Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0
- Thread starter OPSSG
- Start date
It might simply be that more capable Australian built options could become available. STRIX comes to mind.
Possible. However it’s a concept that hasn’t even flown yet. It is years at a minimum off delivering an operational capability…
There seems to be a bit of a gulf.
Some very promising future capability, but far off. There is something like Firescout MQ-8C, which is quite capable, but seems less futuristic and more in the here and now, and possibly with an unclear future, with only 10 in operation.
Can the InSitu Integrator be flown off a ship? Apart from micro sized handheld systems that is literally the only tactical UAV we will have available to the entire ADF…
The SAAB Skelder might be appropriate. Used by a lot of western navies and they have a decent footprint in Australia.
SEA 129 wasn’t “rescoped” by our Government because the S-100 is used by China and Russia unfortunately.
That is purely a funding decision…
MARKMILES77
Active Member
Training of Australian Submariners at the USN Nuclear Power School is certainly making great strides.
Three Graduated, six in the school and others on the way.
Presumably all of them will get postings on Virginia Class submarines:
Three Graduated, six in the school and others on the way.
Presumably all of them will get postings on Virginia Class submarines:
MARKMILES77
Active Member
I imagine there will also soon be reports of Australian graduates from Royal Navy Submarine schools.
Jason_DBF
Member
SSN training for junior sailors starts very soon aswel.
There are other elements as well, the loss rate of the Scheibel at least initially was fairly sobering.
I forget who told me a while back that getting people keen on joining the RAN would be different in the future because of the exciting large fancy new ships and nuclear subs we'll get in the future. I can see here living proof of what I was told. Pretty exciting stuff to see
Navy Lookout (UK) has published an update to its 27 Feb 2019 and 05 Feb 2019 Technical Briefings on the Mission Bay in Type 26 City Class frigate being constructed for the Royal Navy.
Development of the RN’s modular PODS concept enables mission containers to be located the 20M x 15M Mission Bay / Flexible Mission Space.
www.navylookout.com
www.navylookout.com
Development of the RN’s modular PODS concept enables mission containers to be located the 20M x 15M Mission Bay / Flexible Mission Space.
The Type 26 frigate mission bay. Part 1 – design and development | Navy Lookout
www.navylookout.com
Refining the requirements for the Type 26 frigate mission bay | Navy Lookout
www.navylookout.com
This is one reason I think defence would prefer an Australian made option even if it means waiting for projects such as STRIX. These things will suffer a very high attrition rate during any conflict. In the current conflict between Russia and the Ukraine both sides seem to be struggling to get their hands on drones with Russia finding supply lines through Iran and Ukraine relying on the west.
Australia really needs to ensure it has the capability of producing these things domestically.
Redlands18
Well-Known Member
John Newman
The Bunker Group
Interesting ASPI article regarding the potential procurement of modern sea mines for the RAN, and a high speed method of laying those sea mines.
www.aspistrategist.org.au
I can very easily see an Austal, or Incat, passenger/vehicle ferry fitting that potential requirement.
A number of years back I was onboard an Austal high speed ferry (in the Greek Islands), and I can easily see the very large lower vehicle deck fitted out to carry and deploy a large number of sea mines, and then quickly move onto the next operational area, and so on.
Interesting...
ADF will need fast minelayers for its new ‘smart’ mines | The Strategist
Australia has made the long-overdue decision to arm its military with sophisticated sea mines. The surface combatant review now underway needs to consider the acquisition of at least two fast minelayers able to lay protective ...
www.aspistrategist.org.au
I can very easily see an Austal, or Incat, passenger/vehicle ferry fitting that potential requirement.
A number of years back I was onboard an Austal high speed ferry (in the Greek Islands), and I can easily see the very large lower vehicle deck fitted out to carry and deploy a large number of sea mines, and then quickly move onto the next operational area, and so on.
Interesting...
Mines are all well and good but how many MISSILES can it carry, huh?Interesting ASPI article regarding the potential procurement of modern sea mines for the RAN, and a high speed method of laying those sea mines.
ADF will need fast minelayers for its new ‘smart’ mines | The Strategist
Australia has made the long-overdue decision to arm its military with sophisticated sea mines. The surface combatant review now underway needs to consider the acquisition of at least two fast minelayers able to lay protective ...
I can very easily see an Austal, or Incat, passenger/vehicle ferry fitting that potential requirement.
A number of years back I was onboard an Austal high speed ferry (in the Greek Islands), and I can easily see the very large lower vehicle deck fitted out to carry and deploy a large number of sea mines, and then quickly move onto the next operational area, and so on.
Interesting...
Sorry forgot to /gregsheridanmodeoff
Slap a 240 cell Mk41 VLS on the back, a twin 8inch mount on the front, she is good to go.Mines are all well and good but how many MISSILES can it carry, huh?
Sorry forgot to /gregsheridanmodeoff
OldTex
Well-Known Member
The author of the ASPI article, whilst an ex MCM force commander, has proffered some inconsistent and contradictory statements. While it can be accepted that as stated that "Sea mines provide the capacity to protect strategic harbours and sea lines of communication, which is a fundamental component of Australia’s maritime strategy".Interesting ASPI article regarding the potential procurement of modern sea mines for the RAN, and a high speed method of laying those sea mines.
ADF will need fast minelayers for its new ‘smart’ mines | The Strategist
Australia has made the long-overdue decision to arm its military with sophisticated sea mines. The surface combatant review now underway needs to consider the acquisition of at least two fast minelayers able to lay protective ...
I can very easily see an Austal, or Incat, passenger/vehicle ferry fitting that potential requirement.
A number of years back I was onboard an Austal high speed ferry (in the Greek Islands), and I can easily see the very large lower vehicle deck fitted out to carry and deploy a large number of sea mines, and then quickly move onto the next operational area, and so on.
Interesting...
He goes further to state that "Generally, this class of mine (multi-influence ground mine) is around 2 metres long and weighs 900–1000 kilograms. The explosives charge is normally around 600 kilograms, which enables the mine to be laid in depths down to 300 metres for anti-submarine effects and around 150 metres for surface ships".
It is further stated that "Australia has some 10 priority ports and another seven significant ports that together account for 99% of its international trade".
For Australia to deploy the proposed sea mines it is suggested that surface or subsurface vessels including military and commercial vessels ‘taken up from trade’, Collins-class submarines fitted with external mine racks, or from the air using military aircraft. The use of the Arafura class OPVs is not consider as the author believes that the current surface combatant review will scrap the OPVs (plus he feels that the OPVs are too slow). It is claimed that surface minelayers should be used to lay protective minefields in home waters and approaches to ports to "achieve speed and the high accuracy required to protect friendly merchant shipping and naval forces".
The high accuracy of placement will be achieved more through the use of precision positioning and track recording of the laying vessel, which is improved by proceeding at slower speeds. As the defensive minefields would be in local waters then there is no justification for the minelaying vessels not being Arafura class OPVs or even offshore support vessels taken up from trade. It is likely these types of vessels would be more suitable for use by naval reserve forces to conduct the scale of defensive minelaying proposed by the author.
The article also uses as an example of defensive minefields, those laid along the Queensland coast during WW2. Ultimately this example is now somewhat obsolete as the likely vessels and submarines of an antagonist would be equipped with LACMs to attack the port facilities, rather than the shipping itself.
Defensive minefields are normally laid by surface craft; and the speed of the vessel is, quite frankly, not important, although obviously you don’t want to take longer than necessary to move from port to port. The 20 odd knots of the Arafuras would be fine, and they have the carrying capacity and fit which could potentially be used to do this.
Offensive minefields, OTH, are normally laid either covertly or with an attempt to expose the laying platform to enemy action for as short a time as possible. That needs submarines, aircraft or surface vessels with high speed. If he’s advocating high speed (above say 25 knots) he’s advocating offensive minelaying.
Offensive minefields, OTH, are normally laid either covertly or with an attempt to expose the laying platform to enemy action for as short a time as possible. That needs submarines, aircraft or surface vessels with high speed. If he’s advocating high speed (above say 25 knots) he’s advocating offensive minelaying.