Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates

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ThePuss

Defense Professional
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As to the LCM 2000's they are laid up at a civy boat shop next to CNB. After 10 years of sitting on hard stands the ADF must not want them, Civy service is the best they can look forward too. If you are interested you can see them "High and Dry" on Goggle Earth.
"Brain Fart" on my behalf:rolleyes::....as Army vessels they operate or rather WOULD of operated out of Ross Island in Townsville. If anybody is interested you can see them just north east of the Army's Ross Island base on Google Earth (Tried to link but epic fail on my behalf).
 

Abraham Gubler

Defense Professional
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"Brain Fart" on my behalf:rolleyes::....as Army vessels they operate or rather WOULD of operated out of Ross Island in Townsville. If anybody is interested you can see them just north east of the Army's Ross Island base on Google Earth (Tried to link but epic fail on my behalf).
I had attached an image of this a few months ago in this very thread. Should still be in my attachments folder and will try and attach it again.
 
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Systems Adict

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
One point I don't think anybody has broached is what we will operate from the well deck. The Bays operate one LCU MK 10. which is significantly larger (29.7 X 7.4) than a LCM-8 (22.3 X 6.4). I do not know what the dimension of a LCM-1e is, but I think it is the same as a LCM-8. I really doubt that we will will buy or lease a MK10 due to orphan issues so it looks like LCM-8 will operate from the dock, hopefully organically until the LCM-1E come online (probably with an enlarged order). I have been unable to find the dock dimensions of a Bay but I believe one of our LCVP at 13.2 X 3.6 would also probably fit in addition to a LCM-8 as the one photo of the dock I can find it looks quite long.
Here's a couple of shots of the well-dock (complete with LCU's), from a visit I had a few years ago, during a Press Day, when one of the Bays had just been commissioned.

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/british-warships/p43808-lcu-in-well-dock.html

LCU + RHIB in Well Dock - Military Pictures - Air Force Army Navy Missiles Defense

Hope they give you a better impression of how things are on board....

SA
 

Pusser01

The Bunker Group
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Cheers for the info mate, I would be intersted to find out what the Cairns based LCVP is used for?.

I do remember in the dim dark recesses of my mind Toby with NLE's strapped to her sides (But from pickies from way before I joined up....which in two days = 12 years.....I'm feeling old :(). Out of interest was the NLE's powered?

As to the LCM 2000's they are laid up at a civy boat shop next to CNB. After 10 years of sitting on hard stands the ADF must not want them, Civy service is the best they can look forward too. If you are interested you can see them "High and Dry" on Goggle Earth.
You beat me to 12years by a few months, 23 May for me.
The Cairns LCVP, T4, is used by the Reserve divers aswell as a general runabout like a Stebber or NWB.

The NLE's were powered by 2 GM 4-71 diesel "Harbourmaster" propelling units. They could carry up to 80 tonnes which wasn't too shabby.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the LCM2000'a noting they were put onto the "Projects of Concern List" back in Oct.
Here is a link showing them ashore around middle of last year.
Cheers

Million dollar craft lay idle | Townsville Bulletin News
 
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aussienscale

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Good find, are you on the M or K ?

Just to tack on a quote from The Australian quoting Stephen Smith
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...ng-craft-project/story-e6frg8yo-1225998024800

Quote "Meanwhile, Mr Smith said that Australia and New Zealand could jointly operate a new amphibious landing ship under a plan in which the elderly landing ship HMAS Manoora is replaced by a UK vessel.

Australia's amphibious vessels have often been used for regional disaster relief missions in conjunction with New Zealand.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith said he would discuss with his NZ counterpart the option of both nations jointly operating a new vessel"

Would be interesting to know if this has been discussed or just an off the cuff thought ?
 
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dave_kiwi

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Interesting, so, if I figure correctly, RAN is down to one @ 48 HRS notice, and the RNZN's "ferry" (as some like to deride the Canterbury") is the other.

Seems like the Canterbury does have its uses after all.

Wonder if this means the RN's "surplus" BAY class is a serious contender
 

aussienscale

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Interesting, so, if I figure correctly, RAN is down to one @ 48 HRS notice, and the RNZN's "ferry" (as some like to deride the Canterbury") is the other.

Seems like the Canterbury does have its uses after all.

Wonder if this means the RN's "surplus" BAY class is a serious contender
Read back through the thread, lots of discussion and links about the Bay Class, also look at the "Hypothetical RAN Carrier" thread, lots of info there as well :)
 

dave_kiwi

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Read back through the thread, lots of discussion and links about the Bay Class, also look at the "Hypothetical RAN Carrier" thread, lots of info there as well :)
Understand, actually was being slightly tongue in cheek .. often the RNZN is panned for its lack of capability, and it would appear for at the moment, its in a position to be "useful" <sic>. As for the BAY, have been following, but I guess should have included this reference:

Quote "Meanwhile, Mr Smith said that Australia and New Zealand could jointly operate a new amphibious landing ship under a plan in which the elderly landing ship HMAS Manoora is replaced by a UK vessel.

Australia's amphibious vessels have often been used for regional disaster relief missions in conjunction with New Zealand.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith said he would discuss with his NZ counterpart the option of both nations jointly operating a new vessel"

So, what I was implying does this make the BAY a "fore-gone" purchase / lease, given that there has been no (as far as I am aware) official announcement, and events seem to be moving quite fast. (ie decom of Manoora etc)
 

StoresBasher

The Bunker Group
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Understand, actually was being slightly tongue in cheek .. often the RNZN is panned for its lack of capability, and it would appear for at the moment, its in a position to be "useful" <sic>. As for the BAY, have been following, but I guess should have included this reference:

Quote "Meanwhile, Mr Smith said that Australia and New Zealand could jointly operate a new amphibious landing ship under a plan in which the elderly landing ship HMAS Manoora is replaced by a UK vessel.

Australia's amphibious vessels have often been used for regional disaster relief missions in conjunction with New Zealand.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith said he would discuss with his NZ counterpart the option of both nations jointly operating a new vessel"

So, what I was implying does this make the BAY a "fore-gone" purchase / lease, given that there has been no (as far as I am aware) official announcement, and events seem to be moving quite fast. (ie decom of Manoora etc)
I don't know if we'd need to jointly operate a BC, given the crew manning would easily be covered by Manoora's ship's company.
Maybe the RAN is looking at something with a bigger ship's company and capacity?
 

aussienscale

The Bunker Group
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Understand, actually was being slightly tongue in cheek .. often the RNZN is panned for its lack of capability, and it would appear for at the moment, its in a position to be "useful" <sic>. As for the BAY, have been following, but I guess should have included this reference:

Quote "Meanwhile, Mr Smith said that Australia and New Zealand could jointly operate a new amphibious landing ship under a plan in which the elderly landing ship HMAS Manoora is replaced by a UK vessel.

Australia's amphibious vessels have often been used for regional disaster relief missions in conjunction with New Zealand.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith said he would discuss with his NZ counterpart the option of both nations jointly operating a new vessel"

So, what I was implying does this make the BAY a "fore-gone" purchase / lease, given that there has been no (as far as I am aware) official announcement, and events seem to be moving quite fast. (ie decom of Manoora etc)
Ahh ok I get it :) Well if I was a betting man.......and I am :D it would be worthwhile putting some money each way, but I would rather see a buy than lease, and looking at the blowtorch that has been set to the RN I could not see them wanting or getting it back in the forseeable future

SB I wonder what else they have to throw away that is lurking in the RN closet I wonder ?
 

StoresBasher

The Bunker Group
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Ahh ok I get it :) Well if I was a betting man.......and I am :D it would be worthwhile putting some money each way, but I would rather see a buy than lease, and looking at the blowtorch that has been set to the RN I could not see them wanting or getting it back in the forseeable future

SB I wonder what else they have to throw away that is lurking in the RN closet I wonder ?
I don't know and a quick look at the recent decommissioned RN ships, dosen't give any clues to any other ships that might be in any potential deal.
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
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The LCM's have been canned as well - unsurprising in light of the inexorable but slow move to kill off bill and ben....
 

RubiconNZ

The Wanderer
I don't know and a quick look at the recent decommissioned RN ships, dosen't give any clues to any other ships that might be in any potential deal.
Well I think if one assumed the RAN purchase a Bay Class, then the additional "new ship" to be co-operated (see what I did there) with the RNZN could be an up an up strategic lift ship perhaps even a COTS vessel in purely as a transfer from A-B vessel, this is real important for the NZ government here, the Aus Gov has reached out here it can't (should not) continue to be slapped away by the NZ gov for opportunities, over in the RNZN discussion there has been talk how even though the Canterbury has been relatively effective it does not meet the required lift capability has earlier specified.

How exciting, not something I was expecting out of the demise of the LPA's. How awesome would a co-crew Abasalon be, perfect as a Pacific based ANZAC vessel, though I'm sure that's not the ship they would be looking at.
 
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Todjaeger

Potstirrer
I saw that, will they not fit/work on either the Canberra's or the Bay should that happen?
Not likely. The size of the LCM-2000 was not the only issue they had apparently. From this post by Abe earlier in this thread, there was/is an issue with the quality of the welds in the aluminum hull.

That is the sort of QC issue that leaves LCM crews with a sinking feeling that the RAN does not like them. Pardon the pun.:D

-Cheers
 

Kirkzzy

New Member
Anyone got any ideas on what defence is going to use instead? Or much more important, how much will another project like this cost?
 

aussienscale

The Bunker Group
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Anyone got any ideas on what defence is going to use instead? Or much more important, how much will another project like this cost?
As far as landing craft go it is all covered under JP2048 Ph 3, here is the link, first pass approval is complete
Defence Capability Plan 2009 - Public Version
They are looking at vessels along the lines of the Navantia LCM1E, although as has been pointed out numerous times before it is not the best example out there
 
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