Australian Naval Aviation
A Can of Man
Je suis aware
Probably within a few decades if your air force doesn't have an F-35, it may not be worth having an air force at all.
MontyB
All-Blacks Supporter
I am not entirely sure why the Australian Navy would need VSTOL capability at all. However if they are determined to buy such aircraft I can see no point in buying 40 year old technology in terms of the Harrier when they can get the latest in the form of the F-35.
senojekips
Active member
With the way our navy is funded, we'd prolly be better off getting some replacement parts for the Tiger Moth before they become completely unavailable.
senojekips
Active member
AussieNick
Forum Digger
There is a current project to build new Landing Helicopter Docks (like aircraft carriers but smaller). But judging by ADF procurement there will be world peace before we actually have them on line.
A Can of Man
Je suis aware
The easiest solution is to buy a freighter and then wield a flat top on it.
Add an elevator to bring up bombs and fuel... presto.
Add an elevator to bring up bombs and fuel... presto.
I remember back in 1982 that we were on the verge of buying the RN's carrier ARC ROYAL but the Falkland's war ignited and the Brit's decided to keep it.
In 2012, Australia will acquire 2 "Canberra Class" mini-carriers mostly for verical take-off craft however in size they will be larger than the old carriers HMA Ships MELBOURNE and SYDNEY and can equip fixed-wing aircraft if we wanted to add them on.
I belong to the "Australia should have aircraft carriers" faction of the RAN but I think I'm in the minority.
senojekips
Active member
I think that it would be marvellous to have a big well armed defence force with a carrier for the Navy, but the truth of the matter is that we are a small and not spectacularly rich country that really can't afford more than to just maintain a basic Forces structure in times of peace.
In my day (Vietnam) we were more often than not told that we could not do our Annual Rifle Course because their was not enough small arms ammunition available. When I paid off in '75, there were plenty of personnel who had never had a shot out of an SLR and they had been in service for 10 years at that time. I got sick of waiting and bought my own and probably shot 50 rounds out of it for every one round fired in service.
One thing we did have was Furnace Fuel Oil,.. we were still using fuel from wartime storage tanks all around Sydney and Manus Island well into the late 60s, much of it was like tar and needed a lot of heating to be pumped and to burn. When that ran out, and we ducked out of Vietnam with our tails firmly between our legs, the Navy just stopped going places and spent most of it's time alongside in various Dockyards doing self maintenance refits. thankfully I was about to pay off and could see the the crunch coming.
What a damned farce it was. No wonder some people were disillusioned.
It appears that nothing much has changed.
In my day (Vietnam) we were more often than not told that we could not do our Annual Rifle Course because their was not enough small arms ammunition available. When I paid off in '75, there were plenty of personnel who had never had a shot out of an SLR and they had been in service for 10 years at that time. I got sick of waiting and bought my own and probably shot 50 rounds out of it for every one round fired in service.
One thing we did have was Furnace Fuel Oil,.. we were still using fuel from wartime storage tanks all around Sydney and Manus Island well into the late 60s, much of it was like tar and needed a lot of heating to be pumped and to burn. When that ran out, and we ducked out of Vietnam with our tails firmly between our legs, the Navy just stopped going places and spent most of it's time alongside in various Dockyards doing self maintenance refits. thankfully I was about to pay off and could see the the crunch coming.
What a damned farce it was. No wonder some people were disillusioned.
It appears that nothing much has changed.
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A Can of Man
Je suis aware
Or you can be like South Korea and have a small aircraft carrier and have no fixed wing aircraft able to operate off it.
3 times a year? How long does rifle training last once you start plinging?
3 times a year? How long does rifle training last once you start plinging?
A Can of Man
Je suis aware
Plinging = firing away. i.e. once shooting practice starts.
A Can of Man
Je suis aware
Damn... I'd say before wasting money on carriers and such they are better off investing in basic ammunition.
aprilangel
Active member
I am with you on that. We should have them.
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MontyB
All-Blacks Supporter
Why?
Aircraft Carriers are for the projection of power and Australia simply does not have the logistical capacity to project power outside of the much smaller states in the Pacific region which for the most part can be done with a couple a Destroyers. Australia like New Zealand have to understand that with tiny populations we are not going to be world military powers.