Ok I have been mulling over the idea of replacing the FFG's with a class of four experdinonary frigates. By this I mean a warship with capability of a frigate with the ability to carry a company (around 150 troops).
This ship would be similar in inspiration to the Absalon Class, However the embarked troops would not be accommodated in containers on the mission deck as this would eliminate your ability to carry vehicles and bulk stores, so I have added an extra 1200 tons which is probably overly generous. The proposed ship would displace around 7500 tons have a crew of an ANZAC (160) Flight of 20 (Two Helos) and 150 Troops. It would have a well deck capabile of taking one LCM and two rading craft whist the ship would have two standard RAN RIBS for normal ship operations on upperdeck davits. Armerments would consit of a MK 45 MOD 4 5" Gun, 2 to 4 VLS modules,2 MK 141 Harpoon launchers, 4 quad Nulka launchers , internal SVTT's (anti sub torps) 1 MK 1B phalnax (1b gives a point and shot option) Typhoon and Mini Typhoon to round of the close in protection. The ships would be equiped with CEAFAR radars (the Australian develpoped Search and Illumination radars that are being installed in the ANZAC upgragde) couple with the latest SAAB combat system.
So the grand idea is to have four of these ships.One in refit, one on work ups/having a break, one doing normal navy type stuff and one patroling arounf the pacific with a company of light infanty from the Townsville infantry battions embarked ready to responed to any natural desaster or civil unrest in the Pacific region. This one company would not be enough to quell a islands civvile unrest, However it should be able to evacuate forigen nationals whislt the "Fat Ships" troop up and do the job properly.
1 of the 2 Helos embarked would be and army/navy NH 90 which should be able to carry enough troops to secure the embassy whislt the two army rading craft should be enough troops to secure the landing point, Which would be closly folowed by the LCM with a couple of Bushmasters loaded to carry troops to the embassy, whilst further loads of Bushys would be able to pick up civilians / deliver more troops.
There is a an old adage that "Steel is cheep and air is cheeper". I think a ready response "experdinonary" frigate would be very valuble in the future with the world going the way it is.
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