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Post 1980 HMS Andromeda


Northstar98

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Hi everyone,

 

The current HMS Andromeda is depicted in its initial, pre-1977 configuration; with 4.5"/45 Mark 6 twin naval gun, GWS 22 Sea Cat, Oerlikon Mk 7 20 mm L70, Mk 10 Limbo as well as the original sensor fit (965, 993, 975, 903, 904).

From 1977-1980 Andromeda was significantly modified and upgraded. See the spoiler below for a comparison.

Is there any chance we can get the post 1980 upgraded HMS Andromeda? It would be much more appropriate for the Falklands War, not to mention being vastly more capable in both air defence and anti-ship (and ASW).

 

Here's HMS Andromeda during the Falklands war, the sextuple Sea Wolf launcher and Exocet launchers are just about visible, also note the completely different sensors and that Sea Cat and its FCR has been deleted.

andromeda-alongside-ss-canberra-falkland

 

And here's better view, clearly showing the new weapons and sensors (note, this is post Falklands - Type 670 antenna can be seen on the foremast at a height just above the bridge):

695f71e70fd11a6718f2eb691a9bb61a.jpg

Spoiler

Initial:

Sensors/EW:

  • Type 965M (AKE(1)) ×1 - long-range air-search radar, 2D, pulse only, A band
  • Type 993 ×1 - short-medium range air & surface acquisition, 2D, pulse only, E band
  • Type 903 ×1 - FCR for 4.5"/45 Mk VI, I band, pulse-only, conical scanning.
  • Type 904 ×1 - FCR for GWS 22 Sea Cat, I band, pulse-only, conical scanning, 1 fire-control and missile channel.
  • Type 975 ×1 - surface-search & navigation, 2D, pulse only, I band
  • UA-8/9 'Porker' ×1 - ESM (bearing, frequency, PRF, antenna rotation rate), E-I band.
  • FH-5 ×1 - HF/DF
  • Type 668 ×2 - I band OECM (this was presumably a noise jammer).
  • Type 184M ×1 - hull sonar, MF, active/passive.
  • Type 170B ×1 - fire-control sonar for Mk 10 Limbo, HF, active only.
  • Type 162M 'Cockshafer' ×1 - bottom profiler sonar, HF, active only.

Weapons/Mounts:

  • 4.5"/45 Mk VI twin naval gun ×1
  • Oerlikon Mk 7 20 mm/70 autocannon ×2
  • GWS 22 Sea Cat Mod 1 1×4
  • Mk 10 Limbo ASW mortar ×1
  • Corvus decoy launcher ×2 - w/ Corvus seduction and distraction chaff
  • Type 182 towed torpedo decoy ×1

Aviation Facilities:

  • Wasp capable hangar
  • Wasp capable flight deck

 

c. 1982

Sensors/EW:

  • Type 967/968 (back-to-back) ×1 - long-range air search & acquisition, 2D, pulse-only, D/E band (respectively).
  • Type 910 ×1 - FCR for GWS 25 Mod 0 Sea Wolf (I band, monopulse, pulse-only, 1 target channel and 2 missile channels) + 2nd gen. TV (backup SACLOS).
  • Type 1006(2) ×1 - surface-search and navigation, 2D, I band.
  • UAA-1 'Abbey Hill' ×1 - ESM/ELINT.
  • Type 2016 ×1 - active/passive search & track hull sonar, LF
  • Type 162M 'Cockchafer' ×1 - active only, bottom profiler sonar, HF.

Weapons/Mounts:

  • MM38 Exocet Block 1 ×4
  • GWS 25 (CLSW) Sea Wolf Block 1 ×6 
  • Oerlikon Mk 7 20 mm/70 ×2
  • PMW-49A (STWS-2) 324 mm triple torpedo tubes ×2 - firing Mk 46 Mod 2 LWT.
  • Corvus decoy launcher ×2 - w/ Corvus seduction and distraction chaff
  • Type 182 towed torpedo decoys ×2

Aviation Facilities

  • Lynx capable hangar
  • Lynx capable flight deck

Edited by Northstar98
formatting
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Modules I own: F-14A/B, Mi-24P, AV-8B N/A, AJS 37, F-5E-3, MiG-21bis, F-16CM, F/A-18C, Supercarrier, Mi-8MTV2, UH-1H, Mirage 2000C, FC3, MiG-15bis, Ka-50, A-10C (+ A-10C II), P-47D, P-51D, C-101, Yak-52, WWII Assets, CA, NS430, Hawk.

Terrains I own: South Atlantic, Syria, The Channel, SoH/PG, Marianas.

System:

GIGABYTE B650 AORUS ELITE AX, AMD Ryzen 5 7600, Corsair Vengeance DDR5-5200 32 GB, Western Digital Black SN850X 1 TB (DCS dedicated) & 2 TB NVMe SSDs, Corsair RM850X 850 W, NZXT H7 Flow, MSI G274CV.

Peripherals: VKB Gunfighter Mk.II w. MCG Pro, MFG Crosswind V3 Graphite, Logitech Extreme 3D Pro.

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10 minutes ago, rkk01 said:

👍

Also with transom cutout for towed array

Yeah, I'm trying to find what that sonar system is, is it definitely a towed array or is it a VDS?

Modules I own: F-14A/B, Mi-24P, AV-8B N/A, AJS 37, F-5E-3, MiG-21bis, F-16CM, F/A-18C, Supercarrier, Mi-8MTV2, UH-1H, Mirage 2000C, FC3, MiG-15bis, Ka-50, A-10C (+ A-10C II), P-47D, P-51D, C-101, Yak-52, WWII Assets, CA, NS430, Hawk.

Terrains I own: South Atlantic, Syria, The Channel, SoH/PG, Marianas.

System:

GIGABYTE B650 AORUS ELITE AX, AMD Ryzen 5 7600, Corsair Vengeance DDR5-5200 32 GB, Western Digital Black SN850X 1 TB (DCS dedicated) & 2 TB NVMe SSDs, Corsair RM850X 850 W, NZXT H7 Flow, MSI G274CV.

Peripherals: VKB Gunfighter Mk.II w. MCG Pro, MFG Crosswind V3 Graphite, Logitech Extreme 3D Pro.

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1 hour ago, Northstar98 said:

Yeah, I'm trying to find what that sonar system is, is it definitely a towed array or is it a VDS?

Interesting… “towed array” was a fairly loosely used term. The later Batch 2 Leander conversions are listed as having a 2031 towed array, and photos show the large cable drum aft of the flight deck.
 

Wiki suggests that the Batch 3 conversions were supposed to have TA, but nothing is listed, except that the fit was victim of the defence review. However, the Batch 3s did have that transom cut out and cable reel mount… I can’t find any info on what it was for🤔.
The Batch 3s had an extreme makeover to reduce top weight - lighter looking funnel, slim main mast etc, and the local rumour mill was that the transom cut out was to get weight lower

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So far the only thing I can find is the Type 2031(I) passive-only, VLF, towed array, its definitely not the Type 199 VDS (which is active-only, HF).

I wonder if it could be the Type 182 towed torpedo decoy, though there is also port in the stern.

EDIT: It's the Type 182 towed torpedo decoy


Edited by Northstar98

Modules I own: F-14A/B, Mi-24P, AV-8B N/A, AJS 37, F-5E-3, MiG-21bis, F-16CM, F/A-18C, Supercarrier, Mi-8MTV2, UH-1H, Mirage 2000C, FC3, MiG-15bis, Ka-50, A-10C (+ A-10C II), P-47D, P-51D, C-101, Yak-52, WWII Assets, CA, NS430, Hawk.

Terrains I own: South Atlantic, Syria, The Channel, SoH/PG, Marianas.

System:

GIGABYTE B650 AORUS ELITE AX, AMD Ryzen 5 7600, Corsair Vengeance DDR5-5200 32 GB, Western Digital Black SN850X 1 TB (DCS dedicated) & 2 TB NVMe SSDs, Corsair RM850X 850 W, NZXT H7 Flow, MSI G274CV.

Peripherals: VKB Gunfighter Mk.II w. MCG Pro, MFG Crosswind V3 Graphite, Logitech Extreme 3D Pro.

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