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Subject: CARRIER FORCE 2005 - HMAS Melbourne in the modern era
DropBear    9/24/2005 9:26:57 PM
Another world famous DB hypothetical: We have HMAS Melbourne (the carrier) in service in 2005. Her hull and mechanicals are as new as a modern refurb. The A-4 Scooters are capable of two Asraam plus Mavericks and LGB's. Seahawk/SeaSprites have replaced the SeaKing in all helo roles. The S-2 Grey Grumblies are modernised (turboprops) and have an ELINT role with a limited AWACS L-Band tophat configuration. The escort/plane guard role is split between existing FFG/Anzac fleets. HMAS Melbourne has similar dimmensions/limitations as before with only modernised machinery and weapons/radar fit. Defences consist of RIM-116 RAM and Phalanx CIWS. The boat has an AEGIS system installed with future mods to look into SM-3 etc. Budget and crewing aside... What could a boat with these capabilities bring to the modern Oz Navy and Australia?
 
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gf0012-aust    RE: CARRIER FORCE 2005 - HMAS Melbourne in the modern era   9/25/2005 9:51:58 AM
"The escort/plane guard role is split between existing FFG/Anzac fleets." Seems a waste to me. Current convention is that the plane guard role is done by Helos now - they're faster to the location and can drop divers in to assist. Ships are only on guard if they're "lambing"...
 
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Cootamundra    RE: CARRIER FORCE 2005 - HMAS Melbourne in the modern era   9/27/2005 3:40:05 AM
What could a boat with these capabilities bring to the modern Oz Navy and Australia? Mate, more than anything a single carrier would offer an extension to our expeditionary capabailities, not much else. In my opinion a welcome addition but not one that we really need today. If we did have a refrb'd Melbourne with extensively modernised Skyhwakes plus helo's for ASW etc it would be great. Not to mention having a dedicated flag ship with a range of the C&C tools dogtag listed earlier, that would've been great during East Timor, useful in both Gulf Wars and probably clear overkill for Solomon's type ops (but better than the Kanimbla for the Tsunami....but the Melbourne combined with the two new 'mini' carriers plus F35's (either B's or C's - if the deck was long enough) would be even better!
 
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AussieEngineer    RE: CARRIER FORCE 2005 - HMAS Melbourne in the modern era   9/27/2005 4:04:42 AM
Wasn't the Melbourne smaller than the LHDs we are looking at?
 
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Cootamundra    RE: CARRIER FORCE 2005 - HMAS Melbourne in the modern era - AE   9/28/2005 12:01:10 AM
Actually I think you maybe right, I saw yesterday that Melbourne's unloaded weight was 15,000 odd tonnes, the new mini carriers are targetted at between 22-25,000 tonnes if i recall correctly. The Spanish version is the bigger of the two options...
 
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DropBear    RE: CARRIER FORCE 2005 - HMAS Melbourne in the modern era - AE   9/28/2005 1:29:35 AM
I think Melby got to about 18,000t fully loaded.
 
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AussieEngineer    RE: CARRIER FORCE 2005 - HMAS Melbourne in the modern era - AE   9/28/2005 4:09:24 AM
So we are looking at considerably larger ships than the Melbourne. If the RAN wanted to be sneaky about it they could reduce the troop carrying capacity a bit and have more aviation facilities. Then we could have 2 light carriers/amphibs.
 
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DropBear    RE: CARRIER FORCE 2005 - HMAS Melbourne in the modern era - AE   9/28/2005 5:24:52 AM
And call them through-deck cruisers. ;)
 
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doggtag    RE: CARRIER FORCE 2005 - HMAS Melbourne in the modern era - AE   9/28/2005 6:43:01 AM
Sounds like you're now suggesting playing a trump card like the Japanese MSDF with their Osumi class "LSTs": build amphibious ships that are light aircraft carriers in all but name.
 
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DropBear    RE: CARRIER FORCE 2005 - HMAS Melbourne in the modern era - AE   9/28/2005 8:03:07 AM
Well, there are some wishful types who hope to see a revitalised or defacto RAN FAA / RAAF operate F-35B's off the deck of our two amphibs. Goodness only knows what the official ADF folk have in mind beyond the publically stated six helo config. ;)
 
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