StevoJH
The Bunker Group
She was only a couple of km's out when I looked at the AIS site earlier (well before you posted).
Australian waters end 12 or 13nm out don't they?
Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates
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Australian waters end 12 or 13nm out don't they?
Todjaeger
Potstirrer
A question I have been meaning to ask...
I have been meaning to ask this question.
I have occasionally come across references to an Australian Fleet Auxiliary, unfortunately I have been able to find out little about it/them.
AFAIK, the Australian Fleet Auxiliary operated during WWII, and seemed to mostly operate support vessels like the Australian Hospital Ships.
Could anyone direct me to more information about what they did, and if there is any provision for the Fleet Auxiliary to reform?
For those wondering, I became interested in the potential for an Australian version for the RFA and/or USN Sealift Command where logistics ships could potentially be operated by civilian crews.
-Cheers
I have been meaning to ask this question.
I have occasionally come across references to an Australian Fleet Auxiliary, unfortunately I have been able to find out little about it/them.
AFAIK, the Australian Fleet Auxiliary operated during WWII, and seemed to mostly operate support vessels like the Australian Hospital Ships.
Could anyone direct me to more information about what they did, and if there is any provision for the Fleet Auxiliary to reform?
For those wondering, I became interested in the potential for an Australian version for the RFA and/or USN Sealift Command where logistics ships could potentially be operated by civilian crews.
-Cheers
Admin. Seriously, there was no need for this follow up. the OP was just making a reference to distance. No need to get prickly
It's christmas, stay festive
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good to know she's at least in interstate phone call range for christmas!
Well we really made Choules feel at home today with driving wind and rain!...Just like the "Old Country"
I was surprise by the size of the thing, She dwarfs Sirius. I think you wold become very fit on her going up and down all those decks!.
She retains her RN Grey which made our our other ships very Green by comparison.
I have put my name down for a tour tomorrow, fingers crossed!
Anyway good to see her finally here!
View attachment 5067 View attachment 5068
I was surprise by the size of the thing, She dwarfs Sirius. I think you wold become very fit on her going up and down all those decks!.
She retains her RN Grey which made our our other ships very Green by comparison.
I have put my name down for a tour tomorrow, fingers crossed!
Anyway good to see her finally here!
View attachment 5067 View attachment 5068
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Anixtu
New Member
12 decks high from tank top to monkey island, 14 steps per deck, no passenger lifts. The tallest stairwell is 9 decks high.
John Newman
The Bunker Group
When she gets here to Sydney in a little while I wonder where she will be docked? Maybe under the hammer head where Melbourne used to tie up all those years ago!Well we really made Choules feel at home today with driving wind and rain!...Just like the "Old Country"
I was surprise by the size of the thing, She dwarfs Sirius. I think you wold become very fit on her going up and down all those decks!.
She retains her RN Grey which made our our other ships very Green by comparison.
I have put my name down for a tour tomorrow, fingers crossed!
Anyway good to see her finally here!
View attachment 5067 View attachment 5068
Does anybody know if Choules will be open for inspection anytime soon?
Well we really made Choules feel at home today with driving wind and rain!...Just like the "Old Country"
I was surprise by the size of the thing, She dwarfs Sirius. I think you wold become very fit on her going up and down all those decks!.
She retains her RN Grey which made our our other ships very Green by comparison.
I have put my name down for a tour tomorrow, fingers crossed!
Anyway good to see her finally here!
View attachment 5067 View attachment 5068
Anyone know why they retained the RN grey when A&P repainted her in refit? Paint can be mixed anywhere.
Doesn't seem to be the full oz bottle until she's the jolly green giant. I love that colour, hardest colour to see in SE Asian waters (been there, done that)
Sorry for the lack of updates since we left Falmouth, no wifi onboard and I can't access this forum through the DRNWell we really made Choules feel at home today with driving wind and rain!...Just like the "Old Country"
I was surprise by the size of the thing, She dwarfs Sirius. I think you wold become very fit on her going up and down all those decks!.
She retains her RN Grey which made our our other ships very Green by comparison.
I have put my name down for a tour tomorrow, fingers crossed!
Anyway good to see her finally here!
View attachment 5067 View attachment 5068
Yes we arrived to day and the RFA guys onboard took the piss out of the weather of course. Not sure why it was painted RN grey.
Those bloody stairs, I've lost 11kg going up and down them.
I like the Aussie "Green Gray" too, Realy handy when you have a few too many in Pearl and you tell the Taxi Driver to "thake me tooz the greeeeen shup"Anyone know why they retained the RN grey when A&P repainted her in refit? Paint can be mixed anywhere.
Doesn't seem to be the full oz bottle until she's the jolly green giant. I love that colour, hardest colour to see in SE Asian waters (been there, done that)
2Yeah we guessed that that, Seems like a slow transit with only a couple of days in Cape Town to break it up.Sorry for the lack of updates since we left Falmouth, no wifi onboard and I can't access this forum through the DRN
Yes we arrived to day and the RFA guys onboard took the piss out of the weather of course. Not sure why it was painted RN grey.
Those bloody stairs, I've lost 11kg going up and down them.
Out of interest how many RFA guys remain onboard and are they integrating well with the crew?
Not sure the exact amount, but a few engineers, I don't see them much, but the seem to be getting on well from all reports.
Anixtu
New Member
I have a list that indicates the RFA former XO and MEO are onboard, three junior marine engineers and two junior electrical/electronic engineers.
An Australian Naval Auxillary does nto exist under law. If the navy were to pruchase a commercial vessel and operate it with a commercial crew then it would need a civlian operator and would be subject to civilain regulation and could only operate within the limits of their certification.
If owned by the navy the main difference would be that they would be Commonwealth vessels.
.
Todjaeger
Potstirrer
I will see if I can locate the reference again, but I do recall it specifically spoke of an Australian Fleet Auxiliary which sounded similar to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
-Cheers
There was an RAN Auxiliary Mine Counter Measures capability based on civilian craft of opportunity. They were RAN rather than civilian crewed though. Could this be what you were thinking of?
Landing on a patrol boat in rough seas
http://video.news.com.au/2174787156/Precise-landing?area=videoindex1
Found this on News site about australian technology to assist in landing a helicopter in rough seas on a Danish patrol ship (1,900t). Shows some of the issues a small ship would have operating a helo in open ocean conditions.
http://video.news.com.au/2174787156/Precise-landing?area=videoindex1
Found this on News site about australian technology to assist in landing a helicopter in rough seas on a Danish patrol ship (1,900t). Shows some of the issues a small ship would have operating a helo in open ocean conditions.
I was fortunate to have an extensive tour of Choules this week and I cam away very impressed.
For Pikkies follow the link (Sorry about quality as they were taken on my phone).
http://imageshack.us/g/864/choules038.jpg/
Came up the the accommodation ladder and into a proper QM lobby (makes it had to sneek on board when you have been a naughty boy!).
Then in onto the main internal deck. Surprised of the width of the passage ways and the smooth bulkheads with nothing to get snagged on. Had a look at the troops staging rooms and EMF cafeteria. The galley is a sight to behold and is bigger than Stirling's. Went up to the bridge via very wide stair well size steps ( these are everywhere except engineering spaces). Got to the bridge panting ...(The ship is 12 decks high from the deck plates to the bridge). The bridge is massive and uncluttered and very very modern. The View from the bride is very very impressive and everything else looks quite small in including Sirius!
Next we had a look of the crew accommodation and all i can say is OMG!, it is amazing. Massive single rooms for Chiefs and PO's with proper beds, on-sweet, fridge, TV...soooo jealous. The seniors mess is massive and very comfortable. Didn't see the juniors but apparently it is very nice also and im sure the officer accommodation is even better again.
Then it was out onto the flight deck which is massive and a look inside the "Tent" which seems very sturdily built and easily big enough for two Helos. On the Flight deck they where busy pulling the propulsion units off the Mexifloates, Which had spent the trip inside the vehicle deck in bits and had now been put together and trials of mating them to the their stowed position on the ship side was under place.
Back down to the main deck and had a quick glimpse of the sickbay which seems to have two wards ( no idea how many beds) a operating room and a treatment room.
Then it was down to the MCR and the engineering spaces. Again very modern with unmanned spaces. Basically you enter the the MCR and then either go into the PORT or STBD "Green Mile" so called because they run the length of some of the vehicle deck and all of the dock on either side and the deck is green). From the green mile's you can head down to the various spaces, like the propulsion rooms which each has a 12 cylinder and a 8 cylinder running into alternators or the Pod rooms. All Very High Voltage stuff which is new to the RAN with this ship, but it most definitely they way of the future.
Over all the ship company seem very happy and proud of their new toy. I was also very stinky and a bit tired after climbing all those bloody stairs!.
For Pikkies follow the link (Sorry about quality as they were taken on my phone).
http://imageshack.us/g/864/choules038.jpg/
Came up the the accommodation ladder and into a proper QM lobby (makes it had to sneek on board when you have been a naughty boy!).
Then in onto the main internal deck. Surprised of the width of the passage ways and the smooth bulkheads with nothing to get snagged on. Had a look at the troops staging rooms and EMF cafeteria. The galley is a sight to behold and is bigger than Stirling's. Went up to the bridge via very wide stair well size steps ( these are everywhere except engineering spaces). Got to the bridge panting ...(The ship is 12 decks high from the deck plates to the bridge). The bridge is massive and uncluttered and very very modern. The View from the bride is very very impressive and everything else looks quite small in including Sirius!
Next we had a look of the crew accommodation and all i can say is OMG!, it is amazing. Massive single rooms for Chiefs and PO's with proper beds, on-sweet, fridge, TV...soooo jealous. The seniors mess is massive and very comfortable. Didn't see the juniors but apparently it is very nice also and im sure the officer accommodation is even better again.
Then it was out onto the flight deck which is massive and a look inside the "Tent" which seems very sturdily built and easily big enough for two Helos. On the Flight deck they where busy pulling the propulsion units off the Mexifloates, Which had spent the trip inside the vehicle deck in bits and had now been put together and trials of mating them to the their stowed position on the ship side was under place.
Back down to the main deck and had a quick glimpse of the sickbay which seems to have two wards ( no idea how many beds) a operating room and a treatment room.
Then it was down to the MCR and the engineering spaces. Again very modern with unmanned spaces. Basically you enter the the MCR and then either go into the PORT or STBD "Green Mile" so called because they run the length of some of the vehicle deck and all of the dock on either side and the deck is green
). From the green mile's you can head down to the various spaces, like the propulsion rooms which each has a 12 cylinder and a 8 cylinder running into alternators or the Pod rooms. All Very High Voltage stuff which is new to the RAN with this ship, but it most definitely they way of the future.Over all the ship company seem very happy and proud of their new toy. I was also very stinky and a bit tired after climbing all those bloody stairs!.
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