Interesting articles

roadmaster · 09-07-2022 09:33AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119311548#Comment_119311548

So does the Future look Bright for the Navy?

Larbre34 · 09-07-2022 12:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119312395#Comment_119312395

'The future's bright, the future's Navy.'

Cabhlach na hÉireann - súil eile.

ancientmariner · 09-07-2022 12:54PM

What I want to see is that all ships are fitted in the first instance with relevant defensive armament such as the SIMRAD missile system using MISTRAL missiles. We have worked with Simrad on the Compass and stabilisation for gunnery during P31 construction. Their unit is SIMBAD R.C. Mistral. It covers air defence and fast boats.

Larbre34 · 09-07-2022 02:32PM

Its a great system, compact, simple, rugged, anti-air and anti-surface, easy to plumb in to the Navy's existing fire control IT, effective against all but major surface combatants.

https://youtu.be/Xmo_rKuZKQc

Larbre34 · 09-07-2022 03:05PM

Exactly!

jonnybigwallet · 09-07-2022 03:24PM

Looks like the bizzo to me! Bring it on...

roadmaster · 28-07-2022 06:56AM

The Irish Times with a slightly misleading headline .

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2022/07/28/british-surveillance-ship-will-monitor-subsea-cables-in-irish-economic-zone/

roadmaster · 28-07-2022 09:37AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119397845#Comment_119397845

This bit when you read the article

The 15-person vessel is in the concept and assessment phase and is scheduled to launch in 2024. It will be capable of launching undersea drones which then monitor undersea cables.

A Department of Defence spokesman said there are currently no plans for the Irish and British governments to co-operate on the project.

Its only a concept plan and they havent said they would be in irish waters

ohnonotgmail · 28-07-2022 09:52AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119397867#Comment_119397867

Even if they did operate in Irish EEZ waters, so what?

ancientmariner · 28-07-2022 10:01AM

It is time to evaluate what can we do , Service by Service. On the navy side we reached certain peace time capabilities such as much use of drones at height and distance to show self manoeuvring for PR, and continuing support to Civil agencies such as SFPA and ICG. All our main guns have optronic control with auto loading and optronic tracking. Everything else is eyeball local control for engagement less then 2000m and 1000m. The main guns have 5nm or better depending on the inputs to FCS. Eithne was the only one with Laser RF and an ability to fire blind on ball marker bearing and range.

This is a crucial time. what we need at sea is and adaption of existing tonnage and impending MRV, OR add specialist ships for ASW, MCM, and AD. Extra vessels will require New Naval planning for manpower, training, Supports, Bases, and cross fleet training with others. Take into account the requirements also to man two Lakes and 4 Coastal M.B's. In the interim with laid up ships for disposal and new tonnage arriving the base will be overcapacity requiring definite agreed , planned permanent action by Defence.

donvito99 · 28-07-2022 10:21AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119397965#Comment_119397965

It is misleading - it isn't being launched and it is not being built, as the headline goads, to do a job that the NS cannot do.

The headline that doesn't sell papers should read "Royal Navy plans undersea cables monitoring ship".

roadmaster · 28-07-2022 03:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119397954#Comment_119397954

They might upset the cork fishermen

sparky42 · 28-07-2022 04:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119399781#Comment_119399781

Yep, in my experience fishermen of any nationality would happily strip the ocean while complaining about how everyone else is overfishing. However I doubt the RN will care much since we won’t do it.

roadmaster · 28-07-2022 05:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119399897#Comment_119399897

They have big repayments on them mercs

Larbre34 · 28-07-2022 06:19PM

But sure can't the RV Tom Crean do the same for Ireland?

Anyway, the whole notion of building a ship to sit in one place to do one job is daft. The EU and UK should get together to fund a system of monitoring rigs or underwater detectors like SOSUS to protect the cables.

The UK already has HMS Enterprise and theres no way they'd ever permanently assign that to one task, such as this.

ancientmariner · 28-07-2022 11:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119400851#Comment_119400851

TC is a sophisticated Survey and research vessel which has a crew which includes 12 or more scientists. She can operate an ROV and AUV's, deploy and recover buoys and other marine sensors. She can deploy to 4000m or 13,200 ft. She will have a range of UW search sounders and multibeam equipment. She also has Dynamic Positioning and can also be used as a training platform at sea. It might be worthwhile for the Navy to familiarise key personnel by getting training time on board. A 52 metre sturdy ship with A-Frame can handle side scan sonar and most underwater equipment types including those required to "look at " cables.

roadmaster · 29-07-2022 08:07AM

I believe Tom Crean is available to the Naval service and other state bodies.

In regards to checking cables with Modern teck can the gear that is needed for the montioring not be just bought in modualar form and placed in 20ft containers on the back of any of ships in the fleet and lifted on and off depending on the mission.

The US/EU probaly know The movements of the russian subs so when they believe they are heading for the cables , Our friends can give us a heads up and we can throw the containers with the gear on the back of the ship and head out to survey or simply take tom crean when needed

ancientmariner · 29-07-2022 09:36AM

My only experience of bottom side scan sonar search was with P31 at the time of the Air India Crash. We were joined by a middle aged USN team, all in civilians. They installed a large A-Frame aft and a large winch on the F.Dk. They had a monitoring and recording set up in the hangar and Briefing room. They carried two 3metre fish and after a leaking incident at sea bed level which required a full reel in and replace and repair, we had some weeks of plotting the debris field which at times was so clear as to be photographic. Equipment of this nature is transportable worldwide but needs certain ship adaptions and power to make it work. P31 was a powerful tow vessel at 6,800 HP and had no difficulty to keep the fish swimming at the correct height over the sea bed. I'm sure TC will be the ticket.

jonnybigwallet · 29-07-2022 10:40AM

Great news and a good find Doh! I wonder will they also be looking at other mods: EG fitting an enhanced radar mast as catered for in the original design. Fitting enhanced defensive measures. IE AA/ AS missiles and enhancement / replacement of the Rhinemettal Weapons, ( as recommended by more knowledgeable posters than meself).

I hope so. We might as well make the best of what we've got while awaiting arrival of the proposed additions to the fleet.

ancientmariner · 29-07-2022 11:57AM

We must take on board that MBES units are at their forte in mapping sea bed features and obstructions. We are familiar with all the seabed data on Facebook pages including outlines of wrecks. Tracking a target for bearing, classification, and range as a principal feature will require a version that is adjustable to a few nodes when contact is established. There is a lot of data available on the Net on use and mounting MBES but little revealed on using it as an ASW sonar. The TC would be useful as a training platform until we achieve our own standard.

ancientmariner · 30-07-2022 10:09AM

Noting that there is a cross type (P60's) upgrade. These are opportunities for further role enhancements and potential life extension for the ship.

An RN type 23 frigate, designed to be multirole, has just completed a number of LifeEx periods with BAE systems. She was built 1990 and commissioned in 1992.

The work briefly was improvements in Bridge, Crew accommodation and messes, swap out for two diesel generators, improvements in navigation, communications and Defence systems, attention to hull, engine room, and propulsion train including propellers. These are 30 year old ships and are for world wide deployment.

Unless we can get new tonnage we must adapt with what we have and improve range of fleet capabilities. We must apply a general policy of DETECT and INTERVENE across the spectrum. Discussion with BAE or Konigsberg might be apt.

sparky42 · 02-08-2022 07:25PM

From another forum I ran into a random bit of info, with a suggestion that there was some sort of talk between the US and Dublin about S 2 Trackers back in 1977 for Fisheries Patrol? Now obviously it never went anywhere but Anyone ever hear any tall tales?

https://archive.org/details/StateDeptcable1977-39873/mode/1up

sparky42 · 02-08-2022 08:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119420709#Comment_119420709

Totally different animals, assuming they had been fully fitted even without weapons our patrol capabilities would have been on a different level. Like I said not sure was it ever a thing or just a passing discussion, just a random What If?

roadmaster · 02-08-2022 08:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119420709#Comment_119420709

The Americans told the DOD how much the trackers would cost and DOD asked have you anything cheaper

Larbre34 · 05-08-2022 08:08PM

https://news.sky.com/story/uks-ability-to-train-fast-jet-pilots-in-crisis-due-to-faulty-aircraft-and-instructors-shortage-leaked-documents-suggest-12666275

Not an Irish story, but an interesting example of the scale of challenges facing volunteer Militaries internationally, that is reflected in Ireland when it comes to the retention of highly skilled personnel.

roadmaster · 06-08-2022 07:30AM

Why have they mot just bought rights to something like the M346 and build it in the UK like they will do with the Puma replacement

Larbre34 · 07-08-2022 01:12PM

Yeah, when you put it that way....

I was aware of many of those programme level issues over the last 30 to 40 years, but when you put them all together and see no fundamental systematic response from the MoD, its clearly a mentality failing.