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Seejay · **Posted:** Fri May 03, 2024 9:16 pm

The last defence topic was so dismal we kept it for far too long, and now it's been sent off to the Alice.

To start this topic off, here's more dismality:

As you've seen, the ANZAC has paid off. Also, one of the hydro ships - either Leeuwin or Melville - has also paid off, and the replacement is unclear at this stage. If in fact there is a replacement.

Now, quite some years back all the remaining LCH's were also paid off & given to the Philippines, and the RAN sorely missed their loss immediately. Well, as it turns out the RAN has purchased a couple of second-hand replacements from around the traps.

....with just a couple of problems (sound familiar?). I don't have the details but it seems they wanted both to be able to beach & disgorge as per the LCH role. Apparently one can, but the other one seems to be a wharf-only capability and is about an LST size. Due diligence seems to be a forgotten ability with whoever the cretinous purchasing team may be, and heaven only knows what the material state of these things is.

You couldn't make this stuff up, could you? :omg:

Shep · **Posted:** Fri May 03, 2024 11:52 pm

Don't you mean "You couldn't make this stuffup stuff up?

Seejay · **Posted:** Sat May 04, 2024 6:18 am

Pretty much! :ok:

BC · **Posted:** Sat May 04, 2024 7:12 am

What are they going to do with ANZAC & Hydro ships ............. bury them?

Shep · **Posted:** Sat May 04, 2024 8:22 am

Alongside the MRH 90s l suppose.

connief · **Posted:** Sat May 04, 2024 10:56 am

Isn't ANZAC being gifted to the Phillipines

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Sat May 04, 2024 11:33 am

Yes, Connie, I believe she is...! :captain:

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Sat May 04, 2024 11:34 am

The latest fortnightly edition of :salute1:

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Items of interest in this edition include:

....................................... • PLAN TO PROTECT AUSTRALIA: Deterrence the key for National Defence Strategy – Pages 2-6

....................................... • ANZAC DAY: Personnel honour service and sacrifice – Pages 8-9

....................................... • LOST AND FOUND: Autonomous systems recover state-of-the-art technology – Page 11

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Seejay · **Posted:** Sat May 04, 2024 2:51 pm

Further on the landing craft fiasco: both the new purchases are now confirmed to be wharf-berthing only. So, that's a two for two :faaaarrk:

up. Now they're trying to figure out how they can be used for beaching...... :happy2:

....and hot off the press: Timor has now cancelled out their request to be supplied with two of the Guardian Class Patrol Boats. Namely, the two that have been already built. Apparently, even Timor reckons they're just useless pieces of :shit:

Stroppy Chippie · **Posted:** Sun May 05, 2024 12:11 am

Seejay wrote:

The last defence topic was so dismal we kept it for far too long, and now it's been sent off to the Alice.

To start this topic off, here's more dismality:

As you've seen, the ANZAC has paid off. Also, one of the hydro ships - either Leeuwin or Melville - has also paid off, and the replacement is unclear at this stage. If in fact there is a replacement.

Now, quite some years back all the remaining LCH's were also paid off & given to the Philippines, and the RAN sorely missed their loss immediately. Well, as it turns out the RAN has purchased a couple of second-hand replacements from around the traps.

....with just a couple of problems (sound familiar?). I don't have the details but it seems they wanted both to be able to beach & disgorge as per the LCH role. Apparently one can, but the other one seems to be a wharf-only capability and is about an LST size. Due diligence seems to be a forgotten ability with whoever the cretinous purchasing team may be, and heaven only knows what the material state of these things is.

You couldn't make this stuff up, could you? :omg:

When a double facepalm is just not enough.
The purchase must be really left of centre because there appears to be no info in the online media on it.

I did find more recent links to the light and heavy landing craft intent in the links below:

https://www.australiandefence.com.au/de ... -proposals

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/nava ... quirement/

I thought back to the saga of the LCM8 "replacement" (noting that the LCM8s remain in service from their build period of 1965 - 1972). Yep, vessels still in service that were built between 52 and 59 years ago. With the failure of their replacement projects they received substantial upgrades (well new engines and gearboxes to start with).
First attempt was to build LCM8 replacements for Lemon and Lime. Apart from the fact that they did not fit onboard they were unable to carry a weight equal to the LCM8s and their seakeeping qualities were, well, not. That was a $35 million dud project (I wonder who purchased them off Ross Island)?
Second were the LCMs built for the LHDs but they went through a period of not being able to take an Abrahms tank (the requirement). I do not know if they can now as the only info I have seen is using the Mexflotes to relocate the tanks from Choules.

The Birdon proposal above would see a design from Incat (through Birdon) built by AUSTRAL in steel (supposedly they are self funding the build of one to prove the concept). What could go wrong (no, really, what could go wrong)?

You could not make this up then I realised that the Defence Department must have been using the comedy series "Utopia" as a series for training films.

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