Why, we had another Melborne! Don't forget Voyager I had quite a distiguished record.
Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates
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StevoJH
The Bunker Group
Victory wont happen.
Vampire wont happen as long as the Daring class is still afloat.
I don't have any issue with naming ships/subs after heros of the RAN, a couple more names for the future could be Stoker (CO of AE2) or Getting (CO of Canberra at Savo Island).
Armidale certainly derserves its current name, it was after all the ship that Teddy Sheehan fought for.
As for not using a name because a museum ship has it, Diamantina is currently floating in Brisbane (unless the drydock has been pumped out after the floods) while the current minehunter is in Sydney thus no reason why Vampire couldn't be used.
I wouldn't mind seeing some of our larger battles used for names, already have Tobruk, could see the same for Gallipoli, Long Tan, Kokoda and am sure there are others that are suitable.
As for the names of the LHD's I reckon the name of a state could be used, HMAS Tasmania sounds good
Cheers
Armidale certainly derserves its current name, it was after all the ship that Teddy Sheehan fought for.
As for not using a name because a museum ship has it, Diamantina is currently floating in Brisbane (unless the drydock has been pumped out after the floods) while the current minehunter is in Sydney thus no reason why Vampire couldn't be used.
I wouldn't mind seeing some of our larger battles used for names, already have Tobruk, could see the same for Gallipoli, Long Tan, Kokoda and am sure there are others that are suitable.
As for the names of the LHD's I reckon the name of a state could be used, HMAS Tasmania sounds good
Cheers
they could be revived under a new "Battle Class"
Completely agree.
Although there has been no RAN VC's to date, there were four George Crosses to the RAN in WWII and one during the loss of the Voyager.
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Cheers
It doesn’t take much in these days of Google and Wikipedia to actually check and see what names starting with V the RAN has had before. Apart from the Scrap Iron Flotilla HMAS Vigilant is perhaps most significant being the first Australian designed and built warship. As to Victory and Victorious why name two ships after the one thing? Like naming the HMA Ships Happy and Happiness…
The problem here is the RAN tends to name ITS ships for battles it fought in. There was no Navy presence at Long Tan or Kokoda. Anzac and Tobruk had Navy gloriously dieing in the bucket loads so earning their places on the honour roll.
Personally I think there are two areas where the Navy can get a fair bit of community mileage and sailor morale. Navy heroes and Australian animals. The Collins class has some great names except for the first two. So what if Collins and Farncomb where the RAN’s first two Admirals (not the first Australian Admirals) hardly inspiring stuff 50 years later. Waller, Dechaineux, Sheean and Rankin all fought their ships to their deaths. There are quite a few more similar people in the Navy’s history. With all the fuss over the lack of WWII VCs for the Navy ship names would be a far better award in perpetuity.
Australia also has lots of distinctive aggressive animals that would serve as good ship names. HMA Ships/Submarines White Pointer, Kambara*, Taipan, Irukandji, Blue Ring, Stonefish, Red Back, etc. * Aboriginal name for Salt Water Crocodile. More placid ships like the LHDs could be named for less aggressive but distinctive animals like HMA Ships Kangaroo and Wombat.
But none of this is going to compete with naming ships after towns, cities, suburbs or rivers. This is where people live and the community connection is gold for politicians and peace time Navy leaderships. For the pride in ship of the sailors serving onboard HMA Ships “Boondocks” I guess it could be worse. Public service post modernism could determine ship names and they could be named the Property of the Government of Australia Allocated to the Navy as a Ship (PGAANS) “A Fair and Equitable Place in the Global Community”.
Agree, it would be hard to change this tradition, naming ships after cities and towns around the country instills a sence of ownership and pride in the ship named after your city/town.
I like the idea of naming after the animals though ! Looks like Thales were on the right track
HMAS Platypus for the submarine base is a classic. Many of the RAN's bases are named after animals.
Thing is unless they are water based animals you might end up in conflict with the army or airforce. In casual conversation Wombat could mean a dozen different things.
Thing is unless they are water based animals you might end up in conflict with the army or airforce. In casual conversation Wombat could mean a dozen different things.
A
Aussie Digger
Guest
I think it might be a while before anyone enthusiastically adopts the name - HMAS Wombat...
HMAS Barge Arse...
I like HMAS Canberra, because its expensive, full of brass, slow and flat, just like canberra.
I like HMAS Canberra, because its expensive, full of brass, slow and flat, just like canberra.
RubiconNZ
The Wanderer
To strike fear in the heart of Australia's enemiesI think it might be a while before anyone enthusiastically adopts the name - HMAS Wombat...
The Small Fluffy Mammal class:
HMAS Koala Bear (sic)
HMAS Bilby
HMAS Sugar Glider
Though HMAS Thalycine actually sounds alright
Bay Class bids are closing in a couple of weeks, with a decision next month.
We've been told the RAN manning numbers, not sure if I can make it public though.
We've been told the RAN manning numbers, not sure if I can make it public though.
YOUR 'NEW' LHD, is it being built in-country ? If so then spending your dollars in Oz is the best way to get value for money, as the cash hopefully comes back to the country, via taxes, employees spending their hard earned, as well as buying from Australian suppliers.
If it's being built in Spain, does it make sense to have it shipped back to Oz for fitting out, or actually buying from Australian suppliers, then have the goods shipped to Spain?
To be honest, if it's the Spanish option, I think it'd cost more purely because of the transport costs...
$350M is chicken feed ! If it costs that much to buy & modify the ship, it will be a WHOLE lot quicker than building from scratch (i'd estimate at less than 1 year, whereas new build you're talking nearer 3 years)
Good points, well made. However is a Ro-Ro the way to go ? Great for transporting veichles, but not ideal for providing support during disaster relief, unless you've got a functioning, safe harbour, but I think you're also asking the right questions about Helo's & Landing craft, after all, do you have them, are they ready to go, or are ya gonna have to spend MORE cash ??
I have a feeling that the UK Govt isn't 'dicking around' , but that the issues are closer to the Govt in the southern hemisphere ! :idea2
As for a can of worms, Hmmm...
I PERSONALLY, don't buy that ! Having worked on all 4 ships, as a sub-cotractor, during the build & testing phase, I know what happened at Swan's & the UK Govt made the best decision to give them to BAE to 'Finish them off'.:dance
(It should also be clarified that BAE was asked to assist in finishing off Largs while she was still at Swan's, otherwise she'd have been in a very similar state to Lyme Bay! But that discussion isn't for this fora (as it's off topic....)):argue
SA
A Roro would be complimentary to the sealift we are getting and planning to get. If leased it would be easily disposed of. I only listed it as one of many options. We don't have to get Largs, there are other equally good options that already floating around at the moment (Fodure). Very comparible to the Largs. There was much rumor a while back it being a HSV some sort of 150m long tri or cat.
That is proberly true.. Im not against Largs, its proberly the most capable, just against a rip off or having our hand forced into something we might regret.
HSV tens to be quite fragile and have a very limited deadweight meaning the available volume does not necessarly relate to carriage capacity in mass.
With cargo RO-RO's (as opposed to pure car and truck carriers) they really do need a port and in msot case one with a sloping ramp or compensating ramp to line up with the ships stern ramps. This will reduce ther utiltiy a bit but then ahve problay the best deck loadings.
Pure car and truck carriers have long ramps but have limited deck laodings and a high windage (so tugs may be requried for handling in some conditions).
Finally cargo RO-RO;s tend to used on a fixed trade and when the are sold on are oftern quite knackered. This option could lead to Charles Upam allover again.
Trouble is we don't have a few years, we need the Bay Class now, even if our bid is successful, we wouldn't see her in Australian waters until at least the end of the year. We'd be getting the sea-lift ship, a few years earlier, all be it a second hand, almost new vessel.
The UK government, isn't 'dicking' anyone around, seven countries have put bids in for Largs Bay, only they know if they will be swayed financially or politically to the winning countries bid.
We'll find out next month
I reckon it would be a good way to get your career nutz cut off...
absolutely. they are very very focused on getting rid of her. the dicking around will come from the successful bidder then negotiating the final reqs for release and transfer and what bits are coming with it.
if other countries put in a bid for largs and include other gear on their shopping list, then that would impact.
anyone who just wants a ship has the potential to lose out in the above scenario - unless they pay over and above
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