Royal New Zealand Navy Discussions and Updates
- Thread starter Padman
- Start date
A few interesting pics of Project Protector vessels under construction...
http://www.navy.mil.nz/take-a-pic/ships/protector/default.htm
Anyone with their ear to the ground heard what type of nav-radar these vessels going to have?
http://www.navy.mil.nz/take-a-pic/ships/protector/default.htm
Anyone with their ear to the ground heard what type of nav-radar these vessels going to have?
Thanks for the link Gibbo. Interesting photos. Even though it is obviously going to change in appearance, as it is fitted out, it looks like Otago will be a reasonably attractive ship (well to my eyes anyway!). Just a pity, IMO, that it is not going to be more heavily armed.
Cheers
Okay so not big news, just an update on demise of existing IPC's before the new IPV's start arriving later this year.
Interesting to note Kahu looks like it will be retained - she's getting old but guess she's still up to the job! She used to be a dive tender & I understand she still provides this role if Manawanui is unavailable, hope that continues as it provides another MCM platform (albeit at a pinch!)
http://www.navy.mil.nz/know-your-navy/news/media-release.htm@guid={2ff7113e-59c2-4420-a31b-725a9ee70c36}.htm
Also - noticed yesterday morning one or both (only got a quick look at the base wharf) of the ANZAC's away from Devonport - not long after saw the civvy operated Lear Jet (Air Affairs?) that provides missile simulation, CIWS target towing etc heading for approach to Whenuapai Base, so looks like the Navy are gearing up for the year!
Interesting to note Kahu looks like it will be retained - she's getting old but guess she's still up to the job! She used to be a dive tender & I understand she still provides this role if Manawanui is unavailable, hope that continues as it provides another MCM platform (albeit at a pinch!)
http://www.navy.mil.nz/know-your-navy/news/media-release.htm@guid={2ff7113e-59c2-4420-a31b-725a9ee70c36}.htm
Also - noticed yesterday morning one or both (only got a quick look at the base wharf) of the ANZAC's away from Devonport - not long after saw the civvy operated Lear Jet (Air Affairs?) that provides missile simulation, CIWS target towing etc heading for approach to Whenuapai Base, so looks like the Navy are gearing up for the year!
According to the NZ Hearld in December the Minister of Defence was asking about some possible delays.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/organisation/story.cfm?o_id=439&objectid=10414429
I've heard there are issues re the fitout, but can't remember where I read it.
Given the limited systems and the fact that they are all OTS, this is a wee bit surprising...
This was put on www.scoop.co.nz today by National. They're talking of several months delay now.Given the limited systems and the fact that they are all OTS, this is a wee bit surprising...
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0701/S00154.htm
Interesting.
I am actually thinking it may be a contractual dispute or lack of labour to do the fitout.
as I say above this is not a DDG or SSK here...
Maybe they could'nt secure the right decor for the captains cabin in time
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/QWA/3/b/2/3b276d6b2eff4452a7670708dfc6383f.htm
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/QWA/3/b/2/3b276d6b2eff4452a7670708dfc6383f.htm
I've just been down to the local RNZNVR Unit: The Nov InSync publication (RNZN Inhouse) shows a "revised delivery schedule" of
It would seem the delay is with the OPV / IPV (Doing to much at once maybe?)
- MRV - Jan 07
- IPV 1 - Mar 07
- IPV 2 - Jun 07
- OPV 1 - Jul 07
- IPV 3 Sept 07
- OPV 2 - Dec 07
- IPV 4 - Jan 08
It would seem the delay is with the OPV / IPV (Doing to much at once maybe?)
Another document here on page 28 shows that Canterbury will not be delivered until July 2007 and Wellington in April 2008
http://www.navy.mil.nz/nr/rdonlyres/7fb3af93-3ad7-4d11-aaf7-cea465efa399/0/06nxapplication.pdf
Six Month Slippage!
Something is up....maybe the contractor has made some claims to get the contract and then re-negotiated the delivery times to something that the contractor can actually make?
Todjaeger
Potstirrer
I have to admit, it sounds peculiar, particularly since the Canterbury has already made the voyage from Merwede successfully and was just undergoing final fitout.Six Month Slippage!
Something is up....maybe the contractor has made some claims to get the contract and then re-negotiated the delivery times to something that the contractor can actually make?
If I understand it correctly, the final fitout for Canterbury wasn't going to involve anything especially complicated, like sophisticated EW and fire control systems. Is there any more information on the cause of the delay? The likely reasons that spring to mind for me (I'm not an expert, by definition) would be either some of the components needed for fitout are unavailable/backordered, the labour pool is too small and/or engaged in something else currently with a higher priority, or there is a dispute regarding payment for work done. Anyone else have ideas on what would cause a six month delay?
-Cheers
I am beginning to think New Zealand has never in the past built ships independently and are going through a natural period of time of learning the ropes, so to speak. It appears from the new completion schedule the IPVs will be commissioned practically on time, whereas the OPVs and the MRV will be commissioned somewhat later.
The only ship that has been commissioned before independently has been the Endeavour, a ship without any armament or much crew. The MRV on the other hand is about the same size, does have some armament, a small crew, but with much more to fit, the army's quarters, their galley, and a large vehicle deck with new fire supression systems the navy is unfamiliar with. Therefore, its gonna take more time to learn the ropes, even with a ship that's not that high tech.
On top of these items, the computers systems aboard the new Project Protector vessels are twenty years newer than the Endeavour, and ten years newer than the Anzacs frigates.
In conclusion, while these ships are high tech to most nations, they are a challenge for the very small nation and navy of New Zealand. This project is also a challenge in growth numbers, and finding the right number of personnel with the required training to fit out the ship with the right personnel.
Keep in mind New Zealand is going from a 4 ship frigate force, one of which was used more as a training ship, to a 5 ship force of 2 frigates, 2 OPVs, and 1 MRV at the tip of their sword. The other ships are more of a support nature, the replenishment oiler, the diving tender, the hydrographic ship, with the new IPVs replacing their older patrol craft which were mainly used for reserve training.
This year and next year we will see the New Zealand navy transformed, the reserves being joined with the regular naval forces to help man and operate the new patrol forces. This would be a big step in any nation's navy, its a giant leap for a navy the size of New Zealand.
The only ship that has been commissioned before independently has been the Endeavour, a ship without any armament or much crew. The MRV on the other hand is about the same size, does have some armament, a small crew, but with much more to fit, the army's quarters, their galley, and a large vehicle deck with new fire supression systems the navy is unfamiliar with. Therefore, its gonna take more time to learn the ropes, even with a ship that's not that high tech.
On top of these items, the computers systems aboard the new Project Protector vessels are twenty years newer than the Endeavour, and ten years newer than the Anzacs frigates.
In conclusion, while these ships are high tech to most nations, they are a challenge for the very small nation and navy of New Zealand. This project is also a challenge in growth numbers, and finding the right number of personnel with the required training to fit out the ship with the right personnel.
Keep in mind New Zealand is going from a 4 ship frigate force, one of which was used more as a training ship, to a 5 ship force of 2 frigates, 2 OPVs, and 1 MRV at the tip of their sword. The other ships are more of a support nature, the replenishment oiler, the diving tender, the hydrographic ship, with the new IPVs replacing their older patrol craft which were mainly used for reserve training.
This year and next year we will see the New Zealand navy transformed, the reserves being joined with the regular naval forces to help man and operate the new patrol forces. This would be a big step in any nation's navy, its a giant leap for a navy the size of New Zealand.
Yesm New Zealand has before, even more complicated systems, but not in this large of numbers before. While I consider the IPVs a wash, this navy is adding three large patrol vessels within a year, not one.
Its not so much about total numbers either, but the right kind of people, adding chief engineers, electricians, etc., while at the same time retraining boilermen which are no longer needed.
Its not so much about total numbers either, but the right kind of people, adding chief engineers, electricians, etc., while at the same time retraining boilermen which are no longer needed.
ST I totally agree with you in terms of manning them. My comments are centred around delays in outfitting them from the contractor and delivering them to the RNZN.
Once the RNZN has them I feel that the ability to get them operational will be much tougher than expected. It has never been a better time to be in the employment market in NZ so the NZDF relies on the type of individual that would go for a military career anyway, however this is off set by the fact that the ADF is also short of people and can offer better wages and more in the way of a military career than the NZDF can.