to use as well but potentially OP. It basically could launch a MK 46 torpedo 19,000 meters on a guided missile than drop it right next to a ship. They could just keep it unusable for now like the ASROC launcher on the Chikugo class or the Exocet launchers on the Albatross class as well

[OsO73 491]

What about HMS Plymouth ?

[random_guy888 23]

very good cold war frigate for UK +1

[Sgt_Rowking@psn 602]

+1 here too

Edited July 3, 2021 by Sgt_Rowking@psn

[AVROVULCANXH558 349]

+1, I love the Leander-class! Such a beautiful ship.

[AVROVULCANXH558 349]

On 02/10/2020 at 14:04, OsO73 said:

What about HMS Plymouth ?

HMS Plymouth is a Rothesay-class frigate, the predecessor of the Leander-class. To sum up quite a long story, the Royal Navy got the Type 12 Whitby-class in the late-40's, which were modified as the Type 12M Rothesay-class. The design eventually evolved into the Type 12I Leander-class. There are some noticeable differences between the classes, mainly in size, weaponry and most noticeably, the bridge design.

[Thomas633 41]

On 22/12/2021 at 07:03, AVROVULCANXH558 said:

HMS Plymouth is a Rothesay-class frigate, the predecessor of the Leander-class. To sum up quite a long story, the Royal Navy got the Type 12 Whitby-class in the late-40's, which were modified as the Type 12M Rothesay-class. The design eventually evolved into the Type 12I Leander-class. There are some noticeable differences between the classes, mainly in size, weaponry and most noticeably, the bridge design.

Rothesay-class would play near-identically to either Blackpool or Leander depending on Sea Cat or not, no?  Some of the later Leander mods (particularly Ecuador and Indonesia) are spicy though.

[AVROVULCANXH558 349]

On 25/12/2021 at 16:56, Thomas633 said:

Rothesay-class would play near-identically to either Blackpool or Leander depending on Sea Cat or not, no? 

The Rothesay would be closer to the Whitby in terms of in game performance, as the Leanders were slightly larger. The main difference between the three classes was in weaponry.

 

On 25/12/2021 at 16:56, Thomas633 said:

Some of the later Leander mods (particularly Ecuador and Indonesia) are spicy though.

Oh yes definitely, and I hope they they will be seen in game in the future.

[TacticalGrace 0]

Resurrect this zombie... (Only joking.)

 

Just wanted to say that my Dad served on HMS Rothesay from late 60's to early 70's - I only found out a few months before his death a few years ago. Anyway a couple of months ago a random video gave me an interest on the Type 12M and some more searches showed me the Type 12 in War Thunder, which led me to downloading this game (I'm currently failing at both bluewater and coastal tech trees (enjoying it immensely) in an attempt to reach the HMS Blackpool.

 

If you're going to add more, could you please add HMS Rothesay? Twin 4.5 inch guns, Seacat missile, 2x 20mm Oerlikon guns, chaff launchers, AS Mortar, and a Westland Wasp.

[ZackZooter 55]

Hello Mr TacticalGrace, I've played HMS Blackpool recently so i'm here to say a few things about Blackpool ships..

 

One, Gaijin doesn't add homing torpedo function to post-war ships... This ship's torpedo although has 12 in 2 side for each 6 torpedo, its slow and moves normally as homing torpedo function hasn't been added YET... 

 

Two, Although Gaijin have added RN Saetta and USS Douglas that carries missile in game, they haven't added ASW-function in game YET for rocket-assisted torpedo launched toward its target so currently its kinda heartbreaking that these kind of missiles often used in sniping pilots that just spawned out alot these days, not for trying to hitting high-altitude bomber that flies over 3km height and carries some big bomb or German Fritz..

 

For now... Until Gaijin added ASW-based weapon like ASROC & homing torpedo both passive and active + its function in game, then currently these kind of ships ended up on the backburner of the battlefield as it seen as easy cannon fodder for most player...

[TacticalGrace 0]

Although not strictly relevent to this thread, but any fans of the Type 12I may enjoy this..
 

It was filmed on HMS Phoebe (F42) from 1973-1977. Must have been fun for the crew

[TacticalGrace 0]

We got HMS Whitby!! She is stunning

 

Probably going to be useless in game, but she is beautiful

Edited March 7, 2023 by TacticalGrace

[SkippyTheAwesome 0]

I'd love to see these in game too.

[SkippyTheAwesome 0]

Some more Frigate action..