nope but according to the waikato times she lost a RHIB in a storm off the coast somewhere in the tasmanSpeaking of new ships, has anyone had a look round Canterbury yet?
If you goto http://www.shipspotting.com and search under HMNZS Canterbury L-421 you will get some internal shots of Canterbury (Also under ship interiors), plus some of her entering Timaru.Speaking of new ships, has anyone had a look round Canterbury yet?
In tuesday's NZ Herald, there was a small article about a farmer on Great Barrier Island, swimming out through the surf to attach a line to the RHIB, and he then towed it a shore with his tractorNot the Tasman - somewhere off the BoP, port RHIB lost.
Not unexpected as RAN purchased similar units about 4 months back. the kiwis were in the region testing "product" along with RAN and DSTO colleagues.Came across some news on www.DIAR.com about the RNZN purchasing HYDROID REMUS 100 AUV -- three of them. Sounds like its not all doom an gloom in this area. Remember seeing a tv documentary on Discovery Channel about these - being used by US Navy - quite impressive
Also from the same site - SeeByte Ltd a Scottish firm is to supply quote: "Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) sidescan embedded mine Computer Aided Detection and Classification (CAD/CAC) systems, including its ‘SeeTrack’ military-grade software" end quote
Link to site:
http://www.diar.com/data/news07.htm
Agreed, a 25mm MSI would also be a great training platform to allow the crew (and the VR) to become familiar with these guns as found on the larger OPV's etc, eg would allow the crew to train on spotting and tracking targets at nighttime and in times of low visibility etc (not that they expect to run into trouble but again it would be great for training). Maybe a future low-cost upgrade consideration?Yes IPV very sexy looking...pity there won't be a 25mm MSI mount up front!
Article with picture attached at link below...enjoy!
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0708/S00036.htm
I like the idea of submarines for the navy maybe germany's type 212/214 are possibilities as the collins seems to have a few problems. It acts as a very good deterrent to surface fleets and are excellent in recon activities as well as acompanying our vessels into conflict zones. As usual everything comes down to cost and whether we really need them but in terms of hostile encounters nothing puts an opposing surface fleet or submarines for that matter on edge to know that a sub is in the area but not knowing where???Agree, today's warships are far more superior than the previous generations in just about everyway you can think of etc. Hence despite the drop in numbers, we have more capability and versitility (but less hulls in the water)! Agree that in today's environment (post cold war, terrorism, regional instability etc) would be better to assess the alternatives to simply an all Frigate force (the Frigate's no doubt were/are important for coalition type/ASW situations eg the minimum that NZ could contribute to be seen to be affective and useful etc). In today's environment, policing the region and showing the flag ie not operating as part of a task force, then agree, more OPV's/Corvettes would be useful (I read once, actually the last time a Frigate visited Samoa a couple of years ago now, that a NZ Frigate only visited Samoa (and other neighbours) once every two years! Personally I'd like to see at least 3 Frigates and at least 3 OPV's/Corvettes eg something that would be suited to Pacific and Southern Ocean patrolling, but could range further into SEAsia if required etc). Personally on the other hand, if the "world situation" deteriorated and we ever needed to increase our "fighting forces", rather than a 4th or 5th Frigate etc, I like us to have at least a couple of subs a la Collins (ouch, that'll get some reaction, but seriously back in the 80's when NZ looked as though they would participate in the original project, I recalll one selling point was they would only be half the cost of a Frigate. I wonder now though, seeing all the enhancements and planned upgrades that the RAN has for the Collins, whether they would actually cost alot more than an ANZAC Frigate nowadays, which if so, would price them out of our reach)?
Anyway talking about alternatives (to extra Frigates, OPV's, Corvettes etc), does anyone have an opinion on whether we should be putting more importance on upgrading the MCM vessels with something purpose built (ex-USN Ospreys, RN Sandowns, new built Aussie Huons etc), something the last Maritime Forces review supported (but Govt not actioning yet)? These vessels would also have a useful peacetime role (Gulf operations etc), but what would be the other issues, having enough specialised crew, divers etc?
And does anyone have an opinion on the opportunities the Naval Reserve will have with the new Lake IPC's? If I understand correctly the 4 RNZNVR's had their own Moa IPC's, which were all transferred to DNB a couple of years back due to shortages of ships for training (eg Canterbury decommissioning). Once the new Lake IPC's are commissioned, the local VR's won't have an IPC in their home port but instead an opportunity to spend some time on a visiting IPC etc. This is surely provide great opportunities for the VR's but I wonder whether not having a local boat around 24/7 will become a bit of a disinsentive? So, is this an issue or not? If it is, what's a better solution, replace the Moa's? Fund additional Lake IPC's for the VR (would that ever be likely)?
Submarines are Ok for the future (when NZ gets back to 6 frigates), but at the present time they lack the flexability that the RNZN needs to perform all its current roles. Thats the primary reason the RNZN opposed Muldoons submarine idea in the early 1980's. If we were to get Subs, we'd need something more like the collins than the 214 (they're too small for our region)I like the idea of submarines for the navy maybe germany's type 212/214 are possibilities as the collins seems to have a few problems. It acts as a very good deterrent to surface fleets and are excellent in recon activities as well as acompanying our vessels into conflict zones. As usual everything comes down to cost and whether we really need them but in terms of hostile encounters nothing puts an opposing surface fleet or submarines for that matter on edge to know that a sub is in the area but not knowing where???
I heard that the RNZN has only two ANZAC class Frigates in service.:ar15Submarines are Ok for the future (when NZ gets back to 6 frigates), but at the present time they lack the flexability that the RNZN needs to perform all its current roles. Thats the primary reason the RNZN opposed Muldoons submarine idea in the early 1980's. If we were to get Subs, we'd need something more like the collins than the 214 (they're too small for our region)
]I heard that the RNZN has only two ANZAC class Frigates in service.:ar15
Well why did they retire the other 4 frigates and 2 cruisers?:unknown]
True, but once apon a time NZ had six frigate and we even operated a pair of cruisers for a time.
Because, by the mid 60's they were worn out, too expensive to run for the limited capability they then offered, and were obsolete. They were replaced by British type 12 frigates {Whitby/Leanders) which were themselves replaced by two ANZAC class and, effectivly, the current group of patrol vessels.Well why did they retire the other 4 frigates and 2 cruisers?:unknown
But they still should have maintain 6 frigates and 2 cruisers.Because, by the mid 60's they were worn out, too expensive to run for the limited capability they then offered, and were obsolete. They were replaced by British type 12 frigates {Whitby/Leanders) which were themselves replaced by two ANZAC class and, effectivly, the current group of patrol vessels.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA New Zealand with cruisers, what are you thinking? Do you really see the kiwi Navy with a Ticondegra or even the KDXIII? They struggle to crew the ANZACs as it is, and will be in trouble when the IPV and OPVs deploy. Considering the RAN deploy twice as much as the RNZN i'd see a cruiser as more appropriate here then there, but that won't happen anytime soon.But they still should have maintain 6 frigates and 2 cruisers.