Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates
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what I find interesting is that for 6-7 years a number of us have been saying that the smaller euro subs just didn't meet our needs and then watched as all the defence media journo "experts" (broadsheet journos) then carried on and waxed lyrically about subs like the S80 and how much better they were, new subs, new tech, established design etc....
none of them have said boo since the probs with the S80's have now gone public.
the road runner
Active Member
You guys know your stuff that's for sure ,and you have educated a number of us punters on what is needed. GF could you recommend any "links" regarding what future technology Navy is looking at for our subs????
The reason i ask is because a number of us members who are not defence educated look at sites like APDR and a number of other sites and think that is gospel.
off topic.. Can you see the S-80 continuing to have teething problems OR more serious issues ?
Cheers
The reason i ask is because a number of us members who are not defence educated look at sites like APDR and a number of other sites and think that is gospel.
off topic.. Can you see the S-80 continuing to have teething problems OR more serious issues ?
Cheers
It's a bit hard to make recommendations per se but I think that there are a number of pubs that are worth subscribing to if you have the spare coin.
I get the following for "free" as I'm a member of the parent organisations and thus I qualify for them
Naval Submarine League
Sub Institute Aust (use with care as can be industry driven at the expense of considered thought)
USNI often contains good generic articles
another option is to look at the UDT (underwater defence tech) conferences and then research the members or attendees
Abe has generated some good articles but I can't provide specifics as to dates etc.....
Library of Congress also has some good USN pubs and one specifically for USN sub service (Undersea Warfare)
There are also general maritime pubs that have intermittent articles on subs or UDT which are worth reading
(Sea Technology, Maritime News and Ocean Technology are 3 good pubs)
John Newman
The Bunker Group
I agree about the stuff that regularly comes out of mags, and the media generally, is usually inaccurate or full of BS.
Even though I'm just part of the 'general public', I've been reading the educated comments by the Def Pro's here on DT and comparing them to reporting in the general media long enough to understand the difference and not believe everything that I read.
As I mentioned above, the difference this time with this APDR article, rather than appearing to be just some opinion piece or quoting some 'unnamed' source for example, the article was directly quoting comments by a senior person within the DMO, and that's what caught my attention.
(I did a google search on David Gould and came up with his profile on the DMO site):
http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/ceo/exec_bios/GMSubs.pdf
It appeared, at least to me, that the comments were being made by someone, who I would assume, has knowledge of where things are heading in relation to the evolved Collins option, specifically that an evolved Collins would not have an increased hull diameter, which I read, rightly or wrongly, as meaning that a 'stretched only' version is how an evolved Collins may look.
The timing of the build of the new submarines is of interest to me. There is no law that I am aware of that insists that the first new build submarine will replace Collins. All this talk of building other ships after the last AWD is commissioned to fill the time gap is unnecessary. If the design is complete by then,and I cant see why it cant be, then the construction of our new submarines could follow on after the AWD's are completed in Adelaide. If we are going to have a fleet of 12 or so subs, it makes sense to me that we start building earlier than now planned. Perhaps the 3rd new sub could replace HMAS Collins. That way our fleet will be 8 at that time. Otherwise there will be no increase in the size of the fleet until after all of the Collins class are de-commissioned, which will be well after I am gone.
A brief mention on ABC news this morning on reforming RAN 808 Squadron equiped with the MRH90.
I wonder when they will achieve initial and then final operational status?
Have they overcome the initial issues with the aircraft?
Probably info here somewhere, but I seem to recall no blade fold on our MRH90.
Is there corrosion protection on the non composite parts?
I wonder when they will achieve initial and then final operational status?
Have they overcome the initial issues with the aircraft?
Probably info here somewhere, but I seem to recall no blade fold on our MRH90.
Is there corrosion protection on the non composite parts?
808 Sqn RAN has been commissioned and the MRH90 inducted at HMAS Albatross. this is a big step for the ADF and one that many in the NH90 users group will be following with interest. Navy commissions 808SQN and MRH 90 helicopter | Australian Aviation Magazine
Addition: I have a query. The winches installed on the MRH90s are they the NH90 standard Telefunken hoist or something different? And do they have two fitted per helo, one port the other starboard side? The RNZAF NH90 TTHs have the Goodrich dual cargo & personnel winches fitted both sides, so I was just wondering if the ADF ones had the same.
Addition: I have a query. The winches installed on the MRH90s are they the NH90 standard Telefunken hoist or something different? And do they have two fitted per helo, one port the other starboard side? The RNZAF NH90 TTHs have the Goodrich dual cargo & personnel winches fitted both sides, so I was just wondering if the ADF ones had the same.
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weegee
Active Member
Just a quick question why are the Navy choppers painted in Army camo colours? Are all the army and navy choppers in one big pool? and will be shared and utilised as such and that is why they are in camo? or is it something else that a simpleton like me hasn't picked up on yet?
John Newman
The Bunker Group
Everything that I have read previously has indicated that there is a common pool of airframes.
Not much point in painting and re-painting the complete airframe each time they move around the pool.
The only external differences that I've seen is either the word 'Army' or 'Navy' painted above the front windscreen, also, every time I've seen a photo of a Navy MRH90, they also appear to have the emergency 'flotation' systems installed too, which appears not to be painted at all.
I can't remember seeing a photo of an Army MRH90 with the flotation kits installed, but I'd assume once the LHD's are in service and Army starts training from them, then they will probably have the flotation kits installed when operating at sea.
The MRH-90 has manual blade folding.
MRH-90 Performs Well in Maritime Trials | Australian Defence News & Articles | Asia Pacific Defence Reporter
(Apologies for the old link, but it mentions the blade folding and deck handling system.)
It's a shared pool according to the website.
MRH90 Taipan | Royal Australian Navy
They should be named after the 'Occupy' movement of 2011 - loud, fragile and don't work...dumb question, How long have the MRH90s been known as Taipans?
I would of thought the name "Taipan" would have been reserved for something with more bite (pardon the pun) maybe the tigers?
why not name the MRH90s "Carpet python" i.e Big, Heavy but not very dangerous
John Newman
The Bunker Group
Yes it is a bit odd, but I have heard them referred to as Taipans before, not just since the recent announcement of the commisioning of 808 Sqn.dumb question, How long have the MRH90s been known as Taipans?
I would of thought the name "Taipan" would have been reserved for something with more bite (pardon the pun) maybe the tigers?
why not name the MRH90s "Carpet python" i.e Big, Heavy but not very dangerous
The French are calling them 'Caiman', for both Army and Navy versions, which is a South American Croc or Alligator, what that's got to do with France, I wouldn't have a clue!!!
There are caimans in Guyane Francaise.
What does tiger or leopard have to do with Germany? What do gazelles, lynxes, spartans, saracens, scimitars, scorpions, sultans, panthers or jackals have to do with the UK? It's normal.
Taipan appears to be the offical name but everyone calls them (Combat) Wombats. There are worse names: Hawkei...
For some time there the Kiowa was supposed to be called the Kalkadoon in Australian service and that stuck as well as an old and wet Dora the Explorer brand band aide.
For some time there the Kiowa was supposed to be called the Kalkadoon in Australian service and that stuck as well as an old and wet Dora the Explorer brand band aide.
When I contracted to JRA for the Bushmaster submission they named their solution Taipan
Australia was a bit nervous at the time about being seen as an arms exporter so we sold them off to the Kuwaitis as "police cars"
fat IFV's with 50cals, stanag rated plate as police cars ROFL
one of my more enjoyable contracts....
Australia was a bit nervous at the time about being seen as an arms exporter so we sold them off to the Kuwaitis as "police cars"
fat IFV's with 50cals, stanag rated plate as police cars ROFL
one of my more enjoyable contracts....
Tiapans
Tiapans was the name used by RANHFV UH1 gun ships. Can't see any connection - both helos are worlds apart.
And us kiwis call the NH90TTH the Warrior. Basically the same aircraft. You'd think that at least the ADF & NZDF could agree on the same name. Would save a lot of confusion. That is one thing I really like about US aircraft the name usually sticks like Iroquois, Hercules etc.
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