Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0

Tasman

Ship Watcher
Verified Defense Pro
A beautiful morning in Hobart which reminds me why I live where I live. HMAS Yarra returned to the Derwent after a few days out of sight and passed RSV Nuyina which was heading out into the Derwent for drills as part of her preparation for heading to the far south. The more I see of Nuyina the more I think she is going to be a wonderful asset to Australia and to our region. Glad to see Yarra's crew returning on a beautiful day after spending her earlier stay in appalling weather.

HMAS Yarra on the Derwent 291121.JPGNuyina heading for drills in Derwent with pilot boat alongside 291121.JPGYarra meets Nuyina 291121.JPG

Tas
 

oldsig127

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
In December last year, it was announced that Australia was seeking a torpedo self-defence system
Is there much known about this and if the Anzac class will also be fitted with this?
This quote from the article might help

Integrated TSD into the Combat Management System (CMS) will be pursued to provide a networked system for maritime Task Groups. This will be delivered to the Anzac-class frigates and Hobart-class destroyers as well as inform the design of the future Hunter-class Frigates, and future integration into the wider surface fleet.
oldsig
 

seaspear

Well-Known Member
Thanks, I should of asked when we could expect an announcement of the successful bidder and when to be implemented possible budget decision?
 

John Newman

The Bunker Group
Thanks, I should of asked when we could expect an announcement of the successful bidder and when to be implemented possible budget decision?
Questions like that are very much “how long is a piece of string?”.

The Government rarely, if ever, will say the decision on a project will be announced on X date.

But that’s not to say you can’t find info if you make an attempt to look for it, for example:


The above tender info for SEA 1408 Ph 3, states the timeframe for delivery is 2024.

For example the 2020 Defence Strategic Update, and associated documents, gives reasonable details on numerous projects, date ranges and budget allocations too.

There is a lot of info in the public domain, as the old saying goes.

“Google, use it, it is your friend”.

Cheers,
 

Rock the kasbah

Active Member
Sco Mo said about a month ago that the the first 2 arafuras off the slip will be MCM and not constabulary. Will this effect the defensive armament of the class ?
Seems a bit light on for a class of ship that can and has gotten in harms way. I mean our most recent VC recipient ( posthumous ) was serving on an MCM when his actions were noted.
 

cdxbow

Well-Known Member
Sco Mo said about a month ago that the the first 2 arafuras off the slip will be MCM and not constabulary. Will this effect the defensive armament of the class ?
Seems a bit light on for a class of ship that can and has gotten in harms way. I mean our most recent VC recipient ( posthumous ) was serving on an MCM when his actions were noted.
Agree, opportunity for the RAN to dip their toes in and try SeaRam for air defence. In MCM and ASW configs they are certainly likely to be at risk, I actually think it's mandatory if they operate in these roles they need more protection. There maybe other options, but SeaRam seems to fit the bill perfectly.
 

Geddy

Member
I suspect that if the OPV variant has been lightly armed there is no way that an MCM variant will be more heavily armed.
This is not to say that being more heavily armed isn’t desirable but the decision has been made not to do it now.
 

hauritz

Well-Known Member
I don't imagine there will be many differences if any between the MCV and OPV versions of the Arafura. It will just come down to whatever mission module the vessel is fitted with at the time. Even though the navy only has two at the moment I imagine the other OPVs could be pressed into service as MCVs rather quickly in an emergency.
 

Redlands18

Well-Known Member
Sco Mo said about a month ago that the the first 2 arafuras off the slip will be MCM and not constabulary. Will this effect the defensive armament of the class ?
Seems a bit light on for a class of ship that can and has gotten in harms way. I mean our most recent VC recipient ( posthumous ) was serving on an MCM when his actions were noted.
Have you got a link for the article on the first 2 Arafura's being fitted out for MCM roles, my apologies if that got posted on here but I missed it.
 

oldsig127

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Sco Mo said about a month ago that the the first 2 arafuras off the slip will be MCM and not constabulary.
Sorry? Would you like to back that up with a source. The article attached doesn't support it at all.

If you can, it may be time to reopen this already tedious upgunning issue.

oldsig
 

Redlands18

Well-Known Member
Sorry mate I'm trying to google it but he said it on tv so i am having a bit of trouble re finding it
The problem though is that the Arafura MCMs will only be Motherships for Minesweeping Drones. The Huons have a wooden Hull which means they can enter a Minefield safely. The Arafura's will sit well outside the Minefield and deploy the Drones into the Minefield and as far as I know the RAN is yet to invest in that Drone technology.
 

John Newman

The Bunker Group
The problem though is that the Arafura MCMs will only be Motherships for Minesweeping Drones. The Huons have a wooden Hull which means they can enter a Minefield safely. The Arafura's will sit well outside the Minefield and deploy the Drones into the Minefield and as far as I know the RAN is yet to invest in that Drone technology.
The Huon class has a wooden hull?

Wrong, they have a Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) hull.

The old Ton class had a wood hull.
 

Stampede

Well-Known Member
I don't imagine there will be many differences if any between the MCV and OPV versions of the Arafura. It will just come down to whatever mission module the vessel is fitted with at the time. Even though the navy only has two at the moment I imagine the other OPVs could be pressed into service as MCVs rather quickly in an emergency.
Yes that's probably the case.
The Lurssen design is well thought out and provides flexibility to swap kit in and out depending on the role.

One uncertainty in the MCM role is the ability to carry the MCM support boat.
This boat is integral to the MCM role.
The concern is the boats size.
I'm not sure it will fit either within the stern boat ramp or the side RHIB locations.
No doubt there would be room on the flight / flexi deck, but this would require a dedicated boat cradle, unless the intention is to modify the flight deck area specific to the MCM dedicated vessels.

Anyone know otherwise.


Regards S
 

John Newman

The Bunker Group
Yes that's probably the case.
The Lurssen design is well thought out and provides flexibility to swap kit in and out depending on the role.

One uncertainty in the MCM role is the ability to carry the MCM support boat.
This boat is integral to the MCM role.
The concern is the boats size.
I'm not sure it will fit either within the stern boat ramp or the side RHIB locations.
No doubt there would be room on the flight / flexi deck, but this would require a dedicated boat cradle, unless the intention is to modify the flight deck area specific to the MCM dedicated vessels.

Anyone know otherwise.


Regards S
At the moment everything is just speculation, all we really know is that the Arafura class OPV will be the base design.

The future mine warfare ships could have very minimal modifications, or at the other end of the spectrum, more significant modifications.

The Arafura ships are 80m X 13m, 1640t displacement, and of course a significant large open deck area for almost half the ships length.

For comparison, the new mine warfare ships for the Belgium and Netherlands navies are 82.6m X 17m, 2800t displacement:


Firstly I’m not suggesting the Arafura design will be modified to exactly the same extent, but I could reasonably image them having a large ‘hangar’ type structure added to the current ‘flight’ deck to house the various UUV, USV and UAV systems that may be used in the mine warfare role.

Here’s a video with graphics of what the Belgium/Netherlands ships will look like:

 

Stampede

Well-Known Member
At the moment everything is just speculation, all we really know is that the Arafura class OPV will be the base design.

The future mine warfare ships could have very minimal modifications, or at the other end of the spectrum, more significant modifications.

The Arafura ships are 80m X 13m, 1640t displacement, and of course a significant large open deck area for almost half the ships length.

For comparison, the new mine warfare ships for the Belgium and Netherlands navies are 82.6m X 17m, 2800t displacement:


Firstly I’m not suggesting the Arafura design will be modified to exactly the same extent, but I could reasonably image them having a large ‘hangar’ type structure added to the current ‘flight’ deck to house the various UUV, USV and UAV systems that may be used in the mine warfare role.

Here’s a video with graphics of what the Belgium/Netherlands ships will look like:

Thanks John

Speculation it is.

The reality is in the MCM role the ship will be packed with lots of toys.

Will watch with interest.



Regards S
 

oldsig127

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Sorry mate I'm trying to google it but he said it on tv so i am having a bit of trouble re finding it
Pretty sure you won't either. As usual this subject has veered straight off to deciding how the Arafuras can be changed, rather than answering my question about your reporting the likelihood that the first two would be built as MCM vessels, not OPVs.

Frankly, it sounds like bollocks and would like to know which numb nuts said it because I doubt ScoMo did.

Oldsig
 

ADMk2

Just a bloke
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Sco Mo said about a month ago that the the first 2 arafuras off the slip will be MCM and not constabulary. Will this effect the defensive armament of the class ?
Seems a bit light on for a class of ship that can and has gotten in harms way. I mean our most recent VC recipient ( posthumous ) was serving on an MCM when his actions were noted.
If ScoMo actually said that which I doubt, commentators may have got it wrong, then it means RAN have selected an MCM design, re-configured the previous OPV design of the Arafura and then re-built the ship to this new MCM design all with the space of 9 months or so, given the first Arafura is due to hit the water within the next few weeks, I am hearing…

That would be an astonishing, previously un-heard of achievement for the usual glacial pace of defence procurement and supply of capability in Australia and a RAN demonstrating previously unknown levels of speed in decision making and implementation of capability acquisition, as well as a defence industry showing unbelievable levels of flexibility and adaptability, completely changing the role of a major class of ship, mid-way through the first of class build phase…

Hence some degree of incredulity, on this prospect…
 
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