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  • Didn't the Minister say in the Dail last year that he was looking at proposals including deploying a PV for up to 4 mths

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    • "As part of the European Union’s efforts to enhance regional states’ maritime security capabilities in the Horn of Africa, on 15 March EUCAP Nestor gave six Nissan 4x4 vehicles, as well as IT and communications equipment, to the Coast Guard of the Federal Government of Somalia."

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      • Originally posted by Rhodes View Post
        "As part of the European Union’s efforts to enhance regional states’ maritime security capabilities in the Horn of Africa, on 15 March EUCAP Nestor gave six Nissan 4x4 vehicles, as well as IT and communications equipment, to the Coast Guard of the Federal Government of Somalia."

        However according to Matt Bryden in "Somalia Redux" funding for enhancement and support is continually being recycled by elements of Somali Federal Government and Presidency for strategic and personal agendas. President Sharif gave a diplomatic passport to a pirate leader while the same gentleman had ships and hostages held for ransom. This pirate now runs a "rehabilitation" center for pirates to wean them from his former business? The embryo Coast Guard founded by Sharif operated in an area devoid of pirates. All in the region dress up their level of need in order to maximise funding, arms and supplies. He referred to a Somali Military commander who shelled African Union positions at night , blaming AL SHABAAB, so that he could demand extra weapons, ammunition, which he duly got.

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        • French OPV Joins EUNAVFOR


          On Wednesday 15 April, French Navy warship, FS L’Adroit, joined the EU Naval Force to conduct counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia. The L’Adroit is a Gowind class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), that can accommodate a helicopter, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and a Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB). Whilst en route to the Horn […]

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          • Originally posted by A/TEL View Post
            She looks fairly light on weapons fit. Irish ships are definitely superior in that respect.(in the context of EUNAVFOR)

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            • Originally posted by A/TEL View Post
              Versatile ship fitted with a lot of sensor systems plus UAV/UAS and is helo capable. Is designed and fitted for advanced weaponry but currently is token armed with a 20mm and 2X12.7's. She has space for a platoon sized team and is crewed by 30 personnel.

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              • Originally posted by A/TEL View Post
                A month long deployment?

                Wasn't she built on spec for the French by DCNS with a 20mm up front and a few machine guns?

                Sounds like the French are just working her up and seeing the capabilities.

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                • Originally posted by ancientmariner View Post
                  Versatile ship fitted with a lot of sensor systems plus UAV/UAS and is helo capable. Is designed and fitted for advanced weaponry but currently is token armed with a 20mm and 2X12.7's. She has space for a platoon sized team and is crewed by 30 personnel.
                  She's not the only European OPV design that has such weapon systems, or 30mm. Hell I've seen comments/qestions on Navweapons for example asking why we go with 76mm as standard.

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                  • Originally posted by Sparky42 View Post
                    She's not the only European OPV design that has such weapon systems, or 30mm. Hell I've seen comments/qestions on Navweapons for example asking why we go with 76mm as standard.
                    There are some folk who wear naval uniforms even asking that. If some had their way the P60 would be armed with the Bofors 40mm.
                    For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.

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                    • Originally posted by Sparky42 View Post
                      She's not the only European OPV design that has such weapon systems, or 30mm. Hell I've seen comments/qestions on Navweapons for example asking why we go with 76mm as standard.
                      L'Adroit is lightly armed because she still belongs to DCNS and is only on loan to the Navy for 3 years. DCNS get their product shown off around the world (a circumnavigation of Africa in the current case) and the French Navy get a relatively flexible OPV to play with. They don't, however, appear to have long term plans for retaining her and therefore have armed her with a cast-off at nominal cost.
                      As a demonstrator, she also has other deficiencies from a military perspective. For instance, all machinery (MDEs and Gensets) is in a single compartment and the survivability of the vessel is only up to commercial standards. Even a pirate RPG could make life pretty uncomfortable.

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                      • Originally posted by Medsailor View Post
                        L'Adroit is lightly armed because she still belongs to DCNS and is only on loan to the Navy for 3 years. DCNS get their product shown off around the world (a circumnavigation of Africa in the current case) and the French Navy get a relatively flexible OPV to play with. They don't, however, appear to have long term plans for retaining her and therefore have armed her with a cast-off at nominal cost.
                        As a demonstrator, she also has other deficiencies from a military perspective. For instance, all machinery (MDEs and Gensets) is in a single compartment and the survivability of the vessel is only up to commercial standards. Even a pirate RPG could make life pretty uncomfortable.
                        Sounds about right. The RN initially leased all of their current River class and bought them as a package lately for 39.5 M ,GBP. I wonder is the flood-ability right as we had 2 compartment flood-ability with LE EMER onwards. There is nothing wrong with leasing except military equipment would all be GFE.

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                        • Originally posted by Medsailor View Post
                          L'Adroit is lightly armed because she still belongs to DCNS and is only on loan to the Navy for 3 years. DCNS get their product shown off around the world (a circumnavigation of Africa in the current case) and the French Navy get a relatively flexible OPV to play with. They don't, however, appear to have long term plans for retaining her and therefore have armed her with a cast-off at nominal cost.
                          As a demonstrator, she also has other deficiencies from a military perspective. For instance, all machinery (MDEs and Gensets) is in a single compartment and the survivability of the vessel is only up to commercial standards. Even a pirate RPG could make life pretty uncomfortable.
                          Oh sure, I don't disagree with any of that, my point however is that an OPV is always designed to be less then a Warship in most cases. They are designed to be cheap and cheerful and fufill the less than war roles, freeing up true warships for that. (another example would be the US CoastGuard going for the 57mm mounts on their new ships). If you are in a situation where the standard OPV armaments (20-76mm weapons) aren't enough for the military situation of the nation then you should look at a Corvette design or a light Frigate design (ie the Formidable class) rather than trying to shoehorn in heavier systems into a OPV design.

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                          • I would say it's because we do not have, unlike other navies full warships or aircraft to back up our patrol ships.
                            So the NS put the biggest stick our cowardly simple serpents and government allow.

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                            • Originally posted by sofa View Post
                              I would say it's because we do not have, unlike other navies full warships or aircraft to back up our patrol ships.
                              So the NS put the biggest stick our cowardly simple serpents and government allow.
                              Like I said, the size of the stick doesn't really matter if the guy wielding it can't take a couple of hits. L'Adroit and some other designs I can think of (like the LCS) are what D.K. Brown described as philosophically unstable. They host capabilities that make them important units (at least to smaller navies) but don't have the wherewithall to protect those capabilities. A ship with good passive defences in the form of inherent survivability albeit lightly armed seems to make much more sense than a vessel that carries a bunch of gucci weapons systems, a couple of good RHIBs and a specialised boarding element but is vulnerable to the slightest damage. In the EUNAVFOR Atalanta scenario, a 76mm together with a brace of smaller cannon and some MGs is more than enough to have a reasonable offensive effect on the likely threat. A hull that can't take an RPG round or a few hits from an HMG, however, isn't going to be fit for purpose.

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                              • Originally posted by Sparky42 View Post
                                Oh sure, I don't disagree with any of that, my point however is that an OPV is always designed to be less then a Warship in most cases. They are designed to be cheap and cheerful and fufill the less than war roles, freeing up true warships for that. (another example would be the US CoastGuard going for the 57mm mounts on their new ships). If you are in a situation where the standard OPV armaments (20-76mm weapons) aren't enough for the military situation of the nation then you should look at a Corvette design or a light Frigate design (ie the Formidable class) rather than trying to shoehorn in heavier systems into a OPV design.
                                The Modern 57mm is near identical in performance to the modern 76mm OTO Melara, that was in use with the USCG.
                                For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.

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