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Jeff Head

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Thursday at 9:28 PM

and
Australia's two new $1.5 billion warships may have design flaws, navy chiefs reveal

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is it frigging true "... the Juan Carlos I ... has done less sea time than the newer Canberra or Adelaide"
?!
I never did like that POD design...even for the Spanish ship.

I expect they will get it fixed, but it may cost them a lot of money and time.

Should have gone with a more standard prop design IMHO on such a large vessel and then added in some side propulsors.

But in the end, they will identify and fix the issue and Australia will end up with two very capable LHDs.

Interesting how the Aussies indicate that Canberra and Adelaid have already spent more time at sea than the Juan Carlos. That is sor of a self defeating thing to adit when your two ships are based on the same design.

If the Juan Carlos has issues...I expect the Aussie vessels will too.

But Siemens and BAE will get things fixed in time.
 
Saturday at 10:44 AM
Thursday at 9:28 PM

and
Australia's two new $1.5 billion warships may have design flaws, navy chiefs reveal

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is it frigging true "... the Juan Carlos I ... has done less sea time than the newer Canberra or Adelaide"
?!
now
LHD docks as Navy continues "Voyage of Discovery"
23 May 2017
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More than a month after propulsion problems were first experienced with the RAN’s two 27,500-tonne Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs), tests continue on irregularities within their external azimuth pods and both ships remain unavailable for service.

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett and Rear-Admiral Adam Grunsell, head of maritime systems at the Department of Defence’s (DoD’s) Capability and Sustainment Group (CASG), told media that HMAS Adelaide had entered dry dock in Sydney last week and HMAS Canberra was undergoing a series of sea trials after extensive tests alongside at Fleet Base East.

VADM Barrett said metal particulate had been found in oil within Adelaide’s two propulsion pods, although not a catastrophic amount. Oils of different viscosities were also found to have mixed within the pods of both ships.

Until the Adelaide’s pods had been visually examined, it was not possible to determine the physical state of the propulsion system and bearings, he commented.

Each ship is propelled by two Siemens Navantia 11-megawatt azimuth thrusters, each with an onboard electric motor, driving 4.5 metre diameter propellors. The electricity is provided by a combined diesel and gas (CODAG) system

“We have exhausted everything (we can do) while in the water and now we take it to the next level with one ship out of the water and one ship at sea; we will exhaust every avenue to get as much information as possible”, VADM Barrett said.

He confirmed that the RAN was in regular contact with the Spanish Armada, on whose Juan Carlos I strategic projection ship the Canberra-class design is based.

“It’s true we have operated our ship for more sea days than the Armada has for the same period – about twice, but we have operated it within the OEM-designed limits” he said.

(The Juan Carlos I entered service in 2010 and is not known to have experienced any propulsion issues. HMAS Canberra was commissioned in November 2014 and HMAS Adelaide in December 2015).

VADM Barrett disclosed on 28 March that a propulsion issue had been identified aboard HMAS Canberra during helicopter trials earlier in the month. “Emergent issues” had subsequently been identified on HMAS Adelaide.

Full Operational Capability (FOC) for both LHDs was scheduled to have been achieved in the second half of 2017, subsequent to the ships’ involvement in Exercise Talisman Sabre starting late next month.

HMAS Adelaide now appears unlikely to be available for this month-long exercise while the presence of HMAS Canberra, although possible, could be subject to operational restrictions.

Should neither LHD be available, amphibious training will be conducted with HMAS Choules together with a New Zealand and three US amphibious ships that will also be participating in the exercise.

In declaring early Initial Materiel Release (IMR) for the two LHDs, Navy
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, knowing full well that the Operational Test and Evaluation (T&E) phase for both could become something of a “Voyage of Discovery”.

These were the words used in the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) report into
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tabled on 24 November 2015, as an example of what might occur when insufficient developmental and acceptance T&E has occurred prior to Defence granting System Acceptance.

IMR for Canberra was declared in October 2014 “with System Acceptance test procedures ongoing and many test reports not submitted for Defence’s approval”. The ship was commissioned the following month on 28 November 2015.

Of the report's three recommendations, the most applicable to the LHD situation is that prior to System Acceptance, Defence “ensures that material deficiencies and defects are identified and documented, and plans for their remediation established”.

T&E is still ongoing for both vessels.
 
Yesterday at 8:11 AM
Saturday at 10:44 AM
now
LHD docks as Navy continues "Voyage of Discovery"
23 May 2017
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and
Investigation into LHD propulsion problems continues
Canberra class amphibious assault ship HMAS Canberra has returned to sea to conduct trials off Sydney to test interim repairs made to the ship’s propulsion pods.

Meanwhile, sister ship HMAS Adelaide has entered the Captain Cook graving dock for a docking that includes a close inspection of its propulsion pods, defect rectification and maintenance.

A propulsion problem
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.

Fairfax Media reported that “fundamental design flaws” could be behind the problems, following a briefing by Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, although this is still under investigation.

HMAS Adelaide will miss Exercise Talisman Sabre 2017 but Canberra could still take part, according to the report.
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Jeff Head

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Registered Member
They will ultimately fix the "pods" but I had sever concerns about going with them to begin with.

And the lack of sea time with the Juan Carlos that the Spanish have should have been a clue.

Anyhow, they will get them addressed...but it is likely to cost quite a bit. I know it has to be embarassing for the Aussies.

But once fixed, they will have two very capable LHDs and three good AEGIS DDGs...and they have done a GREAT job on the anti-air upgrade to the ANZAC lass FFGs, which will be good to go for years now.

I think they should hold off removing any of those upgraded FFs even when the new FFGs start to come on line a few years from now.

The OHP upgrades were good enough to get them through until the Hobarts replace them.
 

Jeff Head

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australias-first-air-warfare-destroyer-starts-acceptance-trials.jpg

Naval Today said:
Royal Australian Navy’s future air warfare destroyer (AWD) Hobart departed the wharf at Techport Australia Monday morning to begin a second round of more advanced sea trials off the coast of South Australia.

Known as ‘sea acceptance trials’ they follow the completion of ‘builder sea trials’ in September 2016 which tested Hobart’s hull, propulsion and navigation systems.

AWD program manager Commodore Craig Bourke said this second phase of more advanced trials will test Hobart’s full suite of mission systems, involving both platform systems and combat systems.

“These trials are the culmination of all of the preceding design, production, activation, integration and test activities conducted on Hobart to date,” Commodore Bourke said.

“Sea acceptance trials are a significant milestone for the Project as it is the first time that the AWD will be tested as a complete mission system.”

In order to fully test the ship, Hobart will work closely with a range of fighter aircraft, surface ships and helicopters, as well as other civilian platforms in a range of simulated scenarios.

Raytheon Australia’s managing director, Michael Ward noted the complexity and sophistication of the AWD combat system which will be tested during the trials.

“Raytheon Australia is responsible for the integration of ten major subsystems, including the Aegis weapon system, which is provided through foreign military sales, and associated delivery of more than 3,500 major pieces of combat system equipment required to establish the warfighting capability of the AWD. This will contribute to making the AWD the most lethal and sophisticated warship ever operated by the Royal Australian Navy.”

AWD Alliance general manager Paul Evans said the Alliance is looking forward to the successful completion of ‘sea acceptance trials’ as a pre-requisite to enable the AWD Alliance to deliver Hobart to the Commonwealth in mid-2017.

“On delivery of our first Air Warfare Destroyer, the Royal Australian Navy will gain a new and potent capability it has never before possessed, and the most capable and lethal warship it has ever operated,” Evans said.

Based on Navantia’s F100 design, the air warfare destroyers will provide air defense for accompanying ships as well as land forces and infrastructure on nearby coastal areas. The Aegis weapon system incorporating the phased array radar, AN/ SPY 1D(V), in combination with the SM-2 missile, will provide an air defense system capable of engaging enemy aircraft and missiles at ranges in excess of 150 kilometers.

The AWDs will also carry a MH-60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’ naval combat helicopter for surveillance and response to support key warfare areas. The surface warfare function will include long range anti-ship missiles and a naval gun capable of firing extended range munitions in support of land forces. The AWDs will also be able to conduct undersea warfare and will be equipped with modern sonar systems, decoys and surface-launched torpedoes.
 
Jeff Jan 30, 2017
according to NavalToday Australia’s first air warfare destroyer starts acceptance trials

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completed Mar 6, 2017
Jan 30, 2017
and now Australia’s first air warfare destroyer completes sea acceptance trials

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Wednesday at 5:50 PM
Yesterday at 8:11 AM

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Investigation into LHD propulsion problems continues
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the story goes on as LHD ‘mystery’ continues
26 May 2017
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The investigation into the problems facing Navantia-built HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide continue, with Navantia Australia’s managing director unable to confirm when the problem is expected to be resolved.

Speaking to Defence Connect, Francisco Barón said although they are unable to disclose an time frame on when both amphibious ships will be at full operational capability, he is confident the problems are "not really an issue".

"We are working in the collaborative environment so we are putting all our expertise available to the Navy," Barón said.

"As you can understand the RAN are leading the process and we cannot elaborate, there's too much coverage in the media, and from that point of view we leave this to the people in Defence to comment, but we are working on it.

"I am very optimistic that this is something that is not really an issue whatsoever ... you have a car, it has a few issues, you have to go over them."

At this stage HMAS Adelaide will no longer participate in next month's planned Talisman Sabre exercises with the US, and it remains too early to determine whether HMAS Canberra will take part.

HMAS Canberra was commissioned into service in 2014, while her sister ship HMAS Adelaide was commissioned 18 months ago.

The vessels were both built in Spain by Navantia but the engines were installed by engineers from Siemens before maintenance was carried out by BAE Systems engineers.

Both ships have been docked at Sydney's Garden Island since March this year and many theories about the problems with the vessels have been put forward.

Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne has previously denied reports that the wrong oil was put in the engines of the $1.5 billion warships.

"There are two landing helicopters dock [LHDs] or helicopter carriers, if you like," said Minister Pyne.

"One of them was discovered to have a propulsion problem when it was out on manoeuvres and to check whether the other one had the same issues. That was looked at, it was found to have the same issues so both are being fixed in routine maintenance programs as is normally the case. It certainly had nothing to do with oil, I don’t know where that story came from."

The minister also echoed Barón's comments that any problems with the ships are minor.

"It’s not a big stuff up, it’s a very minor problem that is being beaten up out of all proportions. We have many other ships of the line that are in practice right now, out on the seas and these will be fixed," Minister Pyne said.

"I doubt that [it will take six months to fix] very much ... it's not a major problem."

More recently the Minister added "the reality is that there are very many platforms in our armed forces ... Nobody ever expects a piece of equipment to never have a problem in its entire lifetime. It’s good that these problems have been discovered now when the ships are not in any kind of active duty."
 
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