This is a discussion on Royal New Zealand Navy Discussions and Updates within the Navy & Maritime forum, part of the Global Defense & Military category; Concerning the MRV Canterbury, she sailed from Rotterdam on 21 aug. for final fit out at Tenix in Melbourne. She ...
Concerning the MRV Canterbury, she sailed from Rotterdam on 21 aug. for final fit out at Tenix in Melbourne. She is transporting hull section modules on her flight deck.These modules must be for the OPV's being built at this facility.
Great photos, thanks for posting , the flight deck does look quite big in these photos, the superstructure also, there is not alot of room forward of the main superstructure and the bow, a bigger gun than the 25mm might have looked abit cramped in there.
Thanks for linking the pictures of Canterbury leaving Rotterdam. Its great to see her LCMs loaded. There are many hull modules for the second OPV on her flight deck, it shouldn't take Tenix at Williamstown much time to weld them together. Since most, if not all, of the second OPVs modules have been built, both OPVs should be delivered by the end of next year.
The Project certainly seems to be running on time and within estimates.
Bringing Merwede Shipyard on board looks to have paid off . No major problems have appeared in sea trials and Canterbury ran smoothly up to 19.6 kts.
At Merwede she was dubbed the 'swan' for her somewhat aesthetic lines, I would have to agree.
The flight deck looks quite handy in size and will find many useful appliations as we are seeing at present. Some smaller detail of Canterbury and her LCM's can be viewed from here. http://members.chello.nl/d.jansen24/Tenix.htm
those picture have got to be some of the best ive seen of the MRV. How long did it take you to find them ive been looking for desent photos for god knows how long.
oh and by the way does anyone have any idea how the construction of the other ships is going
those picture have got to be some of the best ive seen of the MRV. How long did it take you to find them ive been looking for desent photos for god knows how long.
oh and by the way does anyone have any idea how the construction of the other ships is going
I have to agree!! Some of the best detail yet of the ship and LCM. The Hangar is bigger than what I thought.
I haven't heard anything for a while - anyone live near the Tenix yard.
yeah ive seen lots of pictures of the OPV components being moved around the place but nothing that resembles a constructed ship. i mean if they can get a ship the size of the MRV built in such a short time the OPV should be at least on its way by now.
those picture have got to be some of the best ive seen of the MRV. How long did it take you to find them ive been looking for desent photos for god knows how long.
oh and by the way does anyone have any idea how the construction of the other ships is going
I must say, it was't easy at first. But thanks to a contact with a shipspotting enthusiast out of the Netherlands that all changed for the better. There are a few other shots of Canterbury in this forums Gallery under NZ Navy if you were not aware.
cheers.
Last edited by CJohn; August 26th, 2006 at 04:29 AM.
alot of people in this thread have been saying how they are worried about how the protector ships do not have a sufficient self-defence capability, i was just curious how much it would cost to intergrate something like the Phalanx or Sea Ram to these ships
Not much. However, I don't see why patrol vessels need a CIWS system especially in the South Pacific, the closest nation is some 1,000 miles away. I doubt whether New Zealand would ever deploy the MRV or OPVs outside the South Pacific without an escort. Plus the 25mm Bushmaster gun and the small arms carried do have some anti-air capability.
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Originally Posted by Sea Toby
Not much. However, I don't see why patrol vessels need a CIWS system especially in the South Pacific, the closest nation is some 1,000 miles away. I doubt whether New Zealand would ever deploy the MRV or OPVs outside the South Pacific without an escort. Plus the 25mm Bushmaster gun and the small arms carried do have some anti-air capability.
I tend to agree, I can see the MRV being deployed on semi-regular basis because of what it is. But OPVs and IPVs are really police/customs resources to maintain economic/legal control of NZ territory. The OPVs will also have a limited role in the Pacific. There is really no threat to them that they will not be able to counter with existing equipment IMO.
oh i totally agree i dont think that the OPV need much more weaponry (bar a few more 50cals to cover the rear) but i do think the MRV could do with a CIWS. What i thought was the RNZN could buy 3 Sea Rams for the ANZACS and the MRV and maybe put the old Phalanxs on to the OPVs i mean theres no reason to waste them their still in working condition and it would improve the capabilities of the new ships. On the other hand to save money i suppose the navy could just buy 2 Sea Rams for the ANZACS and install both left over Phalanxs on the MRV im not sure where they would be put just a suggestion what do you guys think.
oh i totally agree i dont think that the OPV need much more weaponry (bar a few more 50cals to cover the rear) but i do think the MRV could do with a CIWS. What i thought was the RNZN could buy 3 Sea Rams for the ANZACS and the MRV and maybe put the old Phalanxs on to the OPVs i mean theres no reason to waste them their still in working condition and it would improve the capabilities of the new ships. On the other hand to save money i suppose the navy could just buy 2 Sea Rams for the ANZACS and install both left over Phalanxs on the MRV im not sure where they would be put just a suggestion what do you guys think.
Yep would like to see .5 cal HMG on rear of OPV's - although they'll always be small-arms embarked which can cover the stern from small-boat attack etc. My #1 ideal would be to have those same .5 cal HMG's in a mini-typhoon mount - quite do-able as the RNZN already has the gun, just needs to splash out on the mount & supporting systems - provides a far more effective weapon. Would like to see same on IPV's & rest of RNZN fleet!
And yes MRV would have a CIWS or similar in a perfect world but I guess we've got to be realistic - the MRV won't see one in the forseeable future. Perhaps not until the need is proven - by the vessel taking a 'hit' - loss of life etc etc. Hopefully it won't ever come to that!!!
CIWS on MRV wouldn't be difficult if electrical systems on board are up to it - but there'd have to be some re-arranging of the multitude of aerials on the upper superstructure. It should have been built 'fitted for but not with' - but that's just toooooo sensible for politicians to grasp I guess!
Anyway - regardless of it's possible shoftfalls in some areas - I like the vessel! She's going to prove a very valuable asset & you can guarantee many years from now when she's due to be replaced it'll be impossible to argue against replacement....the MRV concept is here to stay in the RNZN!
Actually it's interesting to reflect that the concept of a troop transport for the NZ Army can be traced right back to the Falklands war in '82. A defence review within NZ not long after identified a need to be able to move troops & their equipment overseas distance, as aprt of a larger taskforce.
Well it took till '95 to get the HMNZS 'Chuck-up em' (Charles Upham) which was a sobering learning curve for the NZDF - now after 25 years we're getting something ideal for the job - I bet we'll see the wait has been worth it!
While the Canterbury isn't a LPD, she is much better than the other alternative of a leased merchant ship which may or may not have roll-on roll-off capabilities, heavy cranes, landing craft, helicopter facilities, medical facilities, and/or berthing spaces. Less than a year ago Ireland shipped one of its company's equipment to Liberia via a leased merchant vessel many on these forums would call a rust bucket, with only one of the above, heavy cranes, as she was a lift-on, lift-off ship.
The Canterbury is new, clean, and very able to accomplish its three missions superbly: patrol, training, and sealift. She has enough armament to fulfill her sealift role for peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. Her armament can be increased easily if an opposed landing is required in the future, a misson I do not forsee presently.
Last edited by Sea Toby; August 30th, 2006 at 03:36 AM.
i know im surprised that ship they leased could still float i mean i would of thought the Irish could afford something that at least looked good. The Canterbury is by far a better option than having to lease a ship.
