In spite of all the problems experienced during the Hobart build they manage to deliver 3 ships between 2012 to 2020. Based on those performances is it really that hard for the Hunter class to deliver similar number of ships between next year and 2031?
Three ships between 2012-2020? Seriously? Let’s have a bit of a reality check here.
The Spanish design was selected in June 2007 and an order placed in October 2007.
What happened to the five years between 2007 and 2012? Do those FIVE years not count? Did they disappear like a fart in the wind??
You are not comparing apples with apples.
During the Hobart build a ‘continuous’ build program didn’t exist, and there were ‘multiple yards’ supplying blocks to Osborne for consolidation.
On the other hand Hunter was chosen in June 2018, and yes there have been delays since, and yes ‘omissions’ were made in what the real production schedule would be due to adapting a ‘reference’ design into a final ‘production’ design.
Start of ‘real’ production has been delayed 18mths until around mid 2024, in the interim five prototype block are being built to ensure the bugs are ironed out (lessons learnt from Hobart block production), and more recently it’s been reported that three of those prototype blocks will become production blocks.
It’s also been reported that by Ship 04, the 18mth delay will be caught up.
Do we all want to see the Hunter FFGs delivered asap? Of course we do, but is delaying production (and catching up time later), better in the long run? I think it is.
Here’s the ‘Catch 22’, how do you deliver the RAN what it needs, and at the same time have a ‘drum beat’ that allows for sustainment of a Naval shipbuilding industry?
You spread the Drumbeat out to approx 24mths, or you speed it up to 18mths or less by increasing the number of hulls to be produced.
Currently the Government mandated number of MFU is 12 (hence the approx 24mth drumbeat), if the number of MFU was increased to 13 or 14, or ??, the drumbeat could be modified to 18mths or less.
Anyway, you can’t compare Hobart construction to the Hunter construction timeline, different times, different circumstances.
