ADBR is reporting the RFT for the OPV was released today!
Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates
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Joe Black
Active Member
Sea1180 OPV
Hey folks, have you guys seen this new 80m OPV 2020 from Fassmer. Really nice looking and apparently capable ship.
https://www.fassmer.de/shipbuilding/products/navy-vessels/opv-2020/
Wonder if this would be offer as part of their tender.
Hey folks, have you guys seen this new 80m OPV 2020 from Fassmer. Really nice looking and apparently capable ship.
https://www.fassmer.de/shipbuilding/products/navy-vessels/opv-2020/
Wonder if this would be offer as part of their tender.
Probably not. The tender seems to be restricted to ships up to a max of 80 meters in length and completely off the shelf.
Pity though ... seems a nice ship.
The original plan was to have these ships go on and replace the MCV and survey fleet as well. I am not sure what the status of that plan is at the moment ... but if it does go ahead then the next batch of OPVs may be a more capable ship.
Pity though ... seems a nice ship.
The original plan was to have these ships go on and replace the MCV and survey fleet as well. I am not sure what the status of that plan is at the moment ... but if it does go ahead then the next batch of OPVs may be a more capable ship.
It is a concept (in other words no detailed design) and uses LNG as fuel in removable tanks .... not cheap and not a mature design.
The LNG range is only 2500 nm and then you have a bunch of 20' ISO tanks behind the bridge containing the fuel residue. Added to that the bunker facilities for LNG in Australia are currently limited. This will change but it does not mean these facilities will be at all ports around the coast.
Most of the range will still be provided by Gas Oil
So ..... No, I doubt it will be offered where you can get more systems on either the in service OPV80 (or designed OPV90) for the cost of the duel fuel engines and gas fuel supply system.
Though, if their base design is adopted it may be an option for a future batch, especially as the LNG facilities currently being developed up north mature. Not tomorrow but maybe in the 2030s.
I really like the look of Fassmer's "80m Naval OPV". Seems to tick a lot of boxes, is potentially well armed with up to 76mm gun, RAM, 2x 25mm guns and 8x ASM, as well as a helo deck and hanger for up to 10t. Although I think it's highly likely that these will be armed with nothing more than a bloody peashooter and nothing else. The "ca 80 persons" crew would definitely be an issue though if trying to maintain a crew size similar to the ACPB is being actively considered. A requirement that speaks more of a broader financial consideration than anything, as well as the potential lack of self defence and offensive weaponry.
My opinion, as speculative as it is, is that this new OPV may well be bigger and have a bit more range, but will ultimately be about as useless as the ACPB when it comes to border protection and enforcement of Australia's territorial integrity. I know some around here don't agree that smaller patrol craft should be just as well armed as major surface combatants, but I think that's a limiting perspective, especially considering that most other navies in our region have an abundance of small, cheap missile boats and larger OPV style vessels armed to the teeth. We certainly don't have enough major surface units to both conduct operations on the other side of the world and provide 24 hour deterrence at our borders, which is why I think arming the OPV's well is a consideration that really needs to be looked at seriously, or at the very least, have the capability to upgrade the vessels armament when needed.
With an even more uncertain security situation in SEA and the SCS, we need better armed ships capable of doing more. The "good enough" mentality during the 80's, 90's and 00's is I think, far from good enough in the current security environment.
My opinion, as speculative as it is, is that this new OPV may well be bigger and have a bit more range, but will ultimately be about as useless as the ACPB when it comes to border protection and enforcement of Australia's territorial integrity. I know some around here don't agree that smaller patrol craft should be just as well armed as major surface combatants, but I think that's a limiting perspective, especially considering that most other navies in our region have an abundance of small, cheap missile boats and larger OPV style vessels armed to the teeth. We certainly don't have enough major surface units to both conduct operations on the other side of the world and provide 24 hour deterrence at our borders, which is why I think arming the OPV's well is a consideration that really needs to be looked at seriously, or at the very least, have the capability to upgrade the vessels armament when needed.
With an even more uncertain security situation in SEA and the SCS, we need better armed ships capable of doing more. The "good enough" mentality during the 80's, 90's and 00's is I think, far from good enough in the current security environment.
It is not that simple to plumb in LNG. The facilities for LNG bunkering will increase particularly as the MARPOL annex VI caps bite 2020 and CO2 become an issue for commercial ships . However warships are not subject to this and LNG systems are a space hog. Short haul work well or liner trades (with ready access to bunkering) but the space and weight for long range LNG is not to be underestimated.
If this option was to be taken up the it should be purpose built vessel when the facilities exist noting they are looking at developments of membrane tanks
Thanks Volk
Interesting as to who actually has responsibility for the ship / boat. Is it the Captain and crew or civilian maintenance contractor? Others can advise the fine line between the economic efficiency of ship maintenance by civilians and the trade off of pride of ownership and benefits of navy doing maintenance work on their own ships.Probably not a golden answer but I'm sure some of the older posters have some experience of the subject and have seen some changes over the decades.
Regards Stampede
Sorry ..... bollocks.
Firstly crew numbers are a capacity not the number required to run the ship
Second there is a VAST difference in capability for a long range OPV with aviation capability and the ability to carry 20' ISO containers for mission equipment than an ACPB.
Starting with persistence (range and stores capacity) and sea keeping the are vastly improved over the ACPB.
Add to that the ability to more readily deploy RHIB's, carry specialized equipment, potentially replenish at sea, deploy to remote areas without support, assist in HADR where required, head into the southern ocean where required (you don't go into ice to chase tooth fish poachers .... but you sure as hell need range and sea keeping) and carry addition crew (in relative comfort) to support operations makes this a significantly more effective platform.
It is possible that USV and UUV will be deployed from these platform (noting some proposals are configured for 20' container operations) and portable equipment such as a tail adds to their capability.
You never know some may be equipped with a medium caliber gun and a basic self defense capability (CIWS or SeaRAM) in the future but this (and the fitting of SSMs) is not a prerequisite for them to be very effective.
To suggest that a 1800 tonne 80m deep sea capable vessel is only as useful as a lightly built 57m aluminum patrol boat displacing 300 tonnes defies logic.
I concur this project may be an opportunity lost.
While many will embrace the better sea keeping attributes of a larger vessel compared to our legacy patrol boat classes of the past, one has to question can we not do better with up to 2000 t and 80 M's of ships real estate than to limit the sensor and weapons fit out to that we have had in the past.
No doubt each of the three OPV manufacturers will have a good OFF THE SHELF offering for the Commonwealth as specified; however I trust such offerings have the scope to be future proofed with the ability for grades to their sensor and weapon fit out should the need arise. I would also like some clarity if a hangar and flight deck for a medium helicopter is part of the current requirement. To not do so would be seem a complete folly.
Time will tell.
Regards S
The RAN Hydrographic survey (LADS) aircraft is heading to the NZ South Island to establish whether the recent earthquake has altered the seabed topography in the worst hit areas, a very worthwhile task and a demonstration of the utility of this unit
Navy LADS Dash 8 deploys to New Zealand | Australian Aviation
Navy LADS Dash 8 deploys to New Zealand | Australian Aviation
t68
Well-Known Member
Thanks for sharing, a capabilty that I did not know existed within RAN interesting it's operated by civilians with RAN operators in the back.
I wonder if the new RAAF Gulfstream 550 could carry the equipment also as a joint capabilty.
John Newman
The Bunker Group
Well I hope that they bought their thermals - it aint exactly tropical here in Christchurch at the moment.
Yes it has quite a good fit out and that doesn't come cheap. There are places where the uplift is apparently in the region of maybe 6m and a new gorge has been formed onshore in one place. They've seen somethings in this quake sequence that not have been seen before and there are slow slip quakes occurring elsewhere in the country. So the RAN LADS may get more work this side of the ditch in the years to come.
40 deg south
Well-Known Member
Now I'll feel obliged to buy the next Aussie I meet ANOTHER beer.
If this level of assistance goes on much longer I'll be flat stony broke.
Redlands18
Well-Known Member
How about assisting us with a few Rugby Players.
There has been plenty of occasions when Kiwis have been there for us and will be in the future, thats what Mates are for.
Mate we had Aussie cops here in Christchurch after the quakes helping out our cops. Next time I met an Aussie cop I'll have to buy 'em a very large beer. They were absolutely brilliant and did your country proud. Every one of us locals who came into contact with them have nothing but the highest respect and gratitude for them. Yes it is about mates and Julia Gillard had right when she said that we're family. It goes both ways.
40 deg south
Well-Known Member
Australia contracts Odense to develop ASC shipbuilding facilities | IHS Jane's 360
Sounds like a positive development for ASC.
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