Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates

[icelord]

'The process is stringent and long.
They screen you heavily if you select before recruit training, and you receive a Psych interview before a 3 week selection process conducted at stirling.
After that they will tell you whether your good enough, then you gotta know every single knob and pipe in the sub and what it is used for to get you dolphins. Its a very hard task, but those who are in would not trade it for anything in the world.

 

[StingrayOZ]

Subs would be awesome.

My old man is ex sub (onslow) and they share a bond that is a whole other world deeper than regular ADF. I suppose living in a milo tin under water with 40+ sailors for months would do that.

I would imagine you would have to definately get over your fear. I would imagine you would have to be the sort of person very comfortable with deep deep water, darkness, small spaces, and a overall sense of being squashed. Go watch Das boot.

 

[octopus7]

Thanks for the replies everyone! The more I think about being on subs the more I want to do it, as my niece told me. A surface ship can be just as dangerous as working in a submarine. Small spaces don't worry me as i've never suffered from claustrophobia, neither does the dark or deep water. Just heard that the subs can get a bit smelly with everyone on strict shower rations but I guess thats what deodorant was invented for. I just bought the "Submariners" DVD today that was filmed aboard HMAS Ranklin so that should give me a good insight into what being a submariner is all about.

 

[Pusser01]

Well, we sailed the old girl Adelaide for the last time as a commissioned warship. She sailed into FBW from Freo flying her paying-off pennant. She will remain alongside Stirling until 19th Jan when she will decommission. After that she will sail around to FBE with a skeleton crew where she will be stripped for spares for remaining 4. A bit of a sad day, she will the second one that I have unfortunately paid off along with Canberra.
Cheers

 

[Tasman]

Well, we sailed the old girl Adelaide for the last time as a commissioned warship. She sailed into FBW from Freo flying her paying-off pennant. She will remain alongside Stirling until 19th Jan when she will decommission. After that she will sail around to FBE with a skeleton crew where she will be stripped for spares for remaining 4. A bit of a sad day, she will the second one that I have unfortunately paid off along with Canberra.
Cheers

Pusser, is the stripped down FFG in the attached photo, from the ADF website, of HMAS Collins at Cockburn Sound, taken on Dec 7th, the former Canberra?

Tas

 

[AGRA]

Number '02' on the bow is a dead giveway - ie ex-HMAS Canberra. Plus Adelaide is only decomissioning now, Canberra was decom last year in prep for sinking somewhere as a scuba diver tourist attraction - make more money than selling it to a 3rd world navy or for scrap!

 

[AGRA]

Thanks for the replies everyone! The more I think about being on subs the more I want to do it, as my niece told me. A surface ship can be just as dangerous as working in a submarine. Small spaces don't worry me as i've never suffered from claustrophobia, neither does the dark or deep water. Just heard that the subs can get a bit smelly with everyone on strict shower rations but I guess thats what deodorant was invented for. I just bought the "Submariners" DVD today that was filmed aboard HMAS Ranklin so that should give me a good insight into what being a submariner is all about.

I think you'll find that the most difficult thing about being a submariner is not this kind of perceived fear of submerging (its no big deal – boat goes down, boat comes up – just like an elevator) but all the book work required. A submariner has to be qualified on all the ship’s components. This is a lot of hard work and a lot of sailors have trouble with it. Then there’s also the escape training, which again is not meant to be that hard but you do have to do a >20m underwater ascent. As for the smell, or the ‘pong, the big problem is not BO but the ship’s garbage. Apparently this has been fixed as well by using odour reducing blankets or something for the piles of crap.

 

[Wooki]

Well, we sailed the old girl Adelaide for the last time as a commissioned warship. She sailed into FBW from Freo flying her paying-off pennant. She will remain alongside Stirling until 19th Jan when she will decommission. After that she will sail around to FBE with a skeleton crew where she will be stripped for spares for remaining 4. A bit of a sad day, she will the second one that I have unfortunately paid off along with Canberra.
Cheers

Just think of it as being a part of history. Kind of helps ease the sting a bit. Proud crew and proud ship and if it helps she survived two attempts by my crew to steal an aussie flag off her. But they did have fun trying.

cheers

w

 

[Tasman]

Number '02' on the bow is a dead giveway - ie ex-HMAS Canberra.

Thanks AGRA. You've got better eyes than me. I had to go back to the ADF site and download the hi res version before I could see the number!

Tas

 

[Tasman]

Pusser's 'old girl' still looks pretty good in the ADF image gallery showing HMAS Adelaide arriving at Fleet Base West for the last time.

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2007/Dec/20071212a/index.htm

It looks like Adelaide certainly has some gear worth recycling through the fleet (e.g. Vulcan Phalanx CIWS, quad Nulka launchers, etc).

Tas

 

[Pusser01]

Pusser's 'old girl' still looks pretty good in the ADF image gallery showing HMAS Adelaide arriving at Fleet Base West for the last time.

Yeah, the old girl should still look good even in the twilight of her life. We have spent a fair bit of time chipping & painting to keep her looking at her best until she decommissions. We are still using bits of the ex Canberra, only a month ago parts for a switchboard were pulled of to help keep Adelaide going. We aren't sure as to when the Vic government is going to assume ownership of Canberra and tow her away. At this stage the Adelaide is to be sunk off Terrigal, not sure when though.
Cheers

 

[t68]

Thanks for the replies everyone! The more I think about being on subs the more I want to do it, as my niece told me. A surface ship can be just as dangerous as working in a submarine. Small spaces don't worry me as i've never suffered from claustrophobia, neither does the dark or deep water. Just heard that the subs can get a bit smelly with everyone on strict shower rations but I guess thats what deodorant was invented for. I just bought the "Submariners" DVD today that was filmed aboard HMAS Ranklin so that should give me a good insight into what being a submariner is all about.

Hi Octopus7

The dvd you bought is that the one that was on foxtel or a different show?

I remember seeing the trailers for the sub show on fox; i really wanted to watch it but could not as I am on the road all the time.

Can you tell me where you bought the dvd from ?


Thanks in advance

Regards
Tom

 

[gf0012-aust]

Hi Octopus7

The dvd you bought is that the one that was on foxtel or a different show?

I remember seeing the trailers for the sub show on fox; i really wanted to watch it but could not as I am on the road all the time.

Can you tell me where you bought the dvd from ?


Thanks in advance

Regards
Tom

You can get it at the ABC Shop, Dymocks and I think at JB HiFi

 

[octopus7]

I actually picked up my copy from a Robertson's bookshop that has an inbuilt ABC shop (Frankston, VIC) for $24.95.
But as gf0012-aust said it can also be purchased from the stores mentioned as well as bought online from Dymocks.
link:
http://www.dymocks.com.au/ProductDetails/ProductDetail.aspx?R=9786000160968

 

[rossfrb_1]

Hi Octopus7

The dvd you bought is that the one that was on foxtel or a different show?

I remember seeing the trailers for the sub show on fox; i really wanted to watch it but could not as I am on the road all the time.

Can you tell me where you bought the dvd from ?


Thanks in advance

Regards
Tom

mail order dvd's in oz
http://www.dvdplaza.com.au/pricecrawler/
search term submariners

enjoy

rb

 

[t68]

Hi Guys

I was surfing the net looking for information for another thread when I found this regarding the early years and problems facing the Collins class submarines.

http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rp/2001-02/02rp03.htm

It makes for some interesting reading.

I know they are starting to look at building a new fleet of subs for the RAN, I also hope they have learned a few hard lessons from this

With regards to the new sub are they going to go with that is tried and tested or are they going with a blank piece of paper and starting a new design that would meet all Australian needs

Can I have someone give some answers to what Australia needs from ours subs are, what equipment should be mandatory for subs what mission profiles you can see the subs doing and how many do we realistically need?

I don’t know much about subs in fact I don’t know anything really, but would it have merit in the idea in that we go some thing similar to the USN in 2 types as in say we have 2/3 subs that can suit our strategic needs (long range weapons I know it is not in the governments idea to have these sorts weapons) and the rest more of an offence platform or something similar to the new USN where they can deploy special force and associated equipment (I cant remember its name of class but I saw a doco on fox about it)


I also found on the ASC web about new concept of mini subs similar to uav
http://www.asc.com.au/aspx/submarines_submarines_of_future.aspx

Has anyone seen or heard of this before? Or is this something of a wish list that ASC is playing with, it seems like everything is going to an unmanned version of things


REGARDS
TOM

 

[enghave]

With regards to the new sub are they going to go with that is tried and tested, or are they going with a blank piece of paper and starting a new design that would meet all Australian needs.

Shadow Minister for Defence Joel Fitzgibbon on New Submarines 20 Aug 07

It looks like they'll be built here regardless of whether they're new (read untested) or proven.

 

[FutureTank]

Shadow Minister for Defence Joel Fitzgibbon on New Submarines 20 Aug 07

It looks like they'll be built here regardless of whether they're new (read untested) or proven.

I'm curious how long diesel subs can remain viable.

 

[diggumsbang]

could someone please inform me of the land attack capabilities that the Harpoon Bk II have? as in what would it be used to attack against exactly?
also would like to know if the total of 8 (in two quad cannisters) is some magical number? why not more...
cheers

 

[StingrayOZ]

Talk to GF.

Work started years ago, rumors suggest a pioneering design, but this would seem to fly in the face of the collins project where there was too much risk. Pumpjet, electronic everything, not conventional diesel (although would have some sort of diesel engine in it even just as AUX). Definately room would be dedicated for spec ops etc as there is some now in the Collins.

The AGM-84E uses an inertial navigation system with GPS, infrared terminal guidance, and is fitted with a Tomahawk warhead for better penetration.

In other words it would be fine to attack stationary targets or very slow moving ones. Simular targets as you would use a tomahawk for, but it doesn't have a tomahawks range or terrain radar mapping system.

I belive they are all going to be upgraded so that all Harpoons allow GPS guidance so any could be used as land attack or antishipping. Claytons Tomahawk, the tomahawk you have when your not having a Tomahawk.

Personally I would like to see:
4,000-4,500 t displacement
Some wiz bang fuel cell or AIP system
Still have two diesel engines
At least some externally mounted arms in conformal packaging (counter measures, torpedos, mines and Harpoons)
Crew of 35
All the nice sensors, noise reduction and surface stuff