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Looks kindof like an enlarged Eithne with the cargo deck in place of the helo deck. Crew of 150? What's the current seagoing manpower of the entire Naval Service?
Those Danish SF3000s might fit in about right as well as an alternative, they're considered 'Expeditionary Frigates' with both patrol and cargo transport ability.
OK Goldie I know this is getting a little ahead of ourselves but since the Emer is retiring in 2007 and the other P20s are following suit in successive years it would not seem too premature for the INS to have already determined what kind of replacements they would like to see.
So assuming (fingers-crossed) that the INS is succesful in acquiring the MEKO200 what would be your best guess for replacements for the other two ships? Would it be River Class, Roisin or MEKO100 or some other?
"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."
Noticed that too John, note also the light gun (25-30mm?) turret is not on the NS presentation.
Sorry to have to ask the question. How much? (Assuming a sensor and weapons fit like the P50s ie, no sonar or air search radar, Oto 76mm and .50cal secondary).
The price is going to be critical, even assuming the NS can adequately 'sell' the idea that this would be an ideal disaster relief vessel, and force multiplier in terms of training and resupply.
Also, we is two budgets away from an election. Anything that could be spent on this could just as well be spent on social welfare or other hand outs, more conventional vote getters. Additonally, theres the fact that the crusties and SF and Joe Higgins would call this this an "aircraft carrier designed to aid the repression of third world countries, steal their resources and kill their children". None of these are exactly confidence inspiring in the short term. At a guess, the NS is playing a long game, hoping for a decision early in the life of the next Govt.
The choices are simple. Select as ship such as this and ensure the provision of the service that the NS provide, or break another promise, and watch as the NS return to the bad old days of the early 70s.
The Greens in principal, agreed to an 8 ship navy when they made submissions to the White paper(though most likely they would have asked for an 8 ship,sail powered unarmed coastguard). As I have said in the other thread,its all to do with how the DF/Government market this to the voter. Is it a "state of the art warship" or "a multi purpose vessel, enhanced to carry Emergency aid on its decks,this saving the taxpayer the cost of hiring a Commercial vessel".
Blohm and Voss specialise in shipbuilding in a modular fashion,quickly and cheaply.
The design differences between both vessels are minimal, but you must remember that the Current L.E. Eithne looks nothing like the original proposals. Likewise,the P50 class look very little like their base design,the Canadian Guardian class "Vigilant".
Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.
. Select as ship such as this and ensure the provision of the service that the NS provide, or break another promise, and watch as the NS return to the bad old days of the early 70s.
Is there a promise or are the NS chancing their arm?
As I have said in the other thread,its all to do with how the DF/Government market this to the voter
Not quite how it works in this instance. Something like this is a tough sell, its highly unlikely that it will win votes, but it most certainly could lose the Govt votes. On that basis, this is a three way 'discussion' between D/Fin, the Government and the NS/DOD, marketing it to the voter is important, but not nearly as important as marketing it to the Cabinet and D/Fin. The DF as a whole has tried in the past to come up with great and shiny plans, making perfect sense to all concerned, only to have them shot down ignominiously at a central level. Unless the NS has a prior committment, or a very good argument backed up by proponents at cabinet, this is going nowhere, regardless of how good an idea it is.
I don't speak for the NS. I am not,nor never was a member of same. I have no idea how the Naval service are going to promote this vessel to the Important government departments. All I do Know is it has been in the planning stages for the last 2 years. The army Wanted 80 APCs. It got 65. The air Corps wanted 6/8 new helis. It got 6,the other 2 have not been ruled out yet. The capital expense here is similar,and the usefulness is similar. I fail to see how the other wings of the DF can get such large projects without complaint, and the NS, the only section of the DF that preforms its role 24 hours a day 365 days a year, can not secure theirs.
A realist attitude is pragmatic. However a "can-do" attitude will be more beneficial in the long term.
Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.
All I'm saying is don't get yer hopes up until you hear some response or commentary from Minister Cowen, until that point all of this is just a few nice pictures.
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