iambuzzard
Well-Known Member
Thank you for trying
Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0
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iambuzzard
Well-Known Member
I saw two Chinnoks dancing around each other at an early Avalon Airshow if my old brain serves me correctly.Best ship in the fleet
I have two equipment claims to fame: over 10 years in Aviation and ME deployments - have never seen a CH-47 in the flesh. And I have spent more time on HMAS Brisbane (II) than any other RAN vessel - including LPD, LPA and LHD!
It would be a brave deployment of such ships, given their age across a large ocean. They aren't really kitted for modern mine hunting either. Its all 90s and early vintage stuff. Arafura with drones would be a much better platform.. But its not really protected enough to work alone in that enviroment.
Also, I got a nice shot of the Anzacs while a storm hit the fleet on the review... on the manly ferry.. I was late for a cruise, so ferry it was with shopping bag of booze.
Haze grey..
The mogami looked nice..
The mogami.. looked very nice. Can't wait until one is in the RAN.
iambuzzard
Well-Known Member
And ours will be the Evolved version with 32 Mk41 VLS and a higher bridge. There's also a redesign of the bow. Nice looking ship with room to grow. The TKMS design was too crowded.
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iambuzzard
Well-Known Member
As they say "Steel is cheap"!
I think I've seen Chinooks belonging to a few countries. RAF ones quite often, sometimes over my house.
Its an impressive ship. Further refined. I imagine the Japanese will try to make the ones we get basically perfect. Because I am absolutely sure that there is a lot of interest globally on looking around those specific ships and talking to a non-Japanese crew operating them.
Its basically coming from a completely different tech tree, and these are the absolute show piece of Japanese naval engineering.
I think people get caught up on the weapon systems a bit much, as they are the least interesting thing, and most conventional thing on the ship. The tech integration is next level, RF signature management and networking. The wrist based sailor trackers. The ergonomics on things like the 127mm padeye and lift for rearming. The ship handling. How they have tried to make improvements in ship design, while keeping it small and efficient. As big as the ships are they are actually very space efficient. Well designed, throughout and engineered efficiency is a theme throughout the entire design. Every thing has been re-considered, to material choice like the rubber coms mast, paint, windows, electrical layout, mechanical.. Its not high risk redesign, but like a strong refinement of existing ideas and concepts. The Japanese certainly have their own particular brand of engineering, traditional blends with modern.
The second batch has apparently *ALOT* of small refinements for quality of life, serviceability, seakeeping etc. The Japanese seem also somewhat excited about Australia operating them, there is interest in Australian feedback and to see how Australia finds them. The big ships are based around US concepts, so smaller ships and middle power navies are kind of a new thing for them as a market. So we will have to see how that works.
I imagine the first time we pull up at RIMPAC everyone will want to crawl over it. As such I think we should take a few steps to personalise it. Not different weapons.. Clearly. But by far the most important part of a ship is the crews well being. Maybe they are too Japanese inside for aussie crews.
But lamb wool seat covers, Australian timbers/kangaroo leather used where possible, such is life window sticker, the chairs and table from the officer mess on the Canberra classes, the steering wheel from Mad max fury road. Bundaberg ginger beer/cascade mini can vending machine (everything from blood orange to pink grapefruit), sausage roll/pie oven but also a Roll'd/Sushi Hub fridge. A giant scenic picture of Fyshwick. Giggle and hoot bed sheets. This is where the money normally wasted on projects, can be spent.
I'm kind of surprised we ended up choosing them, given our generally risk adverse, which translates into modern adverse selection systems. But the Japanese are absolutely wedded to making them work and keeping them modern and functional, with a sizable fleet.
It looks very clean, in the flesh..