Naval Service General Discussion - Fleet, Manpower, Policy

Gary kk · 23-03-2026 10:45PM

Ah sure while we are at it. My looks better just saying

sparky42 · 23-03-2026 10:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124335875#Comment_124335875

now I’m trying to figure out where the AI pulled those turrets from, or how the ship actually moves…

thomil · 23-03-2026 10:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124335843#Comment_124335843

The SAM launcher was supposed to be a RIM-116 box launcher, meant as a stand-in for a SADRAL or other naval launcher for Mistral, which was mentioned as likely to be purchased in one of the air search radar discussions on here. After about fifteen revisions in which Google Gemini never did what I asked it to do, I just gave up and left it as is. Treat it as a monument to my frustration…

As for the radar, if Ireland sticks with THALES for that, it’ll likely be their Sea Fire system, as that seems to be the only maritime radar system in their current product portfolio.

https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/solutions-catalogue/defence/naval/sea-fire

sparky42 · 23-03-2026 11:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124335886#Comment_124335886

There’s also the NS family of radars, think the RN went with the NS100 for their type 31s?

thomil · 23-03-2026 11:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124335931#Comment_124335931

Fair enough, hadn’t known about that system. I guess it’s going to boil down to which radar system is better suited for smaller vessels. Trying to squeeze a radar system used on a 5700 ton hull into the 2200 ton Becketts with their weaker engines and lower generator capacity could be problematic, especially when other heavy and power-intensive systems, such as a towed array, are also being installed.

sparky42 · 23-03-2026 11:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124335972#Comment_124335972

It has a smaller version, which is most likely the one, the NS50. I wouldn't be too worried about weight to be honest, the sonar module will be low on the hull, and the mast was specced for a radar system, and we know the 60's have a lot of reserve capacity given the weight calculations that went into their use in the Med back in the day.

vswr · 24-03-2026 09:54AM

retro fitting ships that aren't up to the role to begin with, is an awful idea IMO.

roadmaster · 24-03-2026 10:23AM

What will the ships be classafied as when the upgrades are complete. Will tgey be anchanced OPV or could they be considered a very light frigate?

thomil · 24-03-2026 11:28AM

Probably still classed as an OPV. I mean, the Dutch are still treating their Holland-class vessels as OPVs, and I consider them to be significantly more capable than the Becketts.

I took those shots back in 2016, when HNLMS Holland, the lead ship of the class, was in Cork on a courtesy call/sales pitch…

sparky42 · 24-03-2026 12:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124336390#Comment_124336390

It's not ideal, but probably is the fastest way for us to get those capabilities into service and actually start getting experience with systems we've never had in the case of the sonar. To me it all depends on "what's next", if the investment stops at the refitted 60's then it's a questionable investment, if instead we push on to actually order actual corvettes or frigates then the 60's can create a valuable pipeline before new ships arrive.

Larbre34 · 25-03-2026 01:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124335875#Comment_124335875

It really does.

Larbre34 · 25-03-2026 02:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124336624#Comment_124336624

Its funny, with all the AI images, this real ship looks most AI of all

roadmaster · 30-03-2026 01:36PM

@mupper2 you posted a while back about the UK looking at the P50s. They could be borrowed yet.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2187682/fury-royal-navy-forced-borrow-frigate-germany

Larbre34 · 30-03-2026 02:37PM

Its always amusing when the Daily Express loses its mind, especially over something to do with Germany.

But it does go to show how disastrous the RN fleet policy has been since the turn of the century.

The Type 45 and QE carriers have both been shambolic projects.

sparky42 · 30-03-2026 02:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124351000#Comment_124351000

While the propulsion issues of the 45 have taken far too long to get fixed, the main issue is the gap on the frigate buys and asking the 23s to serve this long. Something that is only going to get worse before it gets better and now the River B1s looks like they are being flogged off in a couple of years.

thomil · 30-03-2026 04:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124350801#Comment_124350801

So Germany finally has more surface combatants than the UK? That explains the party noises coming from the Kaiser’s tomb… 😇😶

jonnybigwallet · 01-04-2026 11:27AM

https://share.google/dmYkwZuFlwS1ZVL5z

Leonidas BL · 01-04-2026 08:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124355374#Comment_124355374

If we put a few of these near Sligo Airport, it might not seem so "abandoned".

sparky42 · 05-04-2026 10:40PM

I posted it in the articles thread as well, but the Examiner has an article on an element of the Naval Regeneration plan, with the NSDS strength to be tripled to 70 odd, with an Operational unit, a Training School and a Safety Office.

https://archive.ph/7MS32

It's saying that Regeneration Plan should be with the Part Time Minister this month, if so, any bets on how long it takes them to do anything with it (assuming its not shredded on sight?)

roadmaster · 06-04-2026 07:51AM

The Journal is a bit more on the button than the examiner about the defence forces so hopefully he is wrong about the MRV situation.

sparky42 · 06-04-2026 11:58AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124366712#Comment_124366712

I doubt it tbh, from those stories last year the DOD is hostile to the idea of anything more "combat capable", and that's on top of their hostility to the idea of the MRV in the first place, I can easily see them using the excuse of the laid up hulls as justification, while at the same time deliberately frustrating attempts to improve the crewing situation.

It's the Irish DOD, always bet on them to make a problem worse.

jonnybigwallet · 06-04-2026 03:18PM

Sure begorra...If we bought an auld Corvette they'd say we were buyin a battleship and aspirin to be warmongerin.

Naval Service General Discussion - Fleet, Manpower, Policy

Comments