The Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) is a planned class of up to six multi-mission amphibious warfare ships in development for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. The ships were first officially mentioned in the British government's 2021 defence white paper, titled Defence in a Competitive Age. ^[1] In May 2024, funding for the ships was announced at the Sea Power Conference in London. ^[2] They will replace the service's two Albion-class landing platform docks, three Bay-class landing ship docks and the multi-purpose support ship RFA Argus.

Development

Background

The Royal Navy currently operates two Albion-class landing platform docks for amphibious warfare which are augmented by three Bay-class landing ship docks and one support ship ( RFA Argus) from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. With the exception of Argus, these ships were originally commissioned in the 2000s and designed to deliver a brigade-level amphibious landing force. ^[3] All six ships are due to retire from service in the 2030s. ^[4]

In the 2020s, the Royal Navy began a modernisation of its amphibious forces in accordance with its new Future Commando Force doctrine which emphasized lighter, more agile raiding operations for the Royal Marines. The navy's amphibious shipping was subsequently reorganized into two formations, known as Littoral Response Groups. ^[5] In 2022, it was announced that RFA Argus would undergo modifications to allow her to fulfil a new role as a littoral strike ship. ^[6]

In 2021, the UK government made its first official mention of the MRSS as part of its 2030 shipbuilding pipeline. ^[7] In 2022, the ships were removed from the Royal Navy's future equipment plan due to issues of affordability. However, the navy insisted the ships remained part of its future plans. ^[8]

Concept phase

The MRSS officially entered its concept phase in 2021. ^[9]

Project Catherine

In September 2023, the UK and the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of understanding announced to explore the joint procurement of amphibious warfare ships under Project Catherine. This could have seen the six Royal Navy's amphibious vessels and the Royal Netherlands Navy's two Rotterdam-class landing platform docks and four Holland-class offshore patrol vessels with a single shared design. Such a venture would not only bring greater economy of scale but would also better solidify the programme politically by helping to protect from possible budget cuts. ^[9] However, in March 2024, this main effort was reportedly abandoned as the two parties identified that their requirements and budgets were too divergent for a single design to successfully meet. Project Charlotte would instead focus on Anglo-Dutch coordination on subsystems, landing craft, and aviation. One key difference was the ships' ability to operate independently without an escort — a British preference which would require more substantial self-defence. ^{[10] [11] [12] [13]}

MRSS commencement

Following an announcement by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps at the Sea Power Conference in London, the programme officially received approval to commenced with its first phase on 14 May 2024. ^[14] Up to six ships are currently planned for service entry starting in the 2033/34 period, with three ships to be built initially and a plan for up to three additional vessels. ^{[15] [16]} The ships are envisaged as flexible, multi-purpose amphibious warfare platforms, capable of landing marines ashore via sea and air. The ships will feature well docks for landing craft, hangars capable of accommodating Chinook helicopters and a flight deck for helicopters and uncrewed systems. ^[1] The ships will be highly adaptable and interchangeable by design, as well as interoperable with NATO allies. ^[17] Lessons learned from the Russo-Ukrainian War and the Red Sea crisis will also factor in the design. ^[16] The ships may also require fewer crew members than their predecessors. ^[18]

Design contenders

A number of designs have been raised as possible contenders for the MRSS programme. Following the commencement announcement in May, Shepard News reported that BMT could offer their 'ELIDA' product line whilst Prevail Partners may put forward with their 'Multi-Role Vessel' design. ^[19] During the Combined Naval Event in late May, Stellar Systems unveiled their 'Fearless' design and was the first to be stated as being put forward for consideration for the MRSS programme. ^{[20] [21]}

ELIDA

Unveiled in 2019, the original concept design for ELIDA was a multi-role auxiliary vessel designed to perform as both a solid stores ship for fleet replenishment-at-sea (RAS) and as a auxiliary landing vessel similar in capability to the Bay-class. ^{[22] [23]} At DSEI 2023, BMT unveiled a revised ELIDA design. This second generation design consist of vessels 130 metres, 150 metres, 180 metres, or 200 metres in length. The revision saw the removal of the RAS rigs from the design and brought the superstructure more forward and reducing the size of the forward working deck.

ELIDA features two internal open deck areas for stores and other equipment as well as a forward external deck area for Twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers which is serviced by two deck cranes. ^{[24] [25] [26]} BMT have not publicly stated if ELIDA's general characteristics have changed from those of the first generation design which had (in reference to the 200m variant) a range of 8,500 nautical miles, service speed of 18 knots and crew of 68. In the amphibious role ELIDA could embark a military force of 350 personnel with an internal 700 lane metres for vehicle stowage, a well-deck for two LCUs, and a hangar for one AW101 Merlin with temporary storage for an additional three. ^{[22] [23]}

References