The LCS is a direct development of the 127m car ferry concept while the MRV uses the same hull form concept.
From the blurb on the 127m ferry then the beginning of sea state 5 would normally be tops (the ship should be heading for refuge or in refuge)..
The LCS can recover aircraft in upto sea state 5. I think LCS will be able to operate in sea state 5 (obviously not at 47kts!).
The MRV seems to have evolved much from origional ferry drawings. I would imagine this is to improve sea keeping. It looks a lot less beamy. I would imagine it too would be able to handle simular sea states to a LCS.
Vessels like the oceanic viking are made for the southern ocean patrolling(9,000t). Given that to get there they have to sail either east or west Australia we are better off leaving patrolling that area to ships like oceanic viking. 3,000 nm off the coast of Au in southern waters is no place for these smaller units.
I wonder if the government would ever plan to operate both the Armidale and the MRC (not in replacement). Could we man that?
I really like the MRC concept, and what it could offer RAN and for the region. A MRC could make a trip out to Fiji, solomons or island parts of PNG. Next civil unrest/disaster we can at first sign put out one or two MRC's to ensure 3rd parties don't take advantage of the situation, to provide a green water mini seabase for policing operations, medical, aid, an evacuation point for embassy staff etc. If things get hairy then we have destroyers, frigates and LHD's. Combined with these the MRC offer useful amphibious support (such as intratheatre lift).
Seems a hell of a lot more useful than just a HSV type vessel. Or a regular patrol boat.