British navy considers creating 'mother' of all ships

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, December 14, 2003

British navy considers creating 'mother' of all ships

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The British Royal Navy is considering to create a fleet of giant "mother" ships capable of taking a series of small fast-fighting vessels to the world's trouble spots, the British Sunday Times newspaper reported on Sunday.

Typically, one of the ships might carry four to six "daughter" vessels that would float from a submerged stern when the mother reached a war zone, the paper said.

The design, among options for the creation of a "future surface combatant" vessel for deployment in 12 years' time, is regarded as the quickest way of transporting smaller vessels over long distances, the paper added.

Linked by computers to the "mother," the "daughters" would be equipped to fire missiles deep inland and to search for mines or submarines using remote-control underwater craft. Other "daughter" craft could be configured to put commandos ashore.

They could also be used to police the coastline as they would have the speed to chase drug smugglers' speedboats.

According to the paper, the plan is in keeping with the new high-tech direction outlined in the defense white paper published by the British Ministry of Defense last week.

British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said he wants forces to act "quickly, accurately and decisively" in future conflicts.

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