Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0
- Thread starter OPSSG
- Start date
Do they know Matthew Flinders beat them to it?
I don't think they will get that far. I think they will move back up the coast, but sail through some of the pacific.
Its a tribute. Many freedom of navigation exercises often involve circumnavigating around artificial islands. Maybe they think Australia is Artificial and such trips would annoy us? Maybe they think the Tasman strait is special waters too us or something as an interior water way
. Maybe they think it's important to drum up defence spending all over Australia with the Chinese Roadshow?
I wonder if WA has Chinese fleet envy?
Well I would imagine it would improve. Probably why they chose the east coast.. That an it doesn't make at lot of sense for the Chinese to attack their iron ore supply. Much more sensible to attack their coal supply instead.
I don't think we need a USN sub to deter them, I am sure a couple of F/A18 Hornets, a couple of F35A"S, a couple of P8"S and an Anzac or two would put them at the bottom of the ocean pretty quick.
We are just seeing shotgun diplomacy because we are also transiting the South China Sea.
Should we ignore them or send every asset we have to hunt them out?
Everyone's thoughts?
They want something.
We are figuring out what it is.
My bet it’s what they are getting…….
.lots of attention!
I’d play the surveillance very low key with civilian assets where posible
But if the CCP want OZ to increase defence dollars, well just send down south a trio of big grey ships close to a federal election.
Let’s see what eventuates
Most interesting how much attention this is getting across a range of media outlets.
Cheers S
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iambuzzard
Well-Known Member
I would suggest USS Minnesota ends her port visit and puts to sea just before they arrive off FBW.
No better training than shadowing a PLA-N cruiser, frigate and supply ship. There may have been more than just plain luck with her arriving now. The CCP will be nervous with a Virginia on their tails.
And my guess was right about circumnavigation.
No better training than shadowing a PLA-N cruiser, frigate and supply ship. There may have been more than just plain luck with her arriving now. The CCP will be nervous with a Virginia on their tails.
And my guess was right about circumnavigation.
StevoJH
The Bunker Group
Why would a Virginia make them nervous? It’s not going to do anything unless they do first.
And the assets that the ADF have on hand (aka. The RAAF) are more than capable of dealing with this squadron in the extremely unlikely event that they do something stupid.
Does anybody seriously think that an entirely peaceful and legal cruise by a small number of warships, wherever they might go or what the motivation for them going there might be, is a reason to start World War 3? Trail them yes; interfere with them - no!
And a no notice weapons practice in international waters might be bad manners, but it is not a reason for any aggressive action against the ships involved. It involved inconvenience (undoubtedly the aim) but no actual harm. Diplomatic protest is what is appropriate in that situation.
And a no notice weapons practice in international waters might be bad manners, but it is not a reason for any aggressive action against the ships involved. It involved inconvenience (undoubtedly the aim) but no actual harm. Diplomatic protest is what is appropriate in that situation.
My concern is this becomes common practice. What's to stop the PRC from launching a surprise attack and sacrificing this small flotilla? I'm not saying this is their goal now but if a move on Taiwan was on the cards in the near future, how hard would a Pearl Harbour style attack be with about 100 long range cruise missiles against fleet base east and Williamtown? How prepared would we be for such a scenario? Our small military could be decimated by such an attack on day 1. It concerns me that we left the close monitoring of this flotilla in the hands of NZ so close to our shores.
I doubt the PRC would play fair in the event they do move on Taiwan. The planned upgrades to our missile defence and anti ship strike capabilities can't come fast enough.
I doubt the PRC would play fair in the event they do move on Taiwan. The planned upgrades to our missile defence and anti ship strike capabilities can't come fast enough.
iambuzzard
Well-Known Member
Nothing will happen of course, but it's the "what if?" factor that comes into play. The PLA-N have a perfectly legitimate cruise of intimidation, (and let's face it, that's what it is) around Australia to let us know what they could potentially do, so if there is a submerged Virginia (or Collins) in the vicinity any hot headed action should be prevented. We've seen flares, chaff, lasers and sonar waves directed at our personnel in international waters by them but as always we have acted and reacted in a professional way at all times. I'm not saying the hot heads will launch a 1500km range missile at us from the Type 55 cruiser but a submerged sub will always cool them down. We don't need fleets of F-35s swarming around, just a perception. Besides, I still think the police boat with baby formula was a great idea!
iambuzzard
Well-Known Member
Well said, Spoz.
Exactly, I think it’s just an attention seeking exercise, and they’re getting plenty. Send a Cape PB navy or border force to shadow them at most and overflights with Hercs or Spartans or police, border force or civvy planes, show them how little it matters. They’ll get bored if they don’t get any attention.
I suspect the RAN and USN would much prefer if the PLAN task force had absolutely no idea as to whether an SSG or SSN was anywhere near them.
We shouldn't overreact. If anything we should point out that every nation should have the right to navigate freely without being harrassed by military forces. It would be hypocritical of us to object to the overreaction of Chinese forces when we send ships to their region if we do exactly the same thing when they operate in ours. Certainly keep as eye on them but don't try to impede them.
We don’t and presumably the PLAN don’t either. I was just trying to emphasise that the deterrent effect of submarines rests on not being detected.How do we know that there isn't one
MB
On another point the concern over whether there is a Chinese SSN with the taskforce is also rather misplaced. Commentators and politicians seem to expect ADF to publicly release info that would reveal whether they have detected foreign submarines.
MARKMILES77
Well-Known Member
Anyone able to identify this?
Washed up on a QLD beach.
Air launched Torpedo?
Looks like a MK54?
www.abc.net.au
Washed up on a QLD beach.
Air launched Torpedo?
Looks like a MK54?
Suspicious 'torpedo-like' device washes up on Gold Coast beach
Follow the latest news headlines from Australia's most trusted source. Read in-depth expert analysis and watch live coverage on ABC News.
www.abc.net.au