Future of the French/Russian Mistral LHDs

the concerned

Active Member
These 2 ships would make great assets for disaster relief. keep the helicopter capabilities but replace the fighting equipment with engineering equipment.i'd base 1 somewhere like oman and the other spain or Portugal giving access to both sides of the globe
 

t68

Well-Known Member
These 2 ships would make great assets for disaster relief. keep the helicopter capabilities but replace the fighting equipment with engineering equipment.i'd base 1 somewhere like oman and the other spain or Portugal giving access to both sides of the globe
who pays for it?
 

Blackshoe

Defense Professional
Verified Defense Pro
I think he's suggesting they become UN assets, or something like that.
The question still applies, however-who pays for it?

And while DR sounds like a great mission in theory (and to Western nations, is especially useful to garner public support for acquisitions)...

...it's not something I'd acquire large ships for. Or be willing to pay long-term costs to support.

In summary, it's a better add-on to a list of reasons to buy something than a reason in and of itself. And if it's your primary reason...you don't end up buying it.
 

t68

Well-Known Member
The question still applies, however-who pays for it?

And while DR sounds like a great mission in theory (and to Western nations, is especially useful to garner public support for acquisitions)...

...it's not something I'd acquire large ships for. Or be willing to pay long-term costs to support.

In summary, it's a better add-on to a list of reasons to buy something than a reason in and of itself. And if it's your primary reason...you don't end up buying it.
I'd agree with that statement, but here in Australia anything that helps the HADR role seems to get over the line so much easier with support from the general public.
 

Ranger25

Active Member
Staff member
These 2 ships would make great assets for disaster relief. keep the helicopter capabilities but replace the fighting equipment with engineering equipment.i'd base 1 somewhere like oman and the other spain or Portugal giving access to both sides of the globe
Agreed with T
Not only who pays, but who crews, maintains and administered the decisions on deployment? The UN?
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
The question still applies, however-who pays for it?

And while DR sounds like a great mission in theory (and to Western nations, is especially useful to garner public support for acquisitions)...

...it's not something I'd acquire large ships for. Or be willing to pay long-term costs to support.

In summary, it's a better add-on to a list of reasons to buy something than a reason in and of itself. And if it's your primary reason...you don't end up buying it.
Leaving the practical current day real world situation aside, it certainly would be interesting to see an international disaster relief agency, similar to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, but with global reach and willingness to respond to any disasters around the world where help is needed. It could do a lot of good, and help improve international cooperation.

Agreed with T
Not only who pays, but who crews, maintains and administered the decisions on deployment? The UN?
Potentially, yes. Something like the Russian MChS (Ministry of Emergency Situations) but international.
 

the concerned

Active Member
Isn't it amazing that when you suggest something like disaster relief which happens quite often around the world people start squirming about money. Regardless of what nationality you are we all see the types of money are governments waste on ( so called business trips) yeah right. Yet between them they couldn't put a embarrassing situation between the east and west back to good use. I'm only a amateur but surely these ships were built to Russian spec's the cost to convert these to another countries needs would prohibit them being considered. Plus between the UN countries being able to offer retiring ex servicemen the opportunity to carry on in a humanitarian role surely is a good thing.
 

t68

Well-Known Member
Isn't it amazing that when you suggest something like disaster relief which happens quite often around the world people start squirming about money. Regardless of what nationality you are we all see the types of money are governments waste on ( so called business trips) yeah right. Yet between them they couldn't put a embarrassing situation between the east and west back to good use. I'm only a amateur but surely these ships were built to Russian spec's the cost to convert these to another countries needs would prohibit them being considered. Plus between the UN countries being able to offer retiring ex servicemen the opportunity to carry on in a humanitarian role surely is a good thing.
well who do you think can afford to buy and maintain the ships plus keep engineer equipment on standby for these type of operations, international rescue was a TV show not real life.

as we all know these function are a secondary role to why the vessel was purchased in the first place. do you want more of your tax going to the united nation to purchase and control and refit these ships.
 

Ranger25

Active Member
Staff member
well who do you think can afford to buy and maintain the ships plus keep engineer equipment on standby for these type of operations, international rescue was a TV show not real life.

as we all know these function are a secondary role to why the vessel was purchased in the first place. do you want more of your tax going to the united nation to purchase and control and refit these ships.

I think it's a great idea but generally unrealistic.


Agree with Feanor's comment regarding the UN spearheading this. UN could simply ask/assess larger membership fees to nations starting with the members of the UN Security Council.

If they become UN ships they I'd ask a further UN question, why limit them to disaster relief?
Why not set them up as a UN unit to deter potential aggression with an international force?

Float them toward the coastline as conflict arises and provide international deterrence as a negotiation tool?
 

StingrayOZ

Super Moderator
Staff member
I would have thought these two operated by the Africa stand by force would be a way to gift Africa with much needed capability and be more self reliant. It would all need to be funded by aid anyway. They already have a force of ~5000 that could use the ships. If the UN is going to do any mission and is unlikely to get serious material it will be Africa that will be the place. That would include Egypt (as part of the NARC RM). Look at stabilising the entire continent. Possibly using them an Amphibious police/peace service.
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
they're a shocking build. colleague of mine evaluated them and said that the deck modules were so bad that the deck modules didn't meet up

no contest against the spanish builds
 

Cadredave

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
they're a shocking build. colleague of mine evaluated them and said that the deck modules were so bad that the deck modules didn't meet up

no contest against the spanish builds
Geez GF maybe the French should of let them go to Russia in that case, they will be Big White Expensive Elephants.
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
I'd agree with that statement, but here in Australia anything that helps the HADR role seems to get over the line so much easier with support from the general public.

every dual use major platform has got through the gate reviews and past central agencies with almost no grief at all....
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Geez GF maybe the French should of let them go to Russia in that case, they will be Big White Expensive Elephants.
there was certainly a view that we shouldn't argue with the french about slowing down the delivery schedule to the russians, esp after crimea and the shootdown.

the T&S out of RT&S will be awful :)
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
they're a shocking build. colleague of mine evaluated them and said that the deck modules were so bad that the deck modules didn't meet up

no contest against the spanish builds
Was the problem ship-wide, or dealing with the Russian sections specifically? Because remember, large portions of each ship were built in Russia. And not only is Russian shipbuilding problematic in general, this was a totally new project for them in particular.
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Was the problem ship-wide, or dealing with the Russian sections specifically? Because remember, large portions of each ship were built in Russia. And not only is Russian shipbuilding problematic in general, this was a totally new project for them in particular.
not sure who built the sections, but deck modules were not lined up, he said it was one of the worst alignments he's ever seen
 

Volkodav

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Was the problem ship-wide, or dealing with the Russian sections specifically? Because remember, large portions of each ship were built in Russia. And not only is Russian shipbuilding problematic in general, this was a totally new project for them in particular.
I believe gf was referring to the original French ships that were evaluated prior to the selection of the JC1 for the RAN, not the latter ships ordered by Russia.
 
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