If the RAN switches to OPVs their greater range and better sea keeping would likely remove the need for forward basing. OPVs could quite easily be based at Darwin, Perth and Sydney and provide greater coverage than the current PBs.
That is true, but wouldn't forward deployment of an OPV/OCV allow for sustained patrol coverage and longer presence (increased number of at sea days in key areas) - especially in areas of interest quite a distance from our shores - i.e: Christmas island,Cocos Island or Norfolk Island (deployed from Sydney), or areas outside our EEZ but still within our area of interest say for example the Solomon Islands or Nauru.
Armidale class, Huon class, Leeuwin class, and Paluma class from around 25 vessels to 16-20 vessels of two classes - one large one small.With a standardized space for common mission modules
6-8 x Multi-Mission Offshore Combatant Vessel [OCV] **
(Replaces Armidale class, Huon class, Leeuwin class, Paluma class and adds additional capability)
(Potentially based on Damen OPV-2 1800)
Builder: Local build by ASC utilizing the Damen Technical Cooperation system
Aviation: 1 x MH-60R + Boeing Scan eagle
Role: Multi mission offshore vessel* (long range EEZ border patrol, ASW,SAR, SUW, Special Forces support, Mine Warfare, Hydrographic survey etc)
Displacement: 1890 tonnes
10 -12 x Multi-Role Patrol Vessels [MRPV]
(Replaces Armidale class, Huon class, Leeuwin class, Paluma class and adds additional capability) – Local build
(Perhaps a scaled down version of Austral MRV 80)
Displacement: 340-400 tonnes
Aviation: 1 or 2 x Schiebel Camcopter S-100
Builder: Austral Ships & General Dynamics
Role: Multi mission vessel* (EEZ, SAR, fisheries patrols, counter terrorism/drug/piracy, Hydrographic surveys, MCM, pollution control etc)
Personally I am hoping to see like to see the fleet plan to look something like after the White Paper. Balanced and with plenty of work for all the ship builders. Before everyone gets their knickers in a knot I know it certainly needs some tweaking on the IOCs, schedule and builders of particular vessels. A lot of which is dependent on the outcome of SEA 1000
A fleet like this could simultaneously conduct two amphibious operations, have major fleet units deployed elsewhere (i.e middle east or north Asia) and conduct EEZ & Homeland security tasks
3 x Hobart Class AWD (replaces FFGs)
(Based on the F-100)
Builder: AWD Alliance (DMO, ASC and Raytheon Australia)
Displacement: 7,000 tonnes
Aviation: 1 x MH-60R
UAV: Fixed wing
Role: Air warfare destroyer with multi-role capabilities
Initial Operating Capacity: 2016
9 x ANZAC Global Combat Ship* (replaces ANZAC FFH and FFGs)
(Based on Type 26)
Builder: BAE Australia + Local subcontractors – Local build
Displacement: 6000 tonnes
UAV/USV: TBC
Aviation: 1 x MH-60R + 1 x NH-90 (NFH) or 2 x MH-60R
Role: ASW/GP frigate with multi-role capabilities
Initial Operating Capacity: 2023-2029
*11 build in total with 2 x ANZAC Global Combat ships for NZ
6-8 x Multi-Mission Offshore Combatant Vessel [OCV] ** - (replaces Armidale class, Huon class, Leeuwin class, Paluma class and adds additional capability)
(Potentially based on Damen OPV-2 1800)
Builder: TBC - potentially local build by ASC utilizing the Damen Technical Cooperation system
Aviation: 1 x MH-60R + Boeing Scan eagle
Role: Multi mission offshore vessel* (long range EEZ border patrol, ASW,SAR, SUW, Special Forces support, Mine Warfare, Hydrographic survey etc)
Displacement: 1890 tonnes
Initial operating capacity: 2022-2026
Ability for a minimum of three containerized mission modules
** Option for two more
10 - 12 x Multi Role Patrol Vessels [MRPV]* - (replaces Armidale class, Huon class, Leeuwin class, Paluma class and adds additional capability) – Local build
(Scaled down version of Austral MRV 80)
Displacement: 340-400 tonnes
UAV: 2 x Schiebel Camcopter S-100
Builder: Austral Ships & General Dynamics
Role: Multi mission vessel* (EEZ, SAR, fisheries patrols, counter terrorism/drug/piracy, hydrographic surveys, MCM, pollution control etc)
Initial operating capacity: 2018-2023
*Ability for one or two containerized mission modules
9 x Future submarines (with an option for 3 more)
Displacement: 4200- 5000 tonnes
Builder: DMO + local and International partner (TBC) – Hybrid build
Role: Anti-surface warfare (ASuW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), ISTAR, Land attack, Special Forces insertion, mine laying, UUV deployment
Range: 15,000nmi +
Initial operating capacity: 2028-2030
2 x Canberra class (replaces HMAS Tobruk and HMAS Kanimbla)
Builder: BAE Systems Australia
Displacement: 27,100 tonnes
Role: Amphibious assault ship
UAV: Multiple platforms
Initial Operating Capacity: 2016
1 x Strategic Support Ship (Enhanced capability – Contributes to enhancements in Replenishment, Amphibious operations and transport)
(Karel Doorman-class or similar)
Displacement: 28,000 tonnes
Builder: BAE Systems Australia + Local subcontractors - Local Fit out
Role: Multi-function support ship
Initial operating capacity: 2023
1 x Strategic Sealift Ship (to replace HMAS Choules)
(Galicia-class LPD or similar)
Displacement: 13,900 Tonnes
Role: Amphibious transports
Builder: ASC+ Local subcontractors - Local Fit out
Initial operating capacity: 2029
1-2 x Fleet Replenishment Vessels (to replace HMAS Success and HMAS Sirius)
Displacement: 22,000- 32,000 Tonnes (full load)
Builder: TBC* - Local Fit out
Role: Multi-product replenishment
Initial operating capacity: 2020
*Build to commercial standards
1-2 x High Speed Support Vessels (enhanced capability based on the usefulness of HMAS Jervis bay during INTERFET)
(Based on the Spearhead-class)
Displacement: 1,650 tonnes
Builder: Austral – Local build
Range: 1550 nmi
Role: Multi-function support ship (rapid transit, transport and deployment, Ambitious support, multi-product replenishment, rapid humanitarian support, Special Forces support, MCM, USV Mother Ships)
Initial operating capacity: 2028-2030
Others will no doubt have different views...