Australia to decommission Armidale-class patrol boats

[Pioneer]

The Armidale-class should never have been built in the first place IMO. The Fremantle-class patrol boats should have been replaced by a Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) as was appreciated by the RAN - period!

Regards
Pioneer

Australia to decommission Armidale-class boat after 14-year service

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is preparing to decommission an Armidale-class patrol vessel.

www.janes.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

The Fremantles were certainly better boats.

 

[GTX]

On a related note:

Faulty Chinese aluminium adds to Navy boat delays, costing extra $44 million

The Navy expects its new evolved Cape class patrol boats could now be delayed by up to nine months, while an extra $44 million will need to be spent keeping its old fleet in the water, after poor quality aluminium was imported from China.

www.abc.net.au

What is frustrating to me (and has been for sometime) is that Australia has the world's second largest bauxite reserves (second only to Guinea) and is itself in the top 6 producers of aluminium metal and yet we are having to import metal especially for use on Defence products.

 

[GTX]

Also on related note:

First Arafura Class offshore patrol vessel launches in Osborne

The Arafura, the Royal Australian Navy’s first Arafura Class offshore patrol vessel, was launched in Osborne having begun construction in 2018. The launch of the first of twelve Arafura OPVs was a

www.defenceconnect.com.au

 

[Hood]

What is frustrating to me (and has been for sometime) is that Australia has the world's second largest bauxite reserves (second only to Guinea) and is itself in the top 6 producers of aluminium metal and yet we are having to import metal especially for use on Defence products.

One consolation is that the shiny Chinese Navy is probably using tons of the same crappy aluminium...

 

[robunos]

One consolation is that the shiny Chinese Navy is probably using tons of the same crappy aluminium...

Nah, they'll be using the Good Stuff, it's only the West that gets the rubbish 'Export' grade . . .

cheers,
Robin.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Keel laying ceremony for fifth Arafura class Offshore Patrol Vessel

Luerssen Australia holds keel laying ceremony of the fifth Arafura class Offshore Patrol Vessel.

www.navyrecognition.com

 

[GTX]

'97 years late': Expensive problems on major defence projects concern federal government

A $4 billion offshore patrol vessel project is included on a list of at least 28 major defence projects considered to be running a cumulative 97 years late.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Pioneer]

'97 years late': Expensive problems on major defence projects concern federal government

A $4 billion offshore patrol vessel project is included on a list of at least 28 major defence projects considered to be running a cumulative 97 years late.

www.abc.net.au

Yes, disgusting and complicit in my opinion.

Regards
Pioneer

 

[GTX]

Luerssen responds to Arafura OPV cuts - Australian Defence Magazine

In response to the results of the Surface Combatant Fleet Review, the government announced that it will reduce Luerssen Australia’s contract from twelve Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels to six.

www.australiandefence.com.au