Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0

OldTex

Well-Known Member
With its large deck, davits, stern launch and recovery sytem it may also end up serving as a useful drone mothership.
That was one of the ideas with the Arafura class acting as the basis for the replacement of the MCM and Hydrographic vessels. Those MWVs do still need to be replaced, possibly with autonomous systems but supported by suitable motherships.
 

spoz

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
From Pat Conroys socials, Pilbara looks like it’s pretty far along, think it will definitely be commissioned next year.
Never saw Eyre enter the water until this year although it was “launched in November 2023”, it didn’t spend much time at the wharf before fit out.
Sea trials were completed in just under 1 month. (Late June - Late July)
I was at Eyre’s launch; and onboard her many times alongside over the next months. She was taken out for a bottom clean, as is standard procedure before sea trials because of the amount of growth which occurs in the warm, slightly brackish water of the Port River; but she was there alright.

What takes time after launch is not only things like finishing cable pulls and pipe runs; it’s equipment set to work and individual systems grooming then integrated testing. And also getting those who have to approve the ship as ready to go to sea to agree. I hope I’m wrong, but after 40 years in the business I won’t be counting on it. Sea trials for Hobart also took about a month, btw; by the time you get to that point most things had better be sorted.
 

Volkodav

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
That was one of the ideas with the Arafura class acting as the basis for the replacement of the MCM and Hydrographic vessels. Those MWVs do still need to be replaced, possibly with autonomous systems but supported by suitable motherships.
Those are roles Japan is planning to use the Mogami in.

If you look at the RANs Sloops, Corvettes and Frigates from the 30s and 40s it can be seen that they had a lot in common with the proposed GP frigates.
 

SammyC

Well-Known Member
Those are roles Japan is planning to use the Mogami in.

If you look at the RANs Sloops, Corvettes and Frigates from the 30s and 40s it can be seen that they had a lot in common with the proposed GP frigates.
I'm thinking there is still going to be a workload for mine hunting above what the GPF can do. It's still a single ship with lots of demands on its use, it can only be in one place at a time, and we will not have a full fleet until the early 40s. Even then its only 11 against the Japanese 22.

Mine hunting is heavily drone centric these days, so it can be done from a variety of platforms. I'm wondering if an outcome is broader application of say the Mogami mine hunting system (sets assume that is the GPF selection for the sake of the argument), used on the Mogami but also other vessels.

The GPFs do the higher threat areas, with the other vessels keeping protected shipping lanes and harbours clear.
 

Volkodav

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Mine hunting is exactly the sort of capability that could be served by a centre of excellence and school, with permanently outfitted vessels for training, supported by deployable elements and distributed reserve elements.

Each major port could have a reserve MCM capability with shore deployed ROVs and more autonomous options, as well as a deployable capability suitable for GPFs, OPVs and craft of opportunity.
 

Stampede

Well-Known Member
Mine hunting is exactly the sort of capability that could be served by a centre of excellence and school, with permanently outfitted vessels for training, supported by deployable elements and distributed reserve elements.

Each major port could have a reserve MCM capability with shore deployed ROVs and more autonomous options, as well as a deployable capability suitable for GPFs, OPVs and craft of opportunity.
In wartime a lot requirement for local inshore work. Coast,ports and harbours.
For that you need vessel numbers.
Good basic work hirses that are flexible and adaptable.

The majors will always fall short in hull numbers.

Like the Bathurst class in World War II, there is a need for the unsexy stuff to do the boring.

Cheers S
 
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