Thread: A nautical story

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

google HMAS Adelaide propulsion problems. Here is one report of many.

Navy's billion-dollar vessels mostly 'ship-shape' after years of engine troubles - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

"Almost three years to fix". "It appears she can now get from point A to point B."

These things cost $1.5 billion each and were years late in construction and delivery and have spent years since out of action with a dud propulsion system. Not good enough. Heads should have rolled and plenty of them. Both naval and public service. It appears our Defence purchasing people are the wood ducks of the used car trade. Poms sold us rubbish for a century when we were in our British to the bootstraps mode and the yanks have done the same with those used ships that were piles of pus.

Yep, old news.

Originally Posted by bob10

Yep, old news.

Yes, Bob. Eight days old. Dated 22/4/19

[QUOTE=NavyDiver;2905616]

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

I was on Adelaide a few weeks ago. I did think BIG Target but re the other issues you mentioned I saw and heard nothing. Amazing capability and 1000% better than the rubbish the yanks sold us in the mid naughtess

Sold us?? You must mean that we bought, shirley? The yanks supplied them.
From what I could gather at the time they were "thoroughly Surveyed" by "Experts" from Australia & the transaction wouldn't have been done by E-mail & SMS & for reasons best known to them felt it was the best way to waste Australian Taxpayer's hard earned. I guess they walked away with big fat salaries.

Obvious major corrosion being one of the main defects which I understand Oz picked up the bill for at the time etc etc etc. Not a huge problem in a ship of War I guess & I suppose they were cheap & as the lady in Harrods explained to us at the time "The word is in-expensive, for cheap denotes rubbish" or words to that effect.

How accurate she was.

Don't these sales come with a guarantee of some sort of seaworthiness or are those in Canberra who control contracts simply dumb & uncaring??

Were the US sales people named Bonnie & Clyde?


Just sayin'.

[QUOTE=4bee;2905749]

Originally Posted by NavyDiver

Sold us?? You must mean that we bought, shirley? The yanks supplied them.
From what I could gather at the time they were "thoroughly Surveyed" by "Experts" from Australia & the transaction wouldn't have been done by E-mail & SMS & for reasons best known to them felt it was the best way to waste Australian Taxpayer's hard earned. I guess they walked away with big fat salaries.

Obvious major corrosion being one of the main defects which I understand Oz picked up the bill for at the time etc etc etc. Not a huge problem in a ship of War I guess & I suppose they were cheap & as the lady in Harrods explained to us at the time "The word is in-expensive, for cheap denotes rubbish" or words to that effect.

How accurate she was.

Don't these sales come with a guarantee of some sort of seaworthiness or are those in Canberra who control contracts simply dumb & uncaring??

Were the US sales people named Bonnie & Clyde?


Just sayin'.

Not suggesting your wrong at all. "or are those in Canberra who control contracts simply dumb & uncaring??" Really really dumb at times!

The "Yank Sales Job" might have included a lot of fine wine as well for some involved from our side. Rust buckets +++ is a known fact. The new spanish designed ships are very far removed from those things. Enjoying a beer in a stubby cooler from HMAS Adelaide as I type- Cheers

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

Yes, Bob. Eight days old. Dated 22/4/19

Let it go, mate. You're flogging a dead horse. The fact is the two LHD's are now operational, and the RAN is getting more value out of them, than the RN is out of the type 45, at the moment. Considering the first upgrade for the Type 45's is not until 2021, and the first ship of the class , Daring? I think, is an along side training ship, [ disgraceful for a brand new warship] , all the RN's front line destroyers are good for is showing the flag. It won't always be like that, and it is not the Navy's fault, but the fact is some very ordinary decisions were made in the construction of the type 45's. If they had fitted the USN gas turbines instead of the unsuitable Brit. ones, could be a different story. Same with the new carriers. Without a suitable Fleet Air Arm, all they are is targets. There is also a good reason the new frigates the RAN is buying off Britain will be fitted with USN combat systems.

The RAN had to put up with derogatory media reports about the Collins class for years, but they are recognised as the best conventional submarines around, now. It'll be the same with the type 45, I'm sure.

[QUOTE=NavyDiver;2905752]

Originally Posted by 4bee

Not suggesting your wrong at all. "or are those in Canberra who control contracts simply dumb & uncaring??" Really really dumb at times!

The "Yank Sales Job" might have included a lot of fine wine as well for some involved from our side. Rust buckets +++ is a known fact. The new spanish designed ships are very far removed from those things. Enjoying a beer in a stubby cooler from HMAS Adelaide as I type- Cheers

What is not well known is the fact the Tobruk had broken her back, and some ships were needed in a hurry to take some work off Tobruk to extend her life until a suitable replacement could be found. The rust buckets fitted the bill, at the right price, and the word from the engine room was whilst inconvenient, the rust didn't create a structural problem. The two ships filled a gap, and did the job they were bought for. It must be galling for Britain to find Spain can design and build better ships than England.

[QUOTE=bob10;2905817]

Originally Posted by NavyDiver

..... It must be galling for Britain to find Spain can design and build better ships than England.

Nothing new - throughout UK naval history some of the RN's best ships were ones captured from various opponents - including Spain - and copies made of them!

[QUOTE=Bigbjorn;2905556]

Originally Posted by bob10

I believe the Type 45 need to go to sea with a tug, to ensure they get home.

The RAN now has a couple of ships like that. The two Spanish built vessels known in the Department of Finance as the White Elephant class. They have taken the place of Stalwart to be permanently moored on Bottle Bank at Garden Island.

Bigbjorn, could you please reply after the last quote, otherwise your post is accounted to me. cheers.