Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0

[GregorZ]

Exactly this. In the fog of war, with competing priorities and given the limited number of escorts operated by the RAN (and that's before attrition), the chances of one of these major platforms being caught alone seems somewhat likely.

One of the LHDs, or Choules for that matter, being taken out with crew plus on an onboard army contingent (say several hundred) would be devastating for the nation and potentially even influence the country's will to fight. Its staggering that these assets have been left unprotectef by successive governments.

At the minimum, CEAFAR, 1xMk41 with ESSM plus point defence cannons.

Should re-use the Ceafar and mk41 from the retiring ANZACs

 

[Mark_Evans]

Should re-use the Ceafar and mk41 from the retiring ANZACs

It would be extremely unlikely that ceafar and mk41 could be installed on the LHDs.
Best we could do is the phalanx.

 

[ADMk2]

It would be extremely unlikely that ceafar and mk41 could be installed on the LHDs.
Best we could do is the phalanx.

The original design for LHD included an 8x cell Tactical Length Mk.41 VLS, amidship, capable of carrying ESSM for self-defence.

So RAN of course purposefully designed it out…

Because why would you want your capital ships to be able to defend themselves when your planning assumption is that there will ALWAYS be something else alongside to defend it and you’ll never, ever put it in harm’s way anyway?

 

[Mark_Evans]

The original design for LHD included an 8x cell Tactical Length Mk.41 VLS, amidship, capable of carrying ESSM for self-defence.

So RAN of course purposefully designed it out…

Because why would you want your capital ships to be able to defend themselves when your planning assumption is that there will ALWAYS be something else alongside to defend it and you’ll never, ever put it in harm’s way anyway?

Thanks, i was not aware it was an orginal design feature.
Of course they designed it out, sigh.
Another rung on the ladder below fitted for but not with.

 

[CJR]

It would be extremely unlikely that ceafar and mk41 could be installed on the LHDs.
Best we could do is the phalanx.

Reports indicate that Juan Carlos I was fitted for but not with one Mk 41 VLS, but unclear if the Canberra class kept that provision or not. Assuming not, then Lockheed Martin has designed and tested a single cell launcher while BAe has developed the Adaptable Deck launcher, either of which might be easier to retrofit the finding space for a full 8 cell Mk41.

CEAFAR, well, looks like it's found it's way onto HMAS Choules last year, so I don't see any reason why it couldn't work on the Canberras.

 

[iambuzzard]

Mark is rig w

It would be extremely unlikely that ceafar and mk41 could be installed on the LHDs.
Best we could do is the phalanx.

Mark is right. Internal space wouldn't allow it

 

[Armchair]

To flip the question
Do you or anyone really believe that if a serious conflict was just around the corner and defence is given that wartime blank cheque they would not go out shopping

There would be stuff bolted, zip tired and gaffer taped sticking stuff on ships like crazy.

Those LHDs would get phalanx very quickly

Cheers S

Only if it were judged that Phalanx would make a difference.

I suspect (hope) that the RAN is working through a priority of perceived risks. From the public announcements that looks like establishing ballistic missile / long range air defence (including by striking at shore targets at extreme range) and undersea warfare rather than bolstering point defence. At an ADF level the priority is acquiring littoral lift vessels for Army (presumably with no integral missile defence).

Perhaps the RAN has misunderstood that priority and has underestimated the effectiveness of Phalanx (defence forces make mistakes) but I think it is worth exploring the possibility that they have it right.