Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates

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t68

Well-Known Member
One of Australia's foremost defence experts speaks out on why Australia needs to cancel the submarine deal with the French as well as his appraisal of the F-35 and Hunter frigate programs. Prepare to be educated.

Geez that’s a train wreck of an interview, I had to turn it off otherwise I would have had to bought a new phone

I’m all for nuclear here in Australia but I know even if we decided today to go both for military or domestic purposes it’s 10-15 years before anything could realistically happen.

If I recall GF was saying it was the Gillard Government whom cut the funding for a clean sheet design way back when that’s why we had to go into partnership with a boat that could be redesigned to our future requirements. Even recall GF was surprised that the French won the bid, still think we should have got into a collaboration with JP/US/AU based not only on commercial but strategic reasons
 

Stampede

Well-Known Member
Its FoxNews, sorry i meant Sky News what would you expect.
Quality journalism at its best.
If only they were running the country!!!!!!!!!
"Ha"
Had to fast forward the vid to keep some sanity.

Yet still, some people watch them and for those not interested in defense this will be all that they will know of these important defence projects.

Again, government may need to spin / educate the public for the sake of confidence that we are on the correct path with some of these lager defence acquisitions.

Regards S
 

hauritz

Well-Known Member
Quality journalism at its best.
If only they were running the country!!!!!!!!!
"Ha"
Had to fast forward the vid to keep some sanity.

Yet still, some people watch them and for those not interested in defense this will be all that they will know of these important defence projects.

Again, government may need to spin / educate the public for the sake of confidence that we are on the correct path with some of these lager defence acquisitions.

Regards S
The biggest danger is that the majority of politicians are just as ignorant of defence matters as the general public. All it takes is for a populist politician to jump on the bandwagon and make some incredibly rash promises based on what appears in the media.

I tend to get nervous whenever a project like this starts to get prolonged bad press particularly when we start approaching election time.
 

Redlands18

Well-Known Member
The biggest danger is that the majority of politicians are just as ignorant of defence matters as the general public. All it takes is for a populist politician to jump on the bandwagon and make some incredibly rash promises based on what appears in the media.

I tend to get nervous whenever a project like this starts to get prolonged bad press particularly when we start approaching election time.
Remembering that Attack Class Submarines will only be able to stay under water for 20mins at a time.
 

Boatteacher

Active Member
Noting that the Arafura's do have a dual feed fully automatic 40mm gun with 80 ready rounds linked in to a full combat management system.

Not toothless.

Regards,

Massive
This is not pushing for anything, just testing the issues (because I'm happy to plead ignorance).
It seems that one of the credible threats that has crystalized over the very recent past - and certainly after the Arafura's were selected - is that they may have to deal with an invasion of the China fishing fleets into our EEZ or playing cat and mouse with the fleet as it tests our response.
My understanding is that these are armed or accompanied by armed support.

Do we have enough Arafuras to deal with this?
Are they well enough armed to deal with things if they get out of hand?
 

Redlands18

Well-Known Member
This is not pushing for anything, just testing the issues (because I'm happy to plead ignorance).
It seems that one of the credible threats that has crystalized over the very recent past - and certainly after the Arafura's were selected - is that they may have to deal with an invasion of the China fishing fleets into our EEZ or playing cat and mouse with the fleet as it tests our response.
My understanding is that these are armed or accompanied by armed support.

Do we have enough Arafuras to deal with this?
Are they well enough armed to deal with things if they get out of hand?
The Arafura’s will carry the turreted Oto Marlin 40mm Autocannon which is a major improvement over the open Rafael Typhoon 25mm. That will Mission kill any Fishing Boat if that need ever arose(lets hope not). The Arafura’s are going to be a massive improvement over the Armidale class, a better Gun, much better situational awareness, a bigger crew and more room for extra personnel and more and bigger Sea Boats.
The great news is we are now in a very good position to be able to build more if needed, relatively quickly, thats the beauty of the Shipbuilding plan.
 

alexsa

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
The Arafura’s will carry the turreted Oto Marlin 40mm Autocannon which is a major improvement over the open Rafael Typhoon 25mm. That will Mission kill any Fishing Boat if that need ever arose(lets hope not). The Arafura’s are going to be a massive improvement over the Armidale class, a better Gun, much better situational awareness, a bigger crew and more room for extra personnel and more and bigger Sea Boats.
The great news is we are now in a very good position to be able to build more if needed, relatively quickly, thats the beauty of the Shipbuilding plan.
Not forgetting the eight Cape Class vessels, the Ocean Shield and Thaiyak (stationed at Ashmore Reef) which are all armed with 50 cals. A 50 cal HMG is more than enough to shred a fishing boat.

Patrol vessels (abf.gov.au)

On top of this are the Cape Class being built as a contingency for the RAN (plus the two already in service with the RAN) pending the Arafura's coming on stream and the disposal of the ACPB. There will be a total of 16 Capes between Border Force and the RAN. If these are in good condition when no longer needed they may pass down to Border Force once the RAN focus on the Arafura (or they may remain in RAN service). As far as I can tell there is no formal indication of what the long term future of the Navy Capes.
 

Redlands18

Well-Known Member
Not forgetting the eight Cape Class vessels, the Ocean Shield and Thaiyak (stationed at Ashmore Reef) which are all armed with 50 cals. A 50 cal HMG is more than enough to shred a fishing boat.

Patrol vessels (abf.gov.au)

On top of this are the Cape Class being built as a contingency for the RAN (plus the two already in service with the RAN) pending the Arafura's coming on stream and the disposal of the ACPB. There will be a total of 16 Capes between Border Force and the RAN. If these are in good condition when no longer needed they may pass down to Border Force once the RAN focus on the Arafura (or they may remain in RAN service). As far as I can tell there is no formal indication of what the long term future of the Navy Capes.
We haven’t even got names for them yet, plenty of River names not currently in use.
 

Git_Kraken

Active Member
The Arafura’s will carry the turreted Oto Marlin 40mm Autocannon which is a major improvement over the open Rafael Typhoon 25mm.
I'm not I understand a 40mm on OPV's. By using an EOIR fire control system you are wasting half of the 40mm capability (that being proper ranking and engagement of air targets). Seems over gunned for a ship that is supposed to intercept illegal migrants, arrest polluters and provide RMP. It's not a bad weapon by far, I quite like it, just in the right circumstances. Perhaps I'm missing something.
 

vonnoobie

Well-Known Member
On top of this are the Cape Class being built as a contingency for the RAN (plus the two already in service with the RAN) pending the Arafura's coming on stream and the disposal of the ACPB. There will be a total of 16 Capes between Border Force and the RAN. If these are in good condition when no longer needed they may pass down to Border Force once the RAN focus on the Arafura (or they may remain in RAN service). As far as I can tell there is no formal indication of what the long term future of the Navy Capes.
All depends if they can man the ships. With the crew sizing alone for the current 11 ships in border force adding an additional 8 capes would be a 70%+ increase in ship crew numbers.

If they could get the budget and manpower for that would they be better off with 8 extra capes or a couple of Arafura's of their own?

I'm thinking they are more likely to be sold off to one of the ASEAN nations if not donated to them. Improves their policing and gets us political browny points.
 

Redlands18

Well-Known Member
I can understand that, but I would prefer they were not used for patrol craft given the combined war records.
I’m a big fan of the Geographic and town names for the OPVs, I wouldn’t actually mind the V names used for the Subs, i think they are great names for Submarines and go well with Attack. I really believe one of the Anzacs should have been named Voyager in tribute to the 83 crew who died.
It will be interesting to see what names we get for the follow on Hunters, especially if Ships 4-6 are a batch 2 design, my money is on Melbourne, Darwin, Newcastle though.
 
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