Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates

[Tasman]

Did any one see the article that lead to this letter to the telegraph

Regards
tom

Hi Tom

This is what I reported a week ago in Post 1123.

According to a report in today's Hobart Mercury, HMAS Rankin one of Australia's "troubled Collins class submarines", has been forced to abandon an exercise in the Tasman Sea and return to Port Adelaide on the surface as a result of battery failure.

The media just cannot get away from describing the Collins class as "troubled!"

I haven't seen any official comment yet about the incident.

Tas

Presumably The Mercury used the same inaccurate report. Unfortunately this seems to be fairly typical of our media. Good to see the navy's response.

Cheers

Tas

 

[t68]

Hi Tom

This is what I reported a week ago in Post 1123.



Presumably The Mercury used the same inaccurate report. Unfortunately this seems to be fairly typical of our media. Good to see the navy's response.

Cheers

Tas

Hi Tasman

Sorry about that I did not remember about the post a week ago, when I read the right of reply I had a look on the telegraphs web site to read the article but could not find any reference to it, being away all week every week I miss thing in the news and rely on this site to keep up with what’s going on, just did not click to it this time.

Regards,
Tom

 

[Sea Toby]

If reporters were fired for writing false reports, there wouldn't be a press. And as we all know, to expect a retraction from the gutless press is asking too much. As my utility company has discovered, to get any publisher to over ride their editors is to pull your advertising and cancel your subscription.

 

[aussie89]

Recruting advice needed please help

Hey guys, fantastic forum. It has made for some very interesting reading and I look forward to contributing in the future. I have a few questions in regards to recruiting and would be grateful for any help/advice
I applied for entry into ADFA last year for this year’s entry as a supply officer. After receiving a letter of offer of which I signed I didn’t receive the year 12 marks required so I’m currently at university in Tasmania studying Maritime Technology and Management. I honestly hate my course as it not was I was expecting and I don’t see myself doing anything to do with it in the future and I want something a lot more hands on to do. I have always wanted to be in the navy and I’m looking at applying for general entry as either Submariner or skimmer communications and information systems sailor or BM on skimmers. I was wondering if they will reject me for general entry after being offered a place at ADFA as an officer. Also will they look down on me for dropping out of university after the first semester with passes in all subjects? I have already had two applications into the ADF and it is my understanding that you can only have three? As I said I am extremely interested in the navy and can’t really see myself doing anything else

Thanks in advance for any replies/advice

 

[Tasman]

I was wondering if they will reject me for general entry after being offered a place at ADFA as an officer. Also will they look down on me for dropping out of university after the first semester with passes in all subjects?

You would hope that the navy would be keen to get you for general service if you were offered an ADFA placement and only missed out because of Year 12 marks. You must have made a reasonable impression to have been given that offer.

However, I never cease to be amazed at some of the recruiting decisions that are made!

Good luck with your application.

Tas

 

[Tasman]

Kanimbla and Woollongong in Exercise Croix Du Sud 2008

07 April 2008

Exercise CROIX DU SUD 2008 (CDS08) is a six-nation military exercise conducted by the French Armed Forces New Caledonia in New Caledonia from the period 28 March to 12 April.

France, Australia, New Zealand and Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea will practise conducting the evacuation of foreign nationals from a threatening situation.

The exercise aims to enhance the capability and interoperability of the armed forces of Pacific countries in preparation to respond to a potential regional emergency or crisis.

Australia’s commitment to the exercise includes a headquarters element, HMA ships KANIMBLA and WOLLONGONG, a composite infantry company from the Army’s 1st Brigade, paratroop instructors and riggers from 3rd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment who will operate with French paratroopers, one Sea King, and three No.38 Squadron Caribous, as well as providing technical support.

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2008/Apr/20080407b/index.htm

Photos of HMAS Kanimbla that can be seen on the above site clearly show that she is now mounting a pair of Mini Typhoons to supplement her Phalanx CIWS and 4 x 12.7mm HMGs. Good to see that Mini Typhoon is now mounted on a ship that is not actually deployed or deploying to or from a war zone - maybe the inventory is now beginning to reach a reasonable level!

It is my understanding that the 25mm Typhoon is also to be eventually fitted to Kanimbla, Manoora and Tobruck.

Tas

 

[Tasman]

Sydney's lifeboats found

Early reports that Sydney's lifeboats were missing have now been superseded by the discovery of five lifeboats near the wreck. It looks as though the boats or their cradles and hoists may have been too badly damaged by gunfire to be successfully launched. If so it demonstrates good reasons why carley floats replaced/supplemented the wooden boats in large warships later in the war.

The following is a report from the Sydney Morning Herald:

A new photo of the wreck of HMAS Sydney might have solved the mystery of whether some of the crew attempted a last-ditch escape as the ship sank.

The entire crew were thought to have gone down with the ship in November 1941 after a battle with the German raider Kormoran.

But initial photos showed all of the ship's lifeboats were missing from their cradles, raising questions as to whether crew tried to flee in the boats as the ship sank.

But a photo released today seems to answer that question, with five lifeboats found resting on the ocean near the wreck of the Sydney.

"That means that people didn't get away," Tom Frame, the author of HMAS Sydney: Loss And Controversy, said.

Last week Professor Frame said questions remained about the lifeboats.

"There is still a real element of mystery as to why the amount of damage we are seeing in these pictures prevented the crew from getting off," he said on Friday.

"It doesn't seem from what we have seen that the ship sank suddenly. It doesn't have the cataclysmic damage to explain why no one got away."

The account of the tragedy given by German sailors aboard the Kormoran states the boat stayed afloat for at least six hours before sinking.

That would have been long enough for the crew to attempt an escape mission, Professor Frame said.

But today's photo appears to have dispelled that notion and, when informed of the discovery, Professor Frame said it left few questions.

"The previous assumption was that if the lifeboats weren't in the area then some people may have gotten away. But if [the lifeboats are] in the area then they sank and came loose and went down separately."

The only question remaining now was whether the lifeboats themselves had suffered any damage, and whether that had rendered them useless.

"They may have tried to deploy them and they didn't work," he said.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national...-sydney-mystery/2008/04/07/1207420255381.html

This discovery certainly provides one explanation as to why none of the crew survived the sinking.

Tas

 

[t68]

Hi guys

In the case of the RAN not getting a third lhd, I was thinking of what is out there that might be of use to the RAN?

I was thinking a long the lines of something for the pacific area where the lhd might not fit into easily ,and could also be used to back up the lhd if need by taking some of the tasking off them when the heat dies down if we were drawn into something more of the deeper end of operations .

Incat have made a high speed vessels which are being trail at the moment and have a program running for both the US navy/army.
Although a lot smaller than the lhd it has the room for couple of helicopters and has a ramp that can handle load of up to 65ton (i.e. Abrams)

It is similar to HMAS Jervis bay but slightly larger, I realize that it does not have any self protection systems that I can see by the web sites, but is meant to be more of a cheaper fit into the RAN for transport/humanitarian reasons in case of natural disasters and back up to the lhd

www.incat.com.au/domino/incat/incatweb.nsf/v-title/Spearhead TSV-1X?OpenDocument

http://www.incat.com.au/domino/incat/incatweb.nsf/v-title/HSV 2 Swift?OpenDocument

http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/ships.asp?ship=163&type=HighSpeedVessel

So what do people her think of this idea?

Regards,
Tom

 

[icelord]

Hey guys, fantastic forum. It has made for some very interesting reading and I look forward to contributing in the future. I have a few questions in regards to recruiting and would be grateful for any help/advice
I applied for entry into ADFA last year for this year’s entry as a supply officer. After receiving a letter of offer of which I signed I didn’t receive the year 12 marks required so I’m currently at university in Tasmania studying Maritime Technology and Management. I honestly hate my course as it not was I was expecting and I don’t see myself doing anything to do with it in the future and I want something a lot more hands on to do. I have always wanted to be in the navy and I’m looking at applying for general entry as either Submariner or skimmer communications and information systems sailor or BM on skimmers. I was wondering if they will reject me for general entry after being offered a place at ADFA as an officer. Also will they look down on me for dropping out of university after the first semester with passes in all subjects? I have already had two applications into the ADF and it is my understanding that you can only have three? As I said I am extremely interested in the navy and can’t really see myself doing anything else

Thanks in advance for any replies/advice

Join the bosun's, you'll have a great time! We don't paint as much as people tell you, and we do put in the hard yards, bloody myths the lot, if you want hands on BM is the place to be,i'm doing BM course atm and loving it and can't wait to hit fleet in june. CIS is a hard course, so if your determined to put the effort in you'll do well, and there is a big call for CIS running around across the fleet, so look carefully into it.
With either job you'll have no real trouble getting a go at officer in the future, and if you need more marks to push your application, the navy will pay in the future for that through education schemes.
best of luck, any other questions msg me and i'll try to find out

 

[icelord]

i'm sure we covered the cats ability in the RAN a while ago, so check the long and verbal argument in history posts.
We could get into another yes no no yes no yes no no yes debate, but safer to go that way, i'm up for LPA more then HSV

 

[aussie89]

Join the bosun's, you'll have a great time! We don't paint as much as people tell you, and we do put in the hard yards, bloody myths the lot, if you want hands on BM is the place to be,i'm doing BM course atm and loving it and can't wait to hit fleet in june. CIS is a hard course, so if your determined to put the effort in you'll do well, and there is a big call for CIS running around across the fleet, so look carefully into it.
With either job you'll have no real trouble getting a go at officer in the future, and if you need more marks to push your application, the navy will pay in the future for that through education schemes.
best of luck, any other questions msg me and i'll try to find out

hey mate i tired to msg u but i cant yey for some reason

a coupple of my mates are at cebarus atm haha. Yea the only other questions i have are that do u think they would let me in if i leave uni?

 

[alexsa]

i'm sure we covered the cats ability in the RAN a while ago, so check the long and verbal argument in history posts.
We could get into another yes no no yes no yes no no yes debate, but safer to go that way, i'm up for LPA more then HSV

Agree totally. We need all weather sustained capability and the HSV just does not offer that (as has been discussed numerous times previously).

 

[Sea Toby]

I haven't a clue what the third amphibious/sea lift ship will be. Options include a carrier oriented LHD, to LPDs, to high speed or non high speed ferries alike the Jervis Bay and Canterbury, or to containerized cargo ships of any size. I am not even sure whether moving troops are necessary, much less how many, or just equipment and supplies.

I would think a third LHD configured for STOVL operations would top the list. Of course that would be the most expensive option. With such a good quality in the two LHDs, the option of a third ship similar to Canterbury would represent a cheaper option. Since the Canterbury, Ben-My-Chree is actually a smaller and newer version of the current Interislander ferry, a larger ferry type could be built. All three ferries have the same beam, the Interislander has a longer length. As noted, for probably a bit more, a high speed ferry like the Jervis Bay may be in the works.

Then again, a Rotterdam type of LPD/LSD would more or less be a middle priced option. I think much will be decided upon costs, that is if a third carrier option is not taken. The cheapest option I would think is to move only equipment and supplies, a container type of ro-ro ship similar in size or less than the LHDs. But surely, a cargo vessel of this type will be available for hire.

Some will say a smaller option might be better, a ship the size of a LHD may be overkill. Without any doubt, there are a lot of options. Lets hope that the new white paper addresses specifications more clearly.

 

[Pusser01]

Kanimbla, Manoora and Tobruck[/I].
Tas

Maybe a ship is being sent to the Gulf to retrieve the army armour and it isn't Tobruk, she is doing RIMPAC. All those ships have already been fitted for at some stage, they might just not be carrying them at the moment. Tobruk was fitted with them when she went to the Gulf to transport army equipment there.
Cheers

 

[Aussie Digger]

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2008/Apr/20080407b/index.htm

Photos of HMAS Kanimbla that can be seen on the above site clearly show that she is now mounting a pair of Mini Typhoons to supplement her Phalanx CIWS and 4 x 12.7mm HMGs. Good to see that Mini Typhoon is now mounted on a ship that is not actually deployed or deploying to or from a war zone - maybe the inventory is now beginning to reach a reasonable level!

It is my understanding that the 25mm Typhoon is also to be eventually fitted to Kanimbla, Manoora and Tobruck.

Tas

This is what the DMO has to say about this issue:

Ships Self Defence Capability – Rapid Acquisition TOP

Prime Contractors: Alliant Techsystems Ind. and Rafael Armament Development Authority (Israel).
Phase 1 of SEA 1779 Ph 1 will provide a dual level ship self defence capability for HMA Ships Kanimbla, Manoora and Tobruk.
This capability will provide better defence against watercraft, land targets, helicopters and floating mines. The capability will consist of an integrated fire control system and Toplite electro-optical director system. The 25mm Bushmaster naval variant cannons are to be integrated to provide the cannon for the Typhoon system.
The “fit for but not with” installation schedule is on track, however the procurement of hardware and in particular Typhoon mounts lag by 6 months. Notwithstanding, TOBRUK, KANIMBLA and MANOORA are presently configured for Mini Typhoon Self Protection, albeit KANIMBLA will have the Mini Typhoons resited at the next Availability in May to pave the way for the installation of Typhoon mounts on delivery from Rafael Feb 09, to provide the optimal self defence capability.
Initial Operational Release of the first ship with optimal self defence capability is scheduled for February 2009, with project completion in July 2009.




Courtesy of www.defence.gov.au/dmo

 

[Tasman]

Typhoon and Mini Typhoon in Amphibious vessels

This is what the DMO has to say about this issue:

Ships Self Defence Capability – Rapid Acquisition TOP

Prime Contractors: Alliant Techsystems Ind. and Rafael Armament Development Authority (Israel).
Phase 1 of SEA 1779 Ph 1 will provide a dual level ship self defence capability for HMA Ships Kanimbla, Manoora and Tobruk.
This capability will provide better defence against watercraft, land targets, helicopters and floating mines. The capability will consist of an integrated fire control system and Toplite electro-optical director system. The 25mm Bushmaster naval variant cannons are to be integrated to provide the cannon for the Typhoon system.
The “fit for but not with” installation schedule is on track, however the procurement of hardware and in particular Typhoon mounts lag by 6 months. Notwithstanding, TOBRUK, KANIMBLA and MANOORA are presently configured for Mini Typhoon Self Protection, albeit KANIMBLA will have the Mini Typhoons resited at the next Availability in May to pave the way for the installation of Typhoon mounts on delivery from Rafael Feb 09, to provide the optimal self defence capability.
Initial Operational Release of the first ship with optimal self defence capability is scheduled for February 2009, with project completion in July 2009.




Courtesy of www.defence.gov.au/dmo

Thanks AD and Pusser 01 for info re Mini Typhoon and Typhoon installations in the RAN's major amphibious vessels. Good to see that the "fit for but not with" part of the project is on track. From the DMO report it seems that these ships will eventually mount both of these weapons. Hopefully all of the RAN's Phalanx CIWS units will be upgraded to futher enhance defences against small fast moving surface targets. I remember seeing in this year's project list that funds have been provided for one of the mounts to be upgraded so it would seem logical for the remainder to be progressively modernised to provide the additional anti surface role that now seems to be regarded as a priority for the fleet's frigates and major amphibious vessels.

Tas

 

[Sea Toby]

Withn five years, more like four years, Australia will be seeing another Juan Carlos I ship entering the sea for the first time. Of all the video's produced, I like this one best.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMxXkuidmWU&feature=related"]YouTube - BPE[/ame]

 

[icelord]

hey mate i tired to msg u but i cant yey for some reason

a coupple of my mates are at cebarus atm haha. Yea the only other questions i have are that do u think they would let me in if i leave uni?

i think it takes 5 posts before you can PM
LOL, the easy answer is yes, this is not officer,in fact if you want to you may be able to in the future complete your degree through the navy education scheme if they feel it could help in your job, or any transfer of catagory, then again you could not and do BM and not worry.Stand by for any jokes about Bosuns and our intelligence from former pussers.

Mod edit:

50 posts. 5 is too easy to achieve too quickly...

 

[Trackmaster]

Saw the Warramunga in Brisbane over the weekend from a distance.

Has she been fitted with any CEA-FAR or CEA-MOUNT gear? There appeared to be a large flat "plate" up top.

 

[Lofty_DBF]

Mate do yourself a favour if you a smart enough to go to uni do not become a BOSUN'S MATE.
Get a trade ET, MT or avn tech.
Bosun's mate are generally a bunch of vegetables.