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Post by phil on Apr 7, 2024 19:55:57 GMT 12
2011-2012 we all had phones and computers etc, but they were only useful when connected to terrestrial cell towers, so only useful in port.
I'm not sure if the onboard work computers now have any internet capability when at sea. I don't think they did back when I was afloat, although I'm sure we used to use SAP ok most of the time so presumably there was a satcom connection that allowed that to operate.
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Post by phil on Feb 14, 2024 19:43:39 GMT 12
There is a series of photos online somewhere, may even be on the Museum site of Blunties with all sorts of imaginative load outs, using weapons from 75sqn. I suspect this photo is part of that series. Just because you can fit something to a rack doesn't mean it's cleared for flight, let alone release and as far as I know the Blunty wasn't cleared for AIM-9. The rocket launchers appear to be 19 shot launchers, not the six shot ones cleared for the Strikemaster, these being the predecessor to the LAU-5003 and who's designation escapes me right now, possibly LAU-3.
This type of photo shoot happened a few times with the Macchi as well, although the Macchi did have it's own dedicated AIM-9 rail.
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Post by phil on Jan 26, 2024 15:06:12 GMT 12
Urgently need a naval helicopter replacement, and to replace two frigates with frigates, not some glorified patrol boats.
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Post by phil on Jan 9, 2024 0:30:03 GMT 12
Armament School in the Wellington Province? I wonder where that was? I always thought Armament training was at Hobsonville before being centralised at GTW in WB.
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Post by phil on Oct 28, 2023 15:56:38 GMT 12
Are the Chinese still producing our uniforms? Latest items I've got say either Made in NZ, or USA.
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Post by phil on Oct 7, 2023 21:14:18 GMT 12
Interesting article reproduced on Ventura's webpage: www.venturapublications.com/news/publish/rnzaf-roundels.shtml'a silver fern decal in mint condition tended very much to blend into the red background, making the marking often indistinguishable from the RAF roundel, even at comparitively close quarters.' Seems like Euro Decals have messed it up making it look gold.
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Post by phil on Oct 7, 2023 19:13:48 GMT 12
Having bought the new Airfix Vampire, I got hold of the Euro Decals set Worldwide De Havilland Vampires (https://www.scalemates.com/kits/euro-decals-ed-72103-worldwide-havilland-vampires--162571). It has gold fernleafs (fern leaves?) instead of the silver I would have expected. But... While looking on the Air Force Museum photo archive I found the following picures of 75 SQN Vampires with the fern looking decidedly darker than I'd imagine it to look if it was silver. You can see it is a similar tone to the yellow or even the red of the diamonds on the tail boom. It is nowhere near as pale as the white of the roundel. Did 75SQN use gold for the fernleaf in their roundels?
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Post by phil on Sept 26, 2023 21:50:11 GMT 12
Why do you believe the infrastructure cost is not a valid part of the cost of the P8? capability It is paid for with real capital Defence $ that are then not available for other defence projects. Intergrated Logisitics Support which includes infrastructure is key to successful through life management of these aircraft. Or do you what them sitting outside under a Warehouse blue tarp? Because if the Defence force wasn't run with an infra-structure deficient, much of that cost would have already have been paid for. Longer runways, hangars that aren't a health and safety hazard etc, all contribute to operational capacity beyond just the RNZAF's P-8's. The second point being the associated cost is largely fixed regardless of the numbers of airframes operated and significant when compared to the cost of the actual airframes. The RNZAF, just like the RAAF, wouldn't have had P-8 suitable Hangars until such time as they decided to buy P-8s... They weren't infrastructure deficient because no one has a spare P-8 hangar just lying around in case it's needed.
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Post by phil on Aug 11, 2023 20:26:15 GMT 12
Here's a suggestion for NZDF, save huge amount of time, money and hassle by dropping that "climate crisis" crap out of it. Put that money into your people and equipment! The govt includes the greens. They need to be onside. Therefore there needs to be the publicly portrayed image that the defence force is needed as part of the response to climate change, for the green to be able to be seen to publicly support the govts position. Or at least to not publicly oppose it. It's all about the optics.
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Post by phil on May 16, 2023 16:05:13 GMT 12
With 38 in service across three Navies it's hardly been a runaway success... and does it tick the 'interoperability with the closest allies' box? Time will tell, regardless it will be nice for the poor old RNZN to get some brand new kit for a change! Makes it an almost certain bet then...
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Post by phil on May 15, 2023 21:12:38 GMT 12
Only one credible contender in my view Agree, lets hope the trend of buying American continues. Otherwise my money would be on the Wildcat.
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Post by phil on Apr 28, 2023 17:09:44 GMT 12
The changes to the SH-2G(I) from the RAN configuration was purposefully kept as minimal possible, RAST was replaced by Decklock being the main one. Almost everything else was kept the same, including the ASuW capability. The NH90 can't replace the Seasprite, it wont fit on most of our surface fleet, and has no ASuW or ASW capability, which are the two primary roles of the Seasprite. NH90 can’t but NFH90 could, the German Navy Sea Tiger version has ASuW and ASW capability. The ANZACs can operate them as can Canterbury and Aotearoa. That just leaves the OPV’s. What makes you say the ANZACs can? But regardless, we can't do without a maritime helo on the OPVs, that's an entire role you remove from that vessel.
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Post by phil on Apr 3, 2023 23:18:13 GMT 12
So all the sensitive data, stored in one place?
What could possibly go wrong...
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Post by phil on Apr 3, 2023 19:29:39 GMT 12
You'll be lucky to find anyone with documentation as that was all in the NZAPs. I can tell you that the HUD symbology included CCIP and CCRP was the same symbology used on the F16 from the period. Weapons loads that we could use were: Stn 1/5 AIM-9L/CATM-9L on LAU-7 AGM-65B/G TAGM-65B/G on LAU-117 LAU5002 + 6 CRV-7 Rockets or LAU-5003 + 19 CRV-7 Rockets (Practice, HE, HEISAP) Mk82 GP bomb fitted with FMU-139B or M904E4 Mk83 Paveway II LGB fitted with FMU-139B SUU-44 fitted with 4/8 LUU-2 parachute flares PMBR fitted with BDU-33/BDU-48 practice bombs STN 2/4 AIM-9L/CATM-9L on LAU-7 AGM-65B/G TAGM-65B/G on LAU-117 2* LAU5002 + 6 CRV-7 Rockets or LAU-5003 + 19 CRV-7 Rockets (Practice, HE, HEISAP) fitted on a TER 2* Mk82 GP bomb fitted with FMU-139B or M904E4 fitted on a TER (NB inboard station on TERs weren't used as they interfered with the landing gear doors) Mk83 Paveway II LGB fitted with FMU-139B SUU-44 fitted with 4/8 LUU-2 parachute flares PMBR fitted with BDU-33/BDU-48 practice bombs 300 Gal drop tank STN3 (centreline) 6 * Mk82 on a MER 3* Mk82 on a TER 3* LAU5002 + 6 CRV-7 Rockets or LAU-5003 + 19 CRV-7 Rockets (Practice, HE, HEISAP) fitted on a TER Single LAU5002 + 6 CRV-7 Rockets or LAU-5003 + 19 CRV-7 Rockets (Practice, HE, HEISAP) Mk83 Paveway II LGB fitted with FMU-139B SUU-44 fitted with 4/8 LUU-2 parachute flares (could also fit this on a TER, but never had an aircraft carry that many flares) 400Gal/300Gal Drop tank 150Gal Drop tank (used to hold diesel for smoke at displays 60 total chaff/flares 150 rounds of 20mm (75rpg max, normally 50rpg) for the Mk12s. TP, APT, API, HEI Battle mix was I vaguely remember 4 HEI, 1 APT Additionally where you've quoted GBU-16 LGB, the A4 could also carry slick Mk 83s. The Mk 82s could be fitted with conical (low drag), Mk15 or BSU-86 high drag tails. When fitted with FMU-139s, they could have TDDs, or solid nose cones fitted (as could the Mk83)
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Post by phil on Apr 1, 2023 22:16:17 GMT 12
So sad that the RNZAF is no longer capable of running its own training courses. That's not the issue. TBH, I'm not sure what problem this is supposed to be a solution to. We have very experienced P-8 maintenance instructors (some in their third year of instructing P-8), delivering and developing RNZAF training, and delivering and contributing to developing RAAF courses. Since 2021 these instructors have been integral to the delivery of RAAF P-8 maintenance training. Some of these instructors are back in NZ, some are still with the RAAF. RNZAF has definitely not lost the capability to run courses.
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Post by phil on Mar 5, 2023 17:50:17 GMT 12
Ohakea's one was unearthed about 13 years ago, but it's off base in what is now a farmer's field alongside Wilson Road.
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Post by phil on Feb 5, 2023 21:39:26 GMT 12
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Post by phil on Feb 3, 2023 22:10:04 GMT 12
Seems to me to be along time to try the new toy. The P-3’s are officially retired so P-8’s are it. I wouldn’t be surprised if the next completed P-8 from Boeing goes to the RNZAF to bolster numbers. Also of interest is the retirement of Air Ordance trade with the P-3. Are we never intending to purchase Harpoon ASM or torpedoes? Are they only robe for SAR, EEZ and environmental patrols? Traditionally NZDF has had 3 offensive weapons, Navy frigates, Army SAS and Air Force P-3 Orions. Lack of air ordnance trade has no implication for the weapons. We no longer have air engineers either, but the P8 still has engines. The mission crew will handle the Sonobuoys and other cabin stores. Once the maintainers have loaded the Torpedoes, there's nothing for an ord to do anyway, other than a final check before flight, and other aircrew will do that, it's just following a checklist. I'd be more concerned there's no armourers to load them.
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Post by phil on Dec 13, 2022 17:35:40 GMT 12
Henare also taking all the credit when this project only happened because of Ron Mark/NZF when he was MOD. At least Ron was invited to the welcome ceremony by the RNZAF. The RNZAF know who approved the purchase.
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Post by phil on Dec 11, 2022 17:38:42 GMT 12
The more I think about this policy, the more I think why exclusively make this just for young serious offenders? Some National Service would do wonders for all the younger generation. It worked well in the past, and if any generation needs it now, the youth of today definitely do. Discipline, life skills, self respect, fitness, friendships, proud achievements... a great way for kids to become adults. Don't waste those experiences purely on criminals. Let all the kids experience a year of military life (or the fire or ambulance services), and watch the whole of society suddenly return to the respectful, skilled and go-getter New Zealand we once were, rather than the namby pamby, pampered, lefty woke-indoctrinated bunch that the X-box idle kids we have in society these days. People seem to thing CMT was some kind of social service, it wasn't. It was aimed at providing sufficient numbers of basically trained personnel that could be called up at short notice to respond to NZ's commitment to provide a Brigade(?) size contingent to the UK's far east forces. It was dropped because that was no longer relevant, and the Army had become a professional regular force, something it was not up until the 1950s and the passing of the Army act. Before that it was a citizen force that relied on a small professional cadre of SNCOs and Officers, and enlistment of civilan volunteers 'for the duration' to respond to our overseas requirements (Japan, Korea) the use of conscription to provide troops for overseas service being relatively limited, to the two world wars. CMT was not ever there to provide discipline, self respect blah, blah, blah. NZ does not need, nor can it afford, a large reservist force, which is what CMT is meant to generate. It serves no purpose, and you can't take people away and force them into military service if there is no useful military output that their training will meet.
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