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Post by beagle on Jun 15, 2007 22:33:31 GMT 12
I reckon they should send it, the more experience they get the better for later on. Ya wont learn from pretending. If all turns to custard and they need to fill the decks with people that want a free trip home cause the airport closes or not permits air NZ to land, they could embark some of the neccesities. Throw a few hundered sleeping bags on board, set up a bar and big screen with satelite tv reception, an internet cafe so people can e mail mum and say we are ok. oh I forgot, some big rig fishing rods for marlin fishing off the back. She will do 19 knots so maybe some of those big inflatable bananas for entertainment. Clay target shooting with the 25mm gun helicopter rides.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 15, 2007 22:49:11 GMT 12
Don't send it. It's brand new, the crew have no experience with it, it's probably still to be fitted out with kit. Damned stupid idea.
All those people over in Fiji from NZ are there at their own risk, each would have been warned about the government warning against going and chose to ignore it. The Fijians would not be silly enough to shoot any foreign tourists anyway, that's their bread and butter, it would ruin their already buggered economy.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 15, 2007 22:52:42 GMT 12
Also, if the airport closes, don't you think they'll also close the ports?
The whole thing is a storm in a teacup being swept up by the media anyway. It all comes down to the seating at a rugby game. They're not going to hold hostages and kill tourists over that, surely... all the Govt has to do is put a few million dollars into a corporate box for the Fijian Govt at the new Eden Park and it'll be sorted...
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Post by beagle on Jun 15, 2007 23:02:12 GMT 12
Of course they won't send it. Months of work back here to set up all the SOP's etc first. It has lft Australia It arrives here on the 28th so if it has left in the last 24 hours then that is 13 days to get to lyttleton, is that normal for a ship to sail from aussie to here, doesn't sound like it. Those long deployments taking weeks etc muct get a bit boring onboard
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 15, 2007 23:11:44 GMT 12
Which goes right back to my original point that ships are pointless in emergencies and we should buy more planes instead. A who;e operation could be complete in days with an air force, whereas the navy won't even get there before its over.
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Post by dav3469 on Jun 16, 2007 13:16:48 GMT 12
I read in the specs on the Navy website that the ship is armed with the 25mm cannon, and two .50cals.
Has anything been said to anyone's knowledge about CWIS type systems in the future? Be it the gun or rolling airframe missle type of system?
Even if being escorted, I would think some last ditch capability would be warranted for such a high profile and expensive ship.
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Post by FlyNavy on Jun 16, 2007 14:26:07 GMT 12
It would be possible always for your Army to have their own anti-aircraft protection to be deployed via whatever portable systems they have already. Similarly people get evacuated from shore by helo to ship and vice versa or ships boats if possible. But as everyone is suggesting the Commodore in Fiji is playing silly buggers (I hope anyway). :-)
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Post by phil on Jun 16, 2007 15:00:26 GMT 12
There was an article in a recent navy today magazine that discussed the possibility of incorporating an Israeli designed semi/automated computer guidance system (IR/NVG, possibly radar? can't quite remember) with the .50s.
The 25mm is the same gun as the LAV uses.
You really would think that the ship would have a CIWS of some sort though, wouldn't you?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 16, 2007 15:15:16 GMT 12
Israeli, that won't sit well with the Government
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Post by conman on Jun 16, 2007 18:30:41 GMT 12
The system for the .50 cal is a "Mini-Typhoon" mount, effectively it is a lower calibre version of the 25mm cannon system fitted to the MRV and the 2 OPV vessels, and yes it is indeed Israeli in origin, the 2 ANZAC frigate will be fitted with them to ward off suspect small vessels that may mean harm, the advantage is they are night and day systems that can be controlled from a central console in the ship without crew being exposed topside. I think that the new radar being fitted as part of the P-3K upgrade may also be Israeli in origin (Elta)
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jun 16, 2007 19:03:41 GMT 12
Which goes right back to my original point that ships are pointless in emergencies and we should buy more planes instead. A who;e operation could be complete in days with an air force, whereas the navy won't even get there before its over. Aircraft arrives over Nandi and there are two Fijians holding a kava party in the middle of the runway. Where does the plane land?
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Post by phil on Jun 16, 2007 19:03:50 GMT 12
We buy our gear off some odd places, I think our AGM 65Bs are Jordanian!
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Post by beagle on Jun 16, 2007 19:07:42 GMT 12
I remember a replacement windscreen for an orion, we got second hand off portugal
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Post by 30sqnatc on Jun 16, 2007 19:09:48 GMT 12
I reckon they should send it, the more experience they get the better for later on. Ya wont learn from pretending. If all turns to custard and they need to fill the decks with people that want a free trip home cause the airport closes or not permits air NZ to land, they could embark some of the neccesities. Throw a few hundered sleeping bags on board, set up a bar and big screen with satelite tv reception, an internet cafe so people can e mail mum and say we are ok. oh I forgot, some big rig fishing rods for marlin fishing off the back. She will do 19 knots so maybe some of those big inflatable bananas for entertainment. Clay target shooting with the 25mm gun helicopter rides. Takes time to train the crew to bait the marlin rods and how to work the clay target throwing thingy not to mention the cocktail mixing and kiwi host courses ;D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 16, 2007 19:17:26 GMT 12
Yes that's true that items come from all over the place. However Jordan and Portugal are safe enough countries politically. This Government were burnt by a scandal not too long ago for investing the pension money into an Israeli weapons company, and pulled out of it accordingly after criticism. Buying weapons from that country is a very politically senstitive issue for any Governemnt, especially when the Govt preaches human rights to everyone else and has made it clear they sympathise politically with the plight of the Palestinians.
That's all I was saying. If it is the best or only system available, go for it. So long as the Navy benefits from it. I don't care if the Govt get themseleves in another tiz, it's just I thought they'd prefer to stare clear of such purchases.
If the plane cannot land at Nadi there's other airstrips. Nausori for one.
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Post by beagle on Jun 16, 2007 19:17:37 GMT 12
pick me, I have done a kiwi host course
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Post by beagle on Jun 16, 2007 19:20:31 GMT 12
If the plane cannot land at Nadi there's other airstrips. Nausori for one.
maybe we should get some OV-22"s and we would not need a runway Land right smack in each resorts car park
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Post by phil on Jun 16, 2007 19:34:46 GMT 12
At least the chances are good that any weapon system developed in Israel is going to work.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 16, 2007 19:40:29 GMT 12
Very true Phil.
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Post by beagle on Jun 16, 2007 20:41:05 GMT 12
ever been to Fiji Dave
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