The Navy Vol_49_Part1 1987 - Navy League of Australia

Compiled byNAVAL ROUNDUP GAYUNDAH"MORE MISSILES FOR THENAVYThe Minister for Defence, Mr KimBeazley, has announced the acquisitionof Standard surface-to-airmissiles for the Royal AustralianNavy and Harpoon anti-ship missilesfr.r use by both Navy and Air Force.The combined value of these purchasesis about $98 million.Mr Beazley said that boih missile purchaseswere Dart of a continuing missile acquisitionprogramme and would maintain Navy's and AtrForces skills and operational readiness into ihe1990sHe said the missiles were being bought undera foreign military sales agreement with the USNfrom the Harpoon supplier. McDor-.ellDouglas, and ihe Standard suppliers GeneralDynamicsThe RAN is rhe first N*uy to integrate theHarpoon missile into the (ire control system of aconventional submarine, and the RAAF'sFl 11C integration is also uniqueThe Royal Australian Navy Missile Maintenance Establishment at Kingswood NSW. willprovide maintenance support for the Standardand Harpoon weaponsAustralian PrimeContractors for WarshipConstructionAustralian organisations havebeen invited to register their interestin tendering as prime contractors inthe Navy's New Surface CombatantProject, the Minister for Defence.Kim Beazley, has announced."The prime contractor wilt be expected tocomplete detailed design, build the ships andsupport them in service in the largest navalshipbuilding programme undertaken in Australiain peacetime"To be selected for the competitive tenderingprocess, organisations would be expected tohave a sound financial status and corporatestrength, together with proven capacity andexperience m the management of major shipbuilding or engineering projects The primecontractor would also be expected to haveaccess to suitable existing shipbuilding facilitiesMore than one Australian shipbuilder could beInvolved in this project." Mr Bea/ley saidIt is expected that tenders for the primecontract will be invited later this year, and closein mid-1988 The total cost of the programme isestimated at $3.5 billion (April 1986 prices)The issue of the Invitation to Register flTRlfollows (he issue, In December 1986. of aRequest for Proposals, which sought shipdesigns that meet, or nearly meet, the assessedcapability needs of the new warship atminimum cost, based as closely as practicableon existing designs"The precise nature of the ships will be determinedin the selection of designs followingevaluation of the responses of overseasdesigners to the Request for Proposals The keyfactors in selecting the design to be constructedand ihe Australian prime contractor will then bethe level and nature of the involvement of Australian industry, the project price and confidenceof performance as reflected in fixed price provisionsand warranties The details of the way inwhich Australian organisations will compete forthe contract could be influenced by the designschosen and the responses by Australianorganisations to the ITR". Mr Beazley saidOefenrr Assistance to Export MinehuntrrsHMAS RUSHCUTTER. prototype minehunterA Newcastle shipbuilding firm isto receive an advance of $1.5million, in line with the Government'spolicy of stimulating defenceexports, the Minister for Defence, MrKtm Beazley has announced.The advance, to Carrington Slipways PtyLtd. is to provide material to build an Australian-designedfibregiass cat. >aran. similar tothe two prototypes ordered for the Royal Australian NavyIt will allow early purchase, mainly of fibreglassand PVC foam, the main constructionmaterials of the minehunters. In anticipation ofan overseas order"This offers the prospect of an early start ofconstruction for export, using the workforceand expertise built up in the construction of thefirst two RAN vessels." Mr Beazley explained"It will reduce the delivery time to meetexport orders for this highly innovative andcost-efficient minehunter system "The Minister said the launching of the firstnew minehunter, HMAS RUSHCUTTER. lastyear, had created considerable interest overseas,and led to an intense export effort by theCompany"This minehunter is a unique Australiandesign, highly suitable for mine countermeasuresin shallow waters and harbour focalareas," he said, "and it has considerableadvantages over its competitors"This is one of the first instances of industryreceiving direct stimulus tinder the package ofmeasures I announced last 14 October,designed to assist Australian industry to sellmore to the Australian Defence Force, and inexport military markets "The package includes a wide range of technicalassistance from defence, on a full costrecovery basis and provided that the scarce resourcescan be made available without detnmentto defence priorities In the case of theminehunters. it may include, in due course,access to facilities such as test ranges and training.HMAS RUSHCUTTER was commissionedinto Naval service at Carrington's Tomago shipyardon 1 November.Trials are in progress, and the second prototypeis scheduled to join the trials in mid-1987Page Fourteen THE NAVY April-June, 1987Over the years, many in the RAN have cherished the idea of the Navy having its own sailingship. Part of that dream will come true in January 1988, when a 200-tonne Brigantine will sailunder the Australian White Ensign. The new'vessel will be presented by the British Governmentto the people of Australia as a Bi-centennial gift.The Royal Australian Navy has been taskedto introduce the vessel into service and operateit on behalf of the nation for the benefit of allyoung AustraliansThe ship wilt be a round-bilged steel sailingvessel, fore and aft rigged, but with square sailson the foremast — making her technically aBrigantineThe 43 metre vessel is designed to have a fullsailing performance on all points of sailing, withan estimated speed undet sail of 14 knotsShe is also to be fitted with twin main enginesto give her a maximum performance underpower of 10 knots.A Royal Australian Navy contingent departedfor the United Kingdom during January 1987The passage lo Australia will be conducted byApril-June. 1987The new Bi-centennial schoonera joinl Anglo Australian crew sailing under theBritish flagThe passage will follow in broad terms, theroute of the First Fleet via Tenerife. Rio deJaneiro. Cape of Good Hope and Mauritius.Additional stopovers are likely to be Albany.Adelaide and Hobart.The ship will rendezvous with several otherTall Ships in Hobart in late 1987 before takingpart in the Tall Ships Race between Hobart andSydney in January 1988During the bi-centennial celebrations inSydney, the ship will be formally presented toAustralia as a gift to the nation for the benefil ofAustralian youthThe concept of using a sailing ship to providean opportunity for young people to experienceadventure, and to learn more about themselvesis not new — there are many examplesthroughout the world and in AustraliaAlthough there are slight variations, thecentral idea of giving young people anadventure and challenge at sea to aid theirpersonal development is constantAfter handover, the ship will be manned andoperated by the RANThe RAN envisage the vessel operating onregulai cruises of about six to 10 days duration,perhaps from various Australian portsAlthough it is likely that the ship will behome ported out of Sydney in order to utiliseNaval Support facilities, Ihe concept of takingthe ship to the trainees, rather than the traineesto the ship will be developed by deploying theship to various ports for short periodsIn order to give the maximum number ofyoung Australians an opportunity to experiencelife and work at sea. the ship will be programmedto operate for approximately 10 5months per year, the remaining period beingdevoted to maintenanceAn experienced naval crew of eight will permanentlyman the vessel to instruct and supervisethe 24 young trainees, both male andfemale, that the ship Is designed to carryThe Australian Bl-centennary Authority anda RAN Protect Team are liaising with theirBritish counterparts to assist in bringing the shipinto serviceThe vessel will be officially named at aceremony In Ihe Pool of London in June 1987The Australian Bicentenary 1788-1988EMAIL-YORK AIR CONDITIONING197 BLACKBURN ROAD, MT WAVERLY, VIC 314BAIR CONDITIONING DIVISIONAppreciate their long association as suppliers to theRoyal Australian Navy* Commercial * Industrial * Marine * Factory Trained Engineers * 24 Hour, 7 Day Action Line484 Victoria Road, Gladesville, NSW 2111Telephone: (03) 566 4567