3 New Navy Vessels for Irish Naval Service

Yawlboy

The Swedish have a small, 400t, 48M, MCM vessel https://saab.com/naval/submarines-and-surface-ships/surface-ships/mine-counter-measure-vessels/
Maybe too small for Irish Waters

This Belgian/Dutch model looks more appropriate but its 2800t and nearly €170m per vessel https://navaltoday.com/2019/05/22/belgian-dutch-minehunter-contract-officially-awarded/

Either way I'm sure we wouldn't spend the money on the sophisticated electronics and other equipment needed for modern mine counter measures.

sparky42

Yawlboy wrote: »

The Swedish have a small, 400t, 48M, MCM vessel https://saab.com/naval/submarines-and-surface-ships/surface-ships/mine-counter-measure-vessels/
Maybe too small for Irish Waters

This Belgian/Dutch model looks more appropriate but its 2800t and nearly €170m per vessel https://navaltoday.com/2019/05/22/belgian-dutch-minehunter-contract-officially-awarded/

Either way I'm sure we wouldn't spend the money on the sophisticated electronics and other equipment needed for modern mine counter measures.

I really wouldn't like to think about how they might handle West Coast weather tbh, also fails on the replacing the current capabilities of the Peacocks.


As I said even leaving aside the costs of modern MCM capabilities, we'd almost have to attach them to someone else to build up the operational knowledge base and that brings it's own headaches.

jonnybigwallet

Just spotted an interesting snippet of info. (At least I thought it was interesting)...The Royal Navy is replacing the 2 smallest ships in the fleet (inshore patrol vessels based in Gibraltar) with 2 modern ships. It is expected that the contract is going to Safemarine for their Barracuda vessel. The one I'm always recommending for the NS.

sparky42

jonnybigwallet wrote: »

Just spotted an interesting snippet of info. (At least I thought it was interesting)...The Royal Navy is replacing the 2 smallest ships in the fleet (inshore patrol vessels based in Gibraltar) with 2 modern ships. It is expected that the contract is going to Safemarine for their Barracuda vessel. The one I'm always recommending for the NS.

And there's still zero use case for them for the NS.

jonnybigwallet

I don't agree. I think they could come in pretty handy. Tis a pretty lethal piece of kit for pursuing drug dealers and any dodgy shipping in Irish or Mediterranean waters.

sparky42

jonnybigwallet wrote: »

I don't agree. I think they could come in pretty handy. Tis a pretty lethal piece of kit for pursuing drug dealers and any dodgy shipping in Irish or Mediterranean waters.

Our deployment to the Med is over and I can almost bet money that between the DOD and DOF they will move heaven and earth to make sure it never happens again (remember the DOD basically had to be overruled by Kenny). Nor is Drug Dealers an issue there, it's dealing with unsafe boats full over people that vastly outnumber what the Barracuda could deal with.


Nor can I see why it would be the case for Irish waters, there's nothing like the "Go Fast" that the US Coastguard deal with crossing the Atlantic.


They make sense for the RN if they are buying them for base protection missions at Gib and Cyprus but we don't have any such commitments.

jonnybigwallet

I like the look of that Almirante Juan de Bourbon. One of them would come in well handy, albeit a bit pricey !

Leonidas BL

jonnybigwallet wrote: »

I like the look of that Almirante Juan de Bourbon. One of them would come in well handy, albeit a bit pricey !

Handy for what?? Using up our entire defence budget? I like the look of a Lamborghini Huracan but I cant afford it, and it wouldn't even come in handy.

Larbre34

jonnybigwallet wrote: »

I like the look of that Almirante Juan de Bourbon. One of them would come in well handy, albeit a bit pricey !

A bit. 600 million.

Why not ring up the USN and make an offer for the Kitty Hawk, its currently inactive in the reserve fleet, I'm sure an Aircraft Carrier would be pretty handy too.....

jonnybigwallet

Was thinkin that meself...only problem is that I don't think that the Air Corps Gripens, which hopefully will be arrivin in a bit, will be compatible. Not keen on them F35's at all...Too pricey for me! Someting less grandiose such as the Mistrale class would be perfect if establishing an air arm. With a dozen second hand Harriers.

salmocab

jonnybigwallet wrote: »

Was thinkin that meself...only problem is that I don't think that the Air Corps Gripens, which hopefully will be arrivin in a bit, will be compatible. Not keen on them F35's at all...Too pricey for me! Someting less grandiose such as the Mistrale class would be perfect if establishing an air arm. With a dozen second hand Harriers.

As a lurker here I’m absolutely shocked that you’ve found something that you consider too pricey.

Markcheese

jonnybigwallet wrote: »

Was thinkin that meself...only problem is that I don't think that the Air Corps Gripens, which hopefully will be arrivin in a bit, will be compatible. Not keen on them F35's at all...Too pricey for me! Someting less grandiose such as the Mistrale class would be perfect if establishing an air arm. With a dozen second hand Harriers.

Harriers ? Those really difficult to fly things , that are pretty much at the end of their life , and a mistrale ?
It's, ah ,umh , an interesting proposal...
Just the 1 mistrale ? Or should there be 2 ? And while the mistrale(s) is protecting Ireland or invading Finland or chile or whatever ,who or what is protecting the mistrale...?

sparky42

Markcheese wrote: »

Harriers ? Those really difficult to fly things , that are pretty much at the end of their life , and a mistrale ?
It's, ah ,umh , an interesting proposal...
Just the 1 mistrale ? Or should there be 2 ? And while the mistrale(s) is protecting Ireland or invading Finland or chile or whatever ,who or what is protecting the mistrale...?

Why a half dozen Flight 3 Burkes of course, I mean why not?

Heraldoffreeent

Markcheese wrote: »

Harriers ? Those really difficult to fly things , that are pretty much at the end of their life , and a mistrale ?
It's, ah ,umh , an interesting proposal...
Just the 1 mistrale ? Or should there be 2 ? And while the mistrale(s) is protecting Ireland or invading Finland or chile or whatever ,who or what is protecting the mistrale...?

A few P60's up armed with 25 or 30 20mm Rhinemetalls, nipping in and out of Killybegs, Kilrush, Kilkee, Belmullet etc to refuel from a couple of old Topaz tankers parked on the jetties.

Couple of FCA lads with recoilless rifles and Brens up front in the stern and down back in the starboard, Cushty!

jonnybigwallet

Good to see all the regulars have bucked up their ideas and are looking at more ambitious plans going forward. By the way....slightly off topic , but read that the Spanish are flogging off some block 1 Eurofighters. 17 all told. Might be able to pick up 8 of them at a nice price!

sparky42

jonnybigwallet wrote: »

Good to see all the regulars have bucked up their ideas and are looking at more ambitious plans going forward. By the way....slightly off topic , but read that the Spanish are flogging off some block 1 Eurofighters. 17 all told. Might be able to pick up 8 of them at a nice price!

Think we're just ripping the p!ss out of you to be fair.

roundymac

The FCA lads would get sea-sick.

Markcheese

roundymac wrote: »

The FCA lads would get sea-sick.

Are slua na marra still going ? Maybe I got the name wrong , anyway marine version of the fca ,

jonnybigwallet

I'm a member!

Leonidas BL

jonnybigwallet wrote: »

I'm a member!

You should forward your ideas to the quartermaster

sparky42

Leonidas BL wrote: »

You should forward your ideas to the quartermaster

What did that poor QM do to deserve that?

Larbre34

jonnybigwallet wrote: »

I'm a member!

Nearly right, you're a p****.

jonnybigwallet

Couple of very good articles in todays Examiner dealing with the pathetic amoubt spent on the DF as a % of GDP compared to other small nations. Mirrors my thinking.

Leonidas BL

sparky42 wrote: »

What did that poor QM do to deserve that?

QM might promote him to public relations officer

Plumbthedepths

No point buying expensive military kit when the state has no interest in retaining the personal needed to operate the gear. I see another naval vessel will have to be tied up indefinitely due to manning numbers.

jonnybigwallet

If they bump up the annual spend to a healthy level then they can pay decent salaries and retain and recruit. They can also buy some more kit. Ships an aircraft and upgunning the P60's.
I'm sorry I upset everybody by suggesting a Mistral. I was trying to counter a previous posters suggestion of an American Supercarrier. On reflection I believe that a smaller vessel would probably suffice. Something along the lines of the San Giorgio class in the Italian and Algerian navies.

Plumbthedepths

jonnybigwallet wrote: »

If they bump up the annual spend to a healthy level then they can pay decent salaries and retain and recruit. They can also buy some more kit. Ships an aircraft and upgunning the P60's.
I'm sorry I upset everybody by suggesting a Mistral. I was trying to counter a previous posters suggestion of an American Supercarrier. On reflection I believe that a smaller vessel would probably suffice. Something along the lines of the San Giorgio class in the Italian and Algerian navies.

Surely you have better things to spend your time at, instead of posting nonsense here.

ohnonotgmail

jonnybigwallet wrote: »

If they bump up the annual spend to a healthy level then they can pay decent salaries and retain and recruit. They can also buy some more kit. Ships an aircraft and upgunning the P60's.
I'm sorry I upset everybody by suggesting a Mistral. I was trying to counter a previous posters suggestion of an American Supercarrier. On reflection I believe that a smaller vessel would probably suffice. Something along the lines of the San Giorgio class in the Italian and Algerian navies.

who are we planning on invading?

Leonidas BL

jonnybigwallet wrote: »

I'm sorry I upset everybody by suggesting a Mistral. I was trying to counter a previous posters suggestion of an American Supercarrier. On reflection I believe that a smaller vessel would probably suffice. Something along the lines of the San Giorgio class in the Italian and Algerian navies.

Nobody is upset, they are annoyed that you've hijacked the thread by posting stupid outrageous rubbish and not contributing anything useful.

sparky42

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

who are we planning on invading?

Rockall?