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Versatile Surface Combatant (VSC)

The MVD/VSC plan was dropped in 2006 when the Sustained [Maritime] Surface Combatant Capability pathfinder programme was established, and instead S2C2 thinking seems to be heading under the "Future Surface Combatant" motif towards a force mix of high, medium and low capability vessels - the first entering service in the 2017-2020 time frame.

This page is retained for reference purposes.

Type Designation: ?

(Above) A 2006 FSC design concept. Source: DML

Ship	Pennant Number	In-Service	Builder
[VSC-01]	?	[2023?]	?

Specification

Displacement: Unknown
Dimensions: Unknown
Speed: Unknown
Endurance: Unknown
Engines: Unknown
Complement: Unknown
Armament: Unknown

Notes:
Project designation: URD ?
Status: Feasibility Studies only
In Service Date: 2023?

The Future Surface Combatant (FSC) project was effectively cancelled in late 2004 as scope, risks and likely costs got out of hand.

However the DPA's DEC(AWE) continued to look investigations in to how the capabilities currently provided by the 4 existing Type 22 Batch 3 and 13 Type 23 frigates might be met in the long term. In 2005 officials were stating that a two class solution currently was anticipated, the first being a four ship class of Medium Vessel Derivative (MVD), the second being the Versatile Surface Combatant (VSC). Official sources indicated a "post-2020" in-service date for VSC, and 2023 was being used for planning purposes, this was based on assumption that a ten year service life extension of the 13 remaining Type 23 frigates will be possible and cost-effective; studies to confirm this should be complete by summer 2005, with Initial Gate later in the year.