The AWM are requesting help from former RAN DDG officers and sailors. Details in the Facebook page link below.
This quote from the article might helpIn December last year, it was announced that Australia was seeking a torpedo self-defence system
Is there much known about this and if the Anzac class will also be fitted with this?Australia Seeking Torpedo Self Defense Systems for its Surface Combatants - Naval News
Australia's Department of Defence issued an advanced notice for the SEA 1408 Phase 3 Project - Torpedo Self Defence.www.navalnews.com
oldsigIntegrated TSD into the Combat Management System (CMS) will be pursued to provide a networked system for maritime Task Groups. This will be delivered to the Anzac-class frigates and Hobart-class destroyers as well as inform the design of the future Hunter-class Frigates, and future integration into the wider surface fleet.
Questions like that are very much “how long is a piece of string?”.Thanks, I should of asked when we could expect an announcement of the successful bidder and when to be implemented possible budget decision?
Agree, opportunity for the RAN to dip their toes in and try SeaRam for air defence. In MCM and ASW configs they are certainly likely to be at risk, I actually think it's mandatory if they operate in these roles they need more protection. There maybe other options, but SeaRam seems to fit the bill perfectly.Sco Mo said about a month ago that the the first 2 arafuras off the slip will be MCM and not constabulary. Will this effect the defensive armament of the class ?Australia's Future MCM Vessels may be Based on Arafura-class OPV Design - Naval News
The Australian Government has announced that a down-select decision was made to explore a variant of the offshore patrol vessels for the new Mine Countermeasures and Survey Vessels under project SEA 1905 Phase 1 for the Royal Australian Navy.www.navalnews.com
Seems a bit light on for a class of ship that can and has gotten in harms way. I mean our most recent VC recipient ( posthumous ) was serving on an MCM when his actions were noted.
Have you got a link for the article on the first 2 Arafura's being fitted out for MCM roles, my apologies if that got posted on here but I missed it.Sco Mo said about a month ago that the the first 2 arafuras off the slip will be MCM and not constabulary. Will this effect the defensive armament of the class ?Australia's Future MCM Vessels may be Based on Arafura-class OPV Design - Naval News
The Australian Government has announced that a down-select decision was made to explore a variant of the offshore patrol vessels for the new Mine Countermeasures and Survey Vessels under project SEA 1905 Phase 1 for the Royal Australian Navy.www.navalnews.com
Seems a bit light on for a class of ship that can and has gotten in harms way. I mean our most recent VC recipient ( posthumous ) was serving on an MCM when his actions were noted.
Sorry? Would you like to back that up with a source. The article attached doesn't support it at all.Sco Mo said about a month ago that the the first 2 arafuras off the slip will be MCM and not constabulary.Australia's Future MCM Vessels may be Based on Arafura-class OPV Design - Naval News
The Australian Government has announced that a down-select decision was made to explore a variant of the offshore patrol vessels for the new Mine Countermeasures and Survey Vessels under project SEA 1905 Phase 1 for the Royal Australian Navy.www.navalnews.com
Sorry mate I'm trying to google it but he said it on tv so i am having a bit of trouble re finding itHave you got a link for the article on the first 2 Arafura's being fitted out for MCM roles, my apologies if that got posted on here but I missed it.
The problem though is that the Arafura MCMs will only be Motherships for Minesweeping Drones. The Huons have a wooden Hull which means they can enter a Minefield safely. The Arafura's will sit well outside the Minefield and deploy the Drones into the Minefield and as far as I know the RAN is yet to invest in that Drone technology.Sorry mate I'm trying to google it but he said it on tv so i am having a bit of trouble re finding it
The Huon class has a wooden hull?The problem though is that the Arafura MCMs will only be Motherships for Minesweeping Drones. The Huons have a wooden Hull which means they can enter a Minefield safely. The Arafura's will sit well outside the Minefield and deploy the Drones into the Minefield and as far as I know the RAN is yet to invest in that Drone technology.
Yes that's probably the case.I don't imagine there will be many differences if any between the MCV and OPV versions of the Arafura. It will just come down to whatever mission module the vessel is fitted with at the time. Even though the navy only has two at the moment I imagine the other OPVs could be pressed into service as MCVs rather quickly in an emergency.
At the moment everything is just speculation, all we really know is that the Arafura class OPV will be the base design.Yes that's probably the case.
The Lurssen design is well thought out and provides flexibility to swap kit in and out depending on the role.
One uncertainty in the MCM role is the ability to carry the MCM support boat.
This boat is integral to the MCM role.
The concern is the boats size.
I'm not sure it will fit either within the stern boat ramp or the side RHIB locations.
No doubt there would be room on the flight / flexi deck, but this would require a dedicated boat cradle, unless the intention is to modify the flight deck area specific to the MCM dedicated vessels.
Anyone know otherwise.
Regards S
Thanks JohnAt the moment everything is just speculation, all we really know is that the Arafura class OPV will be the base design.
The future mine warfare ships could have very minimal modifications, or at the other end of the spectrum, more significant modifications.
The Arafura ships are 80m X 13m, 1640t displacement, and of course a significant large open deck area for almost half the ships length.
For comparison, the new mine warfare ships for the Belgium and Netherlands navies are 82.6m X 17m, 2800t displacement:
Naval Group Lays Keel of 1st MCM Vessel of Belgian-Dutch rMCM Program - Naval News
On 30 November 2021, Naval Group has laid the keel for the first of the twelve mine countermeasure vessels of the Belgian-Dutch rMCM program, intended for Belgium. The keel laying ceremony took place in Concarneau, in the presence of the Belgian Chief of Defence, Admiral Michel Hofman, and the...www.navalnews.com
Firstly I’m not suggesting the Arafura design will be modified to exactly the same extent, but I could reasonably image them having a large ‘hangar’ type structure added to the current ‘flight’ deck to house the various UUV, USV and UAV systems that may be used in the mine warfare role.
Here’s a video with graphics of what the Belgium/Netherlands ships will look like:
Pretty sure you won't either. As usual this subject has veered straight off to deciding how the Arafuras can be changed, rather than answering my question about your reporting the likelihood that the first two would be built as MCM vessels, not OPVs.Sorry mate I'm trying to google it but he said it on tv so i am having a bit of trouble re finding it
If ScoMo actually said that which I doubt, commentators may have got it wrong, then it means RAN have selected an MCM design, re-configured the previous OPV design of the Arafura and then re-built the ship to this new MCM design all with the space of 9 months or so, given the first Arafura is due to hit the water within the next few weeks, I am hearing…Sco Mo said about a month ago that the the first 2 arafuras off the slip will be MCM and not constabulary. Will this effect the defensive armament of the class ?Australia's Future MCM Vessels may be Based on Arafura-class OPV Design - Naval News
The Australian Government has announced that a down-select decision was made to explore a variant of the offshore patrol vessels for the new Mine Countermeasures and Survey Vessels under project SEA 1905 Phase 1 for the Royal Australian Navy.www.navalnews.com
Seems a bit light on for a class of ship that can and has gotten in harms way. I mean our most recent VC recipient ( posthumous ) was serving on an MCM when his actions were noted.