Floodlit Boxer
This is a hand-held image of the lead ship of the Royal Navy's Type 22 Batch II specialised anti-submarine frigates, HMS Boxer, seen alongside in Alicante in Spain, in July 1986, where the crew enjoyed some much-needed R&R. I left her a week or so later, upon our return to the UK.
At this point, Boxer was in yet another year (her fourth!) as the platform for the agonisingly drawn-out trials for the new Operations Room computer system, CACS 1, (Computer-Assisted Command System 1), which Ferranti were having immense trouble getting to work. It was intended to be capable of tracking up to 500 targets, including those detected by radar, sonar and electronic support measures (ESM).
Designed for operations in the GIUK Gap or further north during the Cold War, the class proved to be an expensive liability in the 1990s when ships with guns, smaller crews and greater flexibility were required. They were all disposed-of much earlier than had originally been planned.
Scanned from a slide.
Floodlit Boxer
This is a hand-held image of the lead ship of the Royal Navy's Type 22 Batch II specialised anti-submarine frigates, HMS Boxer, seen alongside in Alicante in Spain, in July 1986, where the crew enjoyed some much-needed R&R. I left her a week or so later, upon our return to the UK.
At this point, Boxer was in yet another year (her fourth!) as the platform for the agonisingly drawn-out trials for the new Operations Room computer system, CACS 1, (Computer-Assisted Command System 1), which Ferranti were having immense trouble getting to work. It was intended to be capable of tracking up to 500 targets, including those detected by radar, sonar and electronic support measures (ESM).
Designed for operations in the GIUK Gap or further north during the Cold War, the class proved to be an expensive liability in the 1990s when ships with guns, smaller crews and greater flexibility were required. They were all disposed-of much earlier than had originally been planned.
Scanned from a slide.