Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1193118
Navy (also known as OHP). Their primary role was to protect Atlantic convoys. Contemporarily frigates can be de- fined as multi-role surface combatants with displacement not exceeding 4000 t. However, there are some excep- tions to that rule, as the German F125 Baden-Württemberg-class frigates have displacement exceeding 7000 t. Usually the frigates are outfitted in a manner that makes them capable of detecting and neutralizing surface and underwater, as well as airborne threats. They also exhib- it land-strike capability sometimes. Heli- copter is usually an integral part of these warships' combat system - thus a heli- pad and a hangar are a common addition present onboard. The hangar commonly offers enough space to accommodate one or two aircraft. Radars and missiles that allow the frigates to neutralize air/ missile threats at distances beyond 50 km are another distinguishing feature of this type of surface combatants. Thus, frigates are capable of providing area air defense – this is not a capability that is applicable to corvettes. These smaller vessels cannot really be defined as multi- role – their armament is usually dedicat- ed for a single role – ASW (like the Polish Kaszub corvette) or anti-ship role. Cor- vettes do not need a landing pad for the helicopter while their air defense assets provide point-defense capability – the vessel is expected to defend itself, and not the other ships staying in the vicinity. These technicalities are overlapping with numerous political and narrative-related factors as well. It often happens that vessels of quite expansive capabilities are classified as ones that belong to the smaller type. This may be exemplified by the case of Japan – its large aircraft carriers are referred to as destroyers. Finland is similar here, as the government in Helsinki decided to refer to its latest vessels as corvettes. For those reasons Poland, instead of using the term "cor- vette" that remains somewhat troubling for some of the decision-makers, another term was coined: "coastal defense ves- sel". In other words, the name does not always correspond with the reality. It remains impossible to answer the question concerning the justification of frigate procurement without referring to the political and strategic context Sea? NAVY