The Navy In Transition

During the transition to full independence and in the immediate years beyond it is important for the Navy to maintain skills and experience as it transitions to the force structure appropriate to the needs of the new state. Regenerating skills from nothing can take as much as a decade but both Regional and Global circumstances and thus the change in need can take much less time. Thus it is important for the Navy to start life with some share of former UK assets whilst it builds the those that are more appropriate to its needs and wants.

These inherited or transferred assets would be a tiny fraction of the UK navy by value. The Royal Navy's larger ships and submarines being valued in billions. This would not be a proportionate ask.

Warfare, Patrol and Training Flotilla

The primary warfare platform of the Scottish Navy would likely be two ageing Type 23 frigates. These vessels whilst not ideally suited to the needs of the newly independent Scotland would enable all of the necessary skills to be retained whilst we built replacements.

Relatively newly built, two of these would provide highly capable Offshore Patrol platforms for security of the EEZ. With modern intelligence and surveillance systems and having been constructed to combat rather than commercial shipping standards these vessels might well be the last to be replaced.

Already on the list to be decommission by the Royal Navy and being offered to other nations looking to build their naval strength a small squadron of 4 of these mine counter-measures vessels could be ideal for retaining skills in explosive ordnance clearing and also as Patrol Vessels within the EEZ.

For the provision of humanitarian and civil aid or replenishment at sea one of these replenishment tankers would be appropriate initially. Given that an Independent Scotland is unlikely to need its own replenishment at sea capabilities and given the age of the vessel this would likely be a short term solution.

Currently use for Force Protection and Naval Training 4 of these P200 patrol craft would be used by the Navy for harbour/inshore Patrol and Officer Training. They are quite elderly but have been recently refurbished and re-engined. Being built of GRP the hulls are likely to remain sea worthy for some time.