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Post by pepe on Apr 17, 2024 9:37:33 GMT 12
I note from the 2018 Cabinet purchase approval papers, the MOD states that the Increment 3, Block 2 upgrade is planned to commence in 2026 and be completed around 2029. The cost of the upgrade was not included in the initial capital investment.
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Post by pepe on Feb 22, 2024 9:28:36 GMT 12
Hmmm I am not a naval person, but is there an option for the RNZN to pick up 3 Hunter Class frigates, now that the RAN has reduced it's order in a strategic move to have something ready to replace our own ANZAC frigates? Details here : www.navy.gov.au/fleet/ships-boats-craft/future/ffgPerhaps those with relevant Naval background could comment? thanks. The RAN Hunter is optimised for ASW and has been bastardised by the Australians. It's also a 10000 ton ship so is heavier than their Hobart Class AWD but less well armed. I suspect it will be a expensive lemon. The RNZN would be mad to consider it. They'd be better off looking at what the RAN buy for the Tier 2 ship and purchases some of those. E.g Type 31 or even looking a the USN Constollation class Frigate (which is actually an Italian design IIRC) However, I note that neither the Type 31 nor USN Constellation class actually made the shortlist for the Australian Tier 2 project. I am not saying they are bad choices, but we will lose much commonality with our cousins across the ditch. In regard to the lack of manpower almost all of the Tier 2 frigates being discussed have much lower crew requirements than our existing ships.
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Post by pepe on Feb 11, 2024 8:05:44 GMT 12
Yes, the project has been in the pipeline for a while, but the approval for resource consent was only recently granted in late December 2023 by the Environment Court.
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Post by pepe on Feb 9, 2024 8:59:32 GMT 12
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Post by pepe on Dec 27, 2023 8:50:34 GMT 12
ErrolC....where can I find that report on F16's for Ukraine being 'in country"? Well it is possible That information source is very much pro Ukraine to say the least. It has some good information but treat with much caution.
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Post by pepe on Oct 28, 2023 12:03:33 GMT 12
You missed my point entirely. Where are they going to get the crew from when they struggle now to keep just two frigates in service? I am not expecting to see three frigates in NZ service anytime soon (though there is a good argument for an additional hull). However crewing requirements on the new, (and larger) Type 31 frigates currently being built for the Royal Navy are much lower than on our existing Anzac vessels. There will be 107 crew embarked on the Type 31s versus the 178 sailors on our frigates. In theory three new frigates could be manned by slightly fewer than our existing requirements. www.royalnavy.mod.uk/the-equipment/ships/frigates/inspiration-class
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Post by pepe on Oct 1, 2023 11:52:12 GMT 12
Yes, I would agree, a worthy effort, although some of the early material (mainly that describing the problems of actually acquiring the aircraft in the first place) should be taken with a grain of salt. So far as I know, the British Government played no part in these negotiations, as New Zealand had signed a "Lend-Lease" (better described as a Mutual Aid Agreement) with the United States Government as early as September 1942, under which the supply of all munitions and war supplies requested by the NZ government were negotiated. However most of these discussions, so far as I can tell, were between the Lend Lease people in Washinton, and the theatre commander (and his representatives, all United States Navy), with the NZ government then being advised of the actual outcome! New Zealand was very much the price taker, with very little in the way of bargaining chips; all these supplies had to be paid for, mostly in the supply of "war supplies" to be used generally by United States forces or their Allies in the South and SW Pacific theatres, with foodstuffs being one of the most important categories, along with creation of large airfields in these theatres, as well as in New Zealand, and manufacture of (light) naval vessels for the United States Army, and possibly also the US Navy. As many will probably know, the Mutual Aid agreement debt between NZ and the USA resulted in our "Reverse Lend Lease" anabled us to almost balance the disparity, with only a small amount of cash being involved in the final reckoning. There was actually no final cash payment made by NZ to the US Govt at the termination of the Mutual Aid Agreement. The US cancelled the outstanding debt "for the furtherance of cultural relations of mutual benefit to the two countries". The below link to the excellent Victoria University NZ Electronic Text Collection details the final arrangement and also the additional "purchase" of surplus machinery and equipment located in the Pacific and NZ. There was also a similar agreement with Canada who also wrote of a debt of of 6 million pounds. nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Econ-c19-25.html
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Post by pepe on Aug 29, 2023 9:01:28 GMT 12
Absolutely staggering figures there Ando. Just wow. New Zealand had a lot less aircraft and naval vessels covering our approximately 15,000 km coastline and seaways, and keeping watch over the convoys. We also had raider ships and at least two submarines in our waters, one being Japanese and the other a U-boat. And several ships were attacked by raiders and sunk too. But nothing on the scale that Australia faced. U-862 was also the same German submarine that visited New Zealand in January 1945. It patrolled the North Island (Gisborne and Auckland approaches) before returning to the Australian coast. The very good U-Boat.net website has details of its patrol history: uboat.net/boats/patrols/details.php?boat=862&date=1945-01-09The U-boat was transferred to the Japanese in May 1945 and survived to be surrended in Singapore in August 1945.
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Post by pepe on Jun 9, 2023 13:06:41 GMT 12
Funny that the RAF has scrapped all its tornados but a lot of the RNZAF A-4Ks are still going strong. I think the Tornado may be "going stronger" though given that there are still over 200 aircraft operational with the Italian, German and Saudi airforces with their introduction being over 40 years ago. www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=90688
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Post by pepe on May 29, 2023 18:43:51 GMT 12
Didn't know we were selling 100+ of our LAV's thought it was only around 20-30 and... oh we sold 22 of them to Chile. Oh that's great - 22 sold after 10 years of trying There was never any plan to sell 100+ NZLAVS. In 2012 20 units were determined to be surplus to requirements and offered for sale. This number was increased to 30 vehicles in 2019. As has previously been stated the Chileans have purchased 22 units which means 8 are still on the market. www.nzdf.mil.nz/media-centre/news/twenty-two-light-armoured-vehicles-sold-to-chilean-navy/
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Post by pepe on May 18, 2023 14:48:47 GMT 12
I hear from good sources we will be leasing some Wildcats before the year is out as the Seasprites apparently can't be safely maintained in service beyond the end of this year (no OEM support). Who would be providing these "leased" helicopters? As has already been mentioned above there is only a small existing pool of airframes. The AW159 also cannot carry the Mk.46/54 torpedoes or Penguin ASM which raises further questions as integrating these existing weapons for a small fleet would not be economic.
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Post by pepe on Apr 28, 2023 10:08:49 GMT 12
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Post by pepe on Jan 31, 2023 21:31:52 GMT 12
Hi Pepe, thank you for your reply...I was looking at Google Maps and could make out what looked like an airstrip at the location you mention. It looks more than just your average topdressing airstrip so I thought this may be it. Google Maps also shows earthworks underway on the old airstrip site, and given the urban sprawl working its way up the valley from Haruru, I can see why this strip is now out of action. One further query re the Paihia area...where is the Watea Airfield? I have to confess to never hearing of Watea Airfield but thanks to the magic of Mr Google... watea.co.nz/december-22/A new residential subdivision that just happens to be located at the eastern end of the very same airfield we have been discussing. I suggest that Waitangi/Haruru Falls/Watea airfield are again the same location.
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Post by pepe on Jan 31, 2023 21:14:23 GMT 12
Assuming that's the same strip that used to be referred to also as Haruru Falls airfield, it would have been in use until not that long ago, maybe 10 years? I recall it used to be depicted on the visual navigation charts as an unpublished airfield. Edit - Actually there was (is?) an airstrip at Puhipuhi a bit further south that I might be mixing it up with. Waitangi or Haruru Falls Airfield are the same airstrip. I have flown in and out of there a couple of times in the 1990s. A wee bit wet in winter. I cannot remember when it was closed but 10-12 years ago sounds about right. The Puhipuhi airstrip would be the Whangarei Gliding Club field at Gibbs Road, Puhipuhi. They were based there from the early 1990s until around 2015 when the farm was sold.
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Post by pepe on Jan 31, 2023 13:30:58 GMT 12
Waitangi Airstrip was the given location for an accident or incident involving Cessna 180 ZK-BUG in 1977, at that time owned by Far North Aviation Ltd. I'm trying to pinpoint the actual location of this airstrip, which may have been just West of Haruru Falls, Bay of Islands. Can anyone confirm this please? This airstrip was located between the Waitangi River and State Highway 11, just west of Haruru Falls. It was utilised for many years by various users performing scenic flights, skydiving, and also, its original agricultural operations. I think Salt Air may have been one the last operators prior to their move to Kerikeri Airport. I am not sure when the airstrip closed but the expanding Haruru residential area may have been a factor. After viewing Google Maps (satellite mode) you can still just make out the airstrip at 512 Puketona Road, Haruru running parallel to the highway. www.google.com/maps/place/512+Puketona+Road,+Haruru+0204/@-35.2830653,174.0355272,1358m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x6d0bba346ddd6075:0x31f2a3a91d2b5195!8m2!3d-35.2830333!4d174.0344208
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Post by pepe on Jan 28, 2023 19:41:56 GMT 12
Well let's hope they finally get on do something with the site. The Hobsonville redevelopment is a good example of what actually can be achieved with the correct planning.
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Post by pepe on Jan 15, 2023 7:14:20 GMT 12
Of course the above scenario was based on a naval based attack and landing force from the seaward sides of Singapore Island. The cunning Japanese came down the Malayan peninsula, where the large land batteries could not turn and cover. "Jolly unsporting of the nips" Actually some of the big Singapore batteries could be turned around and did engage the Japanese ground forces. The problem was that these batteries possessed AP rounds only which were ineffective when they landed on the soft Malayan ground.
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Post by pepe on Dec 16, 2022 19:40:58 GMT 12
To be fair a few NZLAV's have actually been deployed and utilised in an actual combat role ....
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Post by pepe on Dec 12, 2022 7:45:59 GMT 12
Perhaps Kaitaia if it is in Northland? It could be the Maungataniwha Range in the background but not sure.
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Post by pepe on Oct 31, 2022 9:54:37 GMT 12
This may be a little bold but I suggest some A4K Skyhawks as our Canberra replacements. They are getting some great reviews.
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