Stanley and MBDA in Missile Mission

With thirteen ships in service with the Royal Navy, the Type 23 frigate is the mainstay of Britain's modern surface fleet. In service since 1990 and originally designed principally for use in an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) role, the Type 23 has evolved into a versatile multi-purpose ship able to operate worldwide in a range of roles including embargo operations, disaster relief and surveillance in addition to her fighting capabilities.

The addition of further weapons systems including the MBDA Seawolf VL (Vertical Launch) point missile defence system, effective against both aircraft and missile threats, has expanded the Type 23's role to encompass anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and brought with it new logistical challenges.

Installed in vertical, sealed and self contained launch canisters and ready for firing, the thirty-two Seawolf VL missiles carried in a silo on-board the Type 23 they are stored and transported in horizontal steel frames and were hitherto rotated into position using a slow and manually intensive winching system with considerable operational limitations. MBDA required a handling solution that would substantially improve the speed and efficiency of the procedure whilst ensuring that the highest standards of safety were met and indeed exceeded.

The Seawolf canister rotation units supplied by Stanley Handling are loaded by crane onto the ammunition tender and bolted into position. The canisterised missiles are then lifted onto the truck's rotator cradle by crane using a webbing net - affectionately known as ‘the nappy' - at the base and a collar at the upper end. The canisters are locked into position and then rotated from the horizontal to the vertical prior to loading into the frigate's missile silo. The process is reversed during offloading.

The units are based upon a significantly modified ROBUR pedestrian-operated lift truck integrated with a rotator unit and a canister handling cradle designed to MBDA's detailed specifications. The most stringent demands placed on the design team included meeting all operational requirements within a specific weight limit and consideration of the potentially extremely hazardous nature of the load in question.

Against a specified maximum ULW of two tonnes the CRUs came in at 1890 kgs, achieved in part by high precision machining of the rotator attachment to achieve weight savings without any reduction in capability or performance. Every aspect of the unit was examined and specifications uprated. For protection from the elements, galvanised steel featured widely and both aluminium and epoxy paints were used. A gel battery to withstand extreme temperatures is installed and the hydraulic system is filled with an extremely high specification ‘inert' fluid in view of the proximity of high explosives. The vehicle is certified to CAT C and BS12895/ 2000, rare in equipment of this type.

Security demands mean operator access is restricted to specially trained personnel by key. Microswitches are fitted throughout whilst mechanical safety stops on the rotator cradle and on the truck ensure safe handling of the missile containers. An emergency hand pump provides reassuring back-up!

MBDA expect the introduction of the CRUs to significantly reduce the time required to re-supply the Type 23 with ammunition, a particularly crucial consideration during naval operations, as well as making the procedure simpler and safer. Stanley Handling's expertise in the design and manufacture of highly specialised bespoke handling solutions and the company's readiness to work with clients on complex and demanding projects make this a realistic prospect.