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Post by thelensofhistory on May 4, 2015 22:49:54 GMT 12
Baronbeeza, I just want to make sure that I understand you correctly. A subtle sign might be that a small number of pilots are posted to what will be become a training role (training the trainers)?
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Post by thelensofhistory on May 4, 2015 22:10:55 GMT 12
Baronbeeza are you referring to people within the Ministry of Defence or within the NZDF?
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Post by thelensofhistory on May 3, 2015 0:23:37 GMT 12
IMO the underlying problem is that the government is unwilling to spend the money on buying C-17's. It's times like this the government scares me a bit.
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Post by thelensofhistory on May 1, 2015 22:50:42 GMT 12
I heard a rumour the RNZAF may be buying some C17s, What do you think about this?...... I hope the rumour is true. Beyond operational capability I mentioned above the arguable more important factor will be the skills base that comes with the RNZAF operating the aircraft. In the event the RNZAF needs to expand to meet an emergency situation the current crop of pilots could act instructors. As the international situation continues grow more unstable the likelihood of needing to evacuate Kiwi citizens and embassy staff from failed states and war zones will increase. In short the army doesn't go anywhere without the Air Force or Navy. I don't want to open the can of worms that is Air Power and where successive governments have gone wrong. So please forgive my reply if it may seem disrespectful to the RNZAF and RNZN. If NZ was take part in another INTERFET type peacekeeping operation C-17's could fly troops and equipment to the failed state. Providing ongoing logistical support for the deployment would be vital.
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Post by thelensofhistory on May 1, 2015 21:47:38 GMT 12
If the RNZAF do obtain 2 x C-17A's how do they intend to utilise the capacity and range of this very large aircraft? I would think disaster relief like flying supplies to Nepal in the wake of the devastating earthquake. Supporting NZDF operations overseas by flying resupply missions and replacement equipment. C-17's would have been useful in Afghanistan where such aircraft where in demand. In any kind of future coalition operations akin to the Berlin Airlift , I could see the C-17 being the work horse.
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Post by thelensofhistory on May 1, 2015 14:08:08 GMT 12
News from Nepal - C-17s from Austrlia, United States, Canadian, Britain and India are all delivering relief supplies. Someone should send Ron Mark a memo. I was just thinking yesterday , how if the RNZAF had C-17's they would have been able to fly supplies and a USAR team directly to Nepal. Ron Mark is the one MP who should be arguing for some sense in matters like this one.
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Post by thelensofhistory on Apr 25, 2015 22:00:28 GMT 12
I have suggested that they lease the Russian aircraft as and when required. NZ would end up like the Japanese flying DC-3's in WW2. What ever aircraft the NZ government chooses will be flown by our allies or would be coalition partners in future military operations. I think the government is spending to much time on getting a consensus with its opponents whose only goal is to undermine the NZDF.
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Post by thelensofhistory on Apr 23, 2015 20:40:14 GMT 12
Realistically the RNZN is struck with the Canterbury for better or worse. If the ship can't upgraded with defensive systems it will leave a capability cap that could prove very costly in the future. The fact that in the Falklands War ships without defensive measures on board were sunk is in the open public domain. Any future Frigates will struggle to escort any ships military or civilian that lack defensive armament.
NZ really needs a lobby group that can dish out a few reality checks to the government. This is one of the reasons I am working on my novel project that I have written on this forum.
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Post by thelensofhistory on Apr 23, 2015 20:20:43 GMT 12
Based on my own research the LCS were a fine concept that have suffered from Capability Creep. I agree that as a direct replacement for frigates the LCS or SSC won't work. I would make a case for smaller ships like Frigates and Corvettes based on the number to cost that could be produced in wartime. But a square is never going to fit into a circle. Purely from memory the LCS were designed to operate conditions up to Sea State 5.
In Peacetime frigates are the most sensible option for the main stay of the combat arm of the Navy. I do think that NZ military planners and political leaders have not paid enough attention to Littoral Warfare and MCW. Replacing the HMNZS Manawanui is a chance to go part of the way towards rectifying this. Mind you if its anything like the government's record on defence I wouldn't hold my breath (no pun intended).
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Post by thelensofhistory on Apr 21, 2015 22:23:06 GMT 12
re: Is the NZ government even prepared to go with a high end frigates? Don't think they can afford not to at least have 2 Frigates for combat patrol duties. They will probably be 6000 tonnes if they are MOTS. Ideally should be kitted out for both AAW and ASW roles. A third OPV and a MARS would be the ideal way to complete the fleet. If NZ were to opt for another 2 OPVs instead, then my vote is for 2x 3,750 ton Damen Schelde Holland Class rather than the BAE-Tenix design. However if keeping to a BAE design is preferred then the Riverclass 2 design might be a better profile. IMO the OPV's should be replaced by UAV's freeing up the crews to man additional frigates or other ships. If the OPV's are just going monitor illegal fishing like happened recently in NZ Antarctic waters its not the best use of navy's resources. Had the OPV's been corvettes or doubled as mine sweepers they would have had more added value. Would it be feasible to fit the Rheinmetall MASS system to HMNZS Canterbury?
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Post by thelensofhistory on Apr 17, 2015 21:04:40 GMT 12
A complete review of the Australian ship building industry is required. Everything from the need to retool in light of 3D Printing and the management of projects needs to be tackled. The Australian government's failure to gear the shipyards for exports leaves gaps when they are no longer required. Ditching the Alliance model used with the Air warfare destroyers would be a good start.
Given how countries like Vietnam are scrambling to acquire ships and subs the short shortsightedness of the Australian government is really highlighted. Is the NZ government even prepared to go with a high end frigates? They have shown no interest in ensuring the navies two Anzac Class frigates are equipped with anti shipping missiles.
By the time the NZ government gets around to making a purchase we will know if the RAN next generation frigates are MOTS or being build in Australia. If they are MOTS the political factors involved with the Anzac relationship won't come into play.
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Post by thelensofhistory on Apr 16, 2015 20:43:27 GMT 12
In Ron Mark's world the Huey is the perfect chopper, the Landrover the perfect vehicle and the M113 the perfect AFV. Little wonder he's opposing change. Ron's an opposition politician, and he always will be. If he were capable of an original thought he wouldn't be working for Winston. I couldn't agree more! Very well said.
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Post by thelensofhistory on Apr 16, 2015 14:56:22 GMT 12
Mark is playing the role of an opposition MP at the expense of the NZDF. The NZDF deployments to Bosina and Afghanistan undermine his argument. To get away from politics and try and explain why I think his comments make no sense would go a bit far off topic. So I hope the reader forgives me for not elaborating any further.
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Post by thelensofhistory on Apr 15, 2015 15:17:07 GMT 12
Anybody what happened to this machine I would be curious to know as well.
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Post by thelensofhistory on Apr 15, 2015 15:01:10 GMT 12
Two new Boeing C-17 aircraft will set back the New Zealand Defence Force at least $600 million, the Government has been advised. The Boeing C-17 Globemaster is being considered as a replacement for the aging fleet of Hercules C-130s, some of which are nearly 50 years old. Members of the Foreign Affairs and Defence select committee took one of the Australian Defence Force's C-17s for a test run in February. In a report released last week, the committee said that the cost of two of the C-17s would be "a minimum of $600 million, with an operating cost of $20,000 per hour". It said the C-17s would be a "desirable acquisition" and noted that there were only eight to 10 of the aircraft left for sale. MPs on the committee sought advice on how money could be found to purchase the aircraft and whether it was practical to replace five Hercules with two Globemasters. "We learned that the purchase has been provided for in the Defence Midpoint Rebalancing Review, and the possibility of making the funds available earlier is being considered," the report said. Secretary of Defence Helene Quilter told the committee that any purchase of C-17s might not be a "complete replacement" for the Hercules and the two types of aircraft could possible operate side by side. The Ministry of Defence was analysing information from Boeing on the price and availability of the aircraft, and it was also working with its Australian counterparts to determine whether it would offset some of the C-17's operating costs. Around $50 million of the $300 million price tag was believed to be for operating costs and replacement parts. Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said last month the C-17 was one of several large military aircraft being considered to assist with the Defence's Force airlift capacity. Mr Brownlee said any decisions about military acquisitions needed to be made carefully. He said the NH90 helicopters purchased by the previous government for $770 million had proven to be a "challenging piece of kit" because they were difficult to transport. The minister made the comments after the NZDF was unable to take the NH90s to Vanuatu after Cyclone Pam because they were not cleared for island-hopping and were vulnerable to sea spray if transported by ship. The NH90s are currently being used in a search and rescue training exercise in Marlborough. Air Force chief Mike Yardley said they were a "highly capable aircraft". "This aircraft is well suited to the wide range of work the Air Force carries out with Police, Civil Defence and the Department of Conservation," he said. Unlike the Hercules, the C-17 had capacity to transport an NH90-sized helicopter. www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11433122
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Post by thelensofhistory on Apr 13, 2015 21:06:46 GMT 12
Sad news but scrapping Hamilton Auckland...Honestly why would you not drive or get the Naked Bus? By the time you check-in, wait, board, land, disembark etc etc you would have been home way before going for another option. Same applies for other routes... Nicely put. Before I moved to the deep south I wondered why people bothered flying between the likes of Dunedin and Christchurch for the same reason. The only away around this would be to allow people to board a flight like you would a commuter bus.
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Post by thelensofhistory on Apr 6, 2015 19:43:42 GMT 12
IMO PS4 and Xbox One game developers are to welded to the likes of first person shooters. A decent series of Flight sims would get me interested in the next gen consoles.
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Post by thelensofhistory on Apr 5, 2015 19:38:59 GMT 12
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Post by thelensofhistory on Apr 5, 2015 19:20:16 GMT 12
Those actually familiar with the Hearts of Iron series will find a certain comic irony in the suggestion they require "no ability to think"... To the thread originator, I would suggest Komata's idea of trying the simulator/games forum elsewhere on the site here is a good one, it does appear to have some threads of non specifically aviation related content? Ironic indeed. Could a moderate move this thread? I am still finding my way around the boards.
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Post by thelensofhistory on Apr 4, 2015 20:40:35 GMT 12
Baronbeeza I get where your coming from , sorry about the mix up.
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