MCM, Hydrographic and Patrol Capability

(formally the Future Mine Counter Measures Capability and

Future Auxiliary Combatant)

A Danish Stanflex vessel

Notes:

Studies have commenced by the MOD Future Projects Group in to replacing the capabilities currently provided by the Hunt and Sandown-classes.  Future Mine Counter Measures Capability (FCMCM) and Future Auxiliary Combatant (FAC) are two of the titles that have leaked in to the public domain during 2005 and 2006. 

FAC seems to refer to a warship with modularised equipment capabilities, i.e. a ship which can be re-role'd with relative ease by the replacement (for example) of anti-submarine equipment with anti-mine equipment in order to meet an operational requirement.  However, modularisation increases initial unit procurement costs, and involves an investment in "modules" - only a proportion of which would be in use at any one time.   Re-role'ing also places great demands on crews - after a switch between say anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and mine counter measures (MCM) roles it will take time an training for the crew to become proficient.

The various Danish Stanflex designs and even the American Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) have been speculatively mentioned as examples for FAC, although the later would seem to be far too expensive for the Royal Navy.

In early 2007 the recommendations of Sustained [Maritime] Surface Combatant Capability (S2C2) study for a family of Future Surface Combatants defined the need for a  vessel of approximately 2,000 tonnes displacement with a range of 7,000 nm for constabulary and minor war vessel tasks.  It would also have a large mission bay aft, reconfigurable for special forces, MCM or a Lynx helicopter.

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