I cannot stop thinking about the FFG Concept and have continued to draw variations since finishing my FFG-63 model in 2018. I was pleased when the Fincantieri Marinette team recently won the contract for the U.S. Navy�s new frigate and my latest drawing is a good cross between the FFG-63 model and the Italian FREMM. The two photos contrast this new design and the FFG-63 model. The ship has been shortened by 10 feet to 475 feet overall to better match the FREMM. The radar tower was lowered by 10 feet compared to the FFG-63 and the upper section is hexagonal instead of square.
I absolutely refuse to accept a 57mm main gun for a ship this size and am sticking with the 5-inch 62 caliber mount. I did compromise with 48 vertical launch missile cells, splitting the difference between 64 on the FFG-63 and the US Navy�s requirement for 32 cells. That was mitigated by adding 8 cannisters for the Naval Strike Missile in a gap between the radar tower and the stack. I had previously assumed that the anti-ship missiles would be part of the VLS loadout. But for now, the NSM has no provision for vertical launch.
The FFG-63 model included two imaginary combined gun/missile close-in weapon mounts, above the pilothouse and above the hanger. The Navy wanted a RAM launcher instead, so for realism this time I put a 21-round RAM launcher in each of those locations. I also added two remote 25mm chain guns above the hanger since the real ships will have 25mm or 30mm guns installed regardless of the minimum contract requirements.
The new drawing is named USS Jonathan Yale (FFG-65). Corporal Yale was one of two U.S. Marines who gave their lives in Ramadi, Iraq in April 2008 while defending their shipmates from a truck bomb. Their story can be found here.
https://www.businessinsider.com/john-ke ... adi-2013-6
I�m not sure if I will actually build this model or just be satisfied with the drawing. Stay tuned.
I cannot stop thinking about the FFG Concept and have continued to draw variations since finishing my FFG-63 model in 2018. I was pleased when the Fincantieri Marinette team recently won the contract for the U.S. Navy�s new frigate and my latest drawing is a good cross between the FFG-63 model and the Italian FREMM. The two photos contrast this new design and the FFG-63 model. The ship has been shortened by 10 feet to 475 feet overall to better match the FREMM. The radar tower was lowered by 10 feet compared to the FFG-63 and the upper section is hexagonal instead of square.
I absolutely refuse to accept a 57mm main gun for a ship this size and am sticking with the 5-inch 62 caliber mount. I did compromise with 48 vertical launch missile cells, splitting the difference between 64 on the FFG-63 and the US Navy�s requirement for 32 cells. That was mitigated by adding 8 cannisters for the Naval Strike Missile in a gap between the radar tower and the stack. I had previously assumed that the anti-ship missiles would be part of the VLS loadout. But for now, the NSM has no provision for vertical launch.
The FFG-63 model included two imaginary combined gun/missile close-in weapon mounts, above the pilothouse and above the hanger. The Navy wanted a RAM launcher instead, so for realism this time I put a 21-round RAM launcher in each of those locations. I also added two remote 25mm chain guns above the hanger since the real ships will have 25mm or 30mm guns installed regardless of the minimum contract requirements.
The new drawing is named USS Jonathan Yale (FFG-65). Corporal Yale was one of two U.S. Marines who gave their lives in Ramadi, Iraq in April 2008 while defending their shipmates from a truck bomb. Their story can be found here. [url]https://www.businessinsider.com/john-kellys-speech-about-marines-in-ramadi-2013-6[/url]
I�m not sure if I will actually build this model or just be satisfied with the drawing. Stay tuned.