at minimum, the Philippine Navy needs to perform missions of offshore patrol, transport of men and material, disaster relief, SAR, and coastal interdiction missions against terrorist groups. instead of acquiring separate platforms for each, wouldn't it be more efficient to get a few larger but more capable vessels to perform multiple missions? - as in, "capable" not in terms of weaponry, but rather versatility?

the Philippine Navy currently uses its LSVs as helicopter platforms and patrol vessels. the trend of using re-activated WWII LSTs for the same purpose was common in Vietnam:



http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/160786.htm

ASW helicopters have operated from Singapore's ENDURANCE-class LST/LHDs deployed in the Persian Gulf, the same ships also serving as platforms for Cougar transport helos during the tsunami relief effort; these ships also deploy smaller landing vessels and assault boats in addition to their main role of delivering Marines and vehicles directly onto a beach; using its 76mm dual-purpose gun, the ENDURANCE-class can support ground forces up to a distance of 16kms.

another vessel capable of meeting similar roles is New Zealand's Multi-Role Vessel, a part of the innovative Project Protector:



http://www.defencemodels.com.au/Projects/MRV.asp

the civilian version:

though not a true military LST, the MRV is nevertheless a modern, efficient and relatively affordable transport, offering a secondary EEZ patrol capability when not burdened with the weight of heavy cargo. interestingly, the New Zealand vessel was acquired from the same Australian company which made the Philippine Coast Guard's FOSARV search-and-rescue vessels.

^ taking off from your suggestion of having multi-role vessels to perform a variety of duties such as amphibious transport and offshore patrol, perhaps another vessel that is worth considering is the MEKO 200 MRV (sorry. the file is in PDF format).

this what Blohm and Voss is saying about this versatile ship:

from the PDF brochure, here are just some of the missions that the MEKO 200 MRV can do:

CGIs of the MEKO 200 MRV:

if a more potent offensive capability is required: the ABSALON-class has been featured here before, but the Brits have come up with a similar concept:



http://www.hrvatski-vojnik.hr/hrvatski-voj...005/tehnika.asp

the DML Group FC65 concept: 155mm land attack gun, active phased array radar, towed-array sonar, 32-cell VLS accomodating up to 128 surface-to-air missiles, additional 42 short-range SAMs in CIWS launchers, and two heavy ASW helos. plus a 500 square meter cargo deck under the helipad. top speed, 35 knots with all-electric propulsion.

old:



three BATRAL-class LSTs were built for France in the early '80s. would the PN be interested in acquiring these second-hand?

new:



the US-Australian HSV-series . no introduction necessary.

a similar vessel would be either of the USN's LCS contenders.

i think it is applicable also that the PN can lease the vessel of superferry or sulpicio lines and modify it to satisfy the MRV rule of the vessel.Actually the current Tonnage of this vessel has a higher capacity than of the MRV of New Zealand.

Take for example the Super Ferry 19 or the Princess of the Star.

comrade possible: correct me if i'm wrong but i think the French Champlain class is a purposely-built LST and not really a multi-role vessel if we are to follow the flow of our discussion here. :dunno:

regarding the status of the Champlain class LSTs, almost of them are still operating in far-flung French overseas outposts such as New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Martinique except for the flagship Champlain, which was retired in 2004 and used as a target ship during a sinking exercise. :headbang:


----------


MRVs such as the Absalon class and the FC65 seem to be very powerful machines that can be comparable to some of the guided-missile frigates and corvettes that some of world's navies have nowadays. if only the Philippine Navy could just get some of those powerful ships given its meager and often stolen budget. :drunk:


----------


let us study Project Protector of the Royal New Zealand Navy:

if we are to follow Project Protector, the Philippine Navy will not only need one MRV, two OPVs and four IPVs similar to that of the New Zealand plan but AT LEAST three MRVs, six OPVs and 12 IPVs due to the Philippines' vast territory and EEZ.

also, the MRVs that the PN should get must have anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare and air defense warfare capabilities, unlike the planned New Zealand MRV that has NO provisions for SSMs, SAMs and ASW torpedoes (such roles though are relegated to the two ANZAC class guided-missile frigates).

yes, you are indeed wrong. as I said before:

we are looking for vessels that can perform the missions listed, namely, offshore patrol, transport, disaster relief, SAR, and coastal counter-terrorist actions. being a helicopter-carrying LST, the BATRAL-class is inherently capable of the last four roles, and as you stated, the BATRAL-class routinely operate in distant French possessions so the capability for long-range patrols is also proven. so for the PN, the BATRAL-class would simply be a straight replacement for its ancient LSTs, which are also de facto MRVs the way the PN had been employing them.

that sounds reasonable. something like the BEN MY CHREE would probably be a US$40-50 million vessel today, on another thread I posted that an 80-90m OPV would be available for US$15-30 million, a 'Project Protector Philippine Edition' won't be an obscenely expensive undertaking.

not necessarily. consider New Zealand's requirements:

the Kiwis distinguished between the Naval Combat and the Naval Patrol missions; thus platforms intended for patrol and surveillance like an MRV (or OPV) need not be armed to the teeth, as would a dedicated combatant like a frigate. less complexity=$aving$ in terms of maintenance and training.

besides, the point of the "mother ship concept" is that an MRV would be able to deploy smaller platforms: a helicopter like Super Lynx or Seahawk can be equipped with the relevant sensors and weapons - dipping sonar, 360-degree radar, antiship missiles and torpedoes - and can operate hundreds of miles distant from its mother ship, lessening the latter's exposure to the risk of attack. thus a helicopter-equipped MRV like the one employed in Project Protector

can still have a useful war role even though it lacks its own missiles and specialized sensors.

Return of the Gators? US Navy Stands Up New Coastal Warfare Squadron
Posted 09-Feb-2006 11:40

Related stories: Americas - USA, Asia - Other, Coastal & Littoral, Expeditionary Warfare, Force Structure, Industry & Trends, Middle East - Israel, Middle East - Other, Other Corporation, Policy - Doctrine, Power Projection, Remote Weapons Systems, Surface Ships - Combat

EagleSpeak Blog, run by a former Captain, USNR (ret.), notes the recent "stand-up" of Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron Five (NCWRON-5) near San Diego recently. Once at full strength, 325 sailors will go to war in a fleet of speedy 34-foot, SeaARK Marine aluminum-hull boats (likely Dauntless Class) equipped with .50-caliber and 7.62mm machine guns and 40mm grenade launchers. The boats cost $500,000, and can be loaded quickly aboard Air Force C-17 transport jets for quick transport to trouble spots. SeaARK boats of these types are also in use by civilian agencies like the NYC Police and National Park Police.

Is this part of a trend? It most certainly is...

The San Diego Union-Tribune notes that Navy officials quietly started organizing the squadron in September 2004 around the lightly-used Naval Outlying Landing Field in Imperial Beach, near the Tijuana River. This was about the same time that US Maritime Force Protection Command (MARFPCOM) was stood up, with the mission of the consolidating the expeditionary units the Navy deploys overseas to protect ships, aircraft and bases from terrorist attack.

In April 2005, MARFPCOM's sailors, patrol boats, underwater explosive ordnance disposal groups; Mobile Diving and Salvage Units (MDSU); the Naval Expeditionary Logistics Support Force (NAVELSF); and Naval Construction Forces Command (NCFC, aka the "Seabees") were reorganized under a new Echelon III type command: the Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) which oversees NCWRON-5.

As NECC Commander Rear Adm. Donald Bullard told the San Diego Union-Tribune, "We've had to expand to this battle space, because that's where the terrorists are... We need to interdict. We need to go find, fix and kill."

Given that mission, which will certainly involve relatively close-quarters firefights, protection such as gun shields does appear to be rather sparse. Likewise, such ships will need the kind of high-accuracy firepower overmatch that could easily sink a hostile craft like the bomb-laden suicide attackers of the USS Cole.

Other countries with similar missions and problems are taking somewhat different approaches the to firepower/protection aspect going forward. Singapore is beginning to use Spartan Unmanned Surface vessels, which will soon be armed with stabilized remote weapon mounts that may even sport Hellfire or Javelin anti-armor missiles. Israel uses larger patrol craft like its 25-meter Super Dvoras, armed with the versaile Typhoon stabilized naval remote-control weapons system for accurate firepower overmatch. Typhoon comes in different sizes, and can be fitted with machine guns, autocannon (most common), and even anti-armor or air defense missiles.

The San Diego Union-Tribune report also notes that Chief Petty Officer Napoleon Bryant handpicked each of the sailors, "looking for those with the physical and mental toughness to stand up to long patrols in small boats on rough seas." Future squadrons under NECC may benefit from the advent of fast M-Hull ships, which address that physical problem directly by significantly reducing the pounding small boat crews receive. The MS40 patrol craft is based on the same technologies used in the SEALs' 88-foot Stiletto stealth ship.

Moving to the big picture, Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron Five will be part of the US Navy's renewed attention to creating a "brown water," or riverine force. This has been done before; perhaps the best-known instance in modern times was the Vietnam War's "Swift Boats" and "gator navy".

Yet sites like River Vets remind us that even the Swift Boats were just one component of the Navy's total riverine force, which included up-gunned and up-armored "Monitors" and even LSTs (Landing Ship, Tank) from World War 2 and Korea. As the USS Sohnomish County [LST 1126] site explains, many were recommissioned and used extensively in the Vietnam War, delivering men and equipment up-river, patrolling, and acting as "Mother ships" for Swift boats, small patrol boats, helicopters and their troops. "These Mother Ship LSTs provided a nesting area for the small crafts to replenish their ammunition, take on fuel, and needed supplies, make repairs, and perform maintenance while alongside the LST."

LSTs continue to serve in this role in modern times. Singapore is sending a Singaporean LST [RSS Endeavour] to patrol Iraq's coast, where a number of NECC's sailors are already stationed. As the MINDEF release notes, "During its deployment, RSS Endeavour will provide logistics support for coalition vessels and helicopters, conduct patrols and boarding operations, and protect the waters around key oil terminals."


060201-N-4021H-097 San Diego (Feb. 01, 2006) - Members of the Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron Five (NCWRON-5) stand in formation in front of SeaARK patrol boats during their commissioning ceremony at Naval Outlying Landing Field in Imperial Beach. NCWRON-5 will give the Navy an improved in-shore warfighting element and assist in maritime security missions. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Damien Horvath (RELEASED)

Italy's new carrier with cargo and trnsport capability..
CAVOUR AIRCRAFT CARRIER, ITALY

On 22 November 2000, a contract was drawn up between Fincantieri and the Italian Ministry of Naval Defence to supply an aircraft carrier vessel, known as the Nuova Unita Maggiore (NUM) or "New Major Vessel", to the Italian Navy. Building work on the new vessel, which was originally to be called the Andrea Doria but has since been named the Cavour, began at Fincantieri's shipyards in Riva Trigoso and Muggiano in July 2001. The Cavour was launched in July 2004 and the aircraft carrier will be delivered in 2007, entering service in 2008.
CAVOUR AIRCRAFT CARRIER DESIGN

The ship has a standard displacement at full load of 27,100t, an overall length of 244m and a sustained speed of 27 knots. It can accommodate up to 1,210 people on board, including ship's crew of 451, 203 aircrew, an amphibious command force of 140, and San Marco Battalion of 325, plus an extra 91 troops if required.

A strong feature of the ship is its high flexibility in operational terms. It is able to carry out the functions of an aircraft carrier as well as the transport of wheeled and tracked vehicles, for both military and civil missions. The aircraft hangar can accommodate 100 light vehicles or 24 main battle tanks for amphibious missions. The ship can also support four LCVP landing craft.
AIRCRAFT CARRIER FUNCTION

The vessel is equipped with a flight deck suitable both for operations with helicopters and with short launch, vertical take-off fighter planes. It has a hangar/garage of approximately 2,500m² which can also accommodate wheeled and tracked land vehicles.

The ship can support eight VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft such as AV-8B Harrier or F-35 joint strike fighter VTOL variant, or 12 helicopters, such as the EH101, NH 90 or SH-3D, or a mix of platforms. Landing operations will be supported by the Telephonics AN/SPN-41A radio frequency all-weather instrument approach landing system and the Galileo Avionica SPN-720 advanced precision approach radar.

For the purposes of moving aircraft and vehicles embarked, two elevators are installed for aircraft and there will be two access ramps to move vehicles from the quayside to the hangar / garage.

Further features of the ship include a hospital facility with three operating rooms, wards for hospitalised patients, X ray and CT equipment, a dentist's surgery and a laboratory.

CAVOUR AIRCRAFT CARRIER WEAPONS

The carrier is armed with two Sylver eight-cell vertical launch systems for the Eurosam (jointly owned by MBDA and Thales) SAAM/IT missile system, which fires Aster 15 missiles. The Aster 15 missile has a 13kg warhead and a range of 30km. The missile's guidance is inertial with data uplink and active radar terminal homing. For increased manoeuvrability in the terminal phase, the missile uses a 'PIF-PAF' direct thrust control system with gas jets. Primary sensor for the SAAM/IT is the Selex Sistemi Integrati (formerly Alenia Marconi Systems) Empar G-band multi-function phased array radar, which provides simultaneous surveillance, tracking and weapons control. The first ship-launched missile firing of the SAAM/IT system took place in December 2002.

The vessel will be equipped with two Oto Melara 76mm Super Rapid guns and three 25mm anti-aircraft guns.

CAVOUR AIRCRAFT CARRIER COMBAT SYSTEMS

Selex Sistemi Integrati (formerly AMS) is the integrator for the vessel's combat system and also supplies systems including RAN 40L 3D D-band long-range radar, RASS surveillance radar, IFF and navigation system. Other members of the combat system team include Elettronica, Selex Sensors & Airborne Systems (formerly Galileo Avionica) and Oto Melara.

Other systems include mine avoidance sonar and anti-torpedo towed array sonar, electronic support system (ESM), two radar / electro-optic fire control systems and an infrared surveillance system.

CAVOUR AIRCRAFT CARRIER PROPULSION SYSTEMS

The Cavour is powered by combined gas turbine and gas (COGAG) propulsion. The four LM2500 gas turbines, developing 22,000kW each, are manufactured by FiatAvio of Turin under a license agreement from the US company, General Electric (GE). The four turbines drive two gear units which provide 60,000shp each.

Auxiliary power is provided by six Wartsila CW 12V200 generating sets, rated at 2,200kW each. Two shaft generators are rated at 2,200kW each.

The vessel is fitted with two pairs of active stabilising fins and twin rudders and has bow and stern thrusters.





http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/num/

again, comrade possible, you saved the day. thank you so much for the clarifications. :armywink:


this is my idea of the Philippine version of New Zealand's "Project Protector":

* three MEKO 200 MRV multi-role vessels
* six MEKO 100 OPV offshore patrol vessels
* for inshore patrol duties, 12 Patrol Killer Medium class patrol boats

one "group" will be composed of one MRV, two OPVs and four IPVs. each "group" is tasked to perform patrol duties in a certain part of the Philippines, e.g. Palawan and South China Sea; Northern Philippines between Batanes and Taiwan; Pacific coast from Cagayan to Surigao.

however, it will not be enough that the Philippine Navy will solely depend on those MRVs, OPVs and IPVs. there will be a need for the PN to purchase combat ships such as four guided-missile frigates or six guided-missile corvettes.


again, i am hoping for your clarification(s) if ever there is (are) mistakes in my post. thanks again! :armysmile:

Gentlemen, we already have the Frank S. Besson class LSV, which could perform most of the task/missions that were cited in this thread...

http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/lsv/

FRANK S. BESSON CLASS LSV LOGISTIC SUPPORT VESSEL, USA
The Frank S. Besson Class is a class of Logistic Support Vessels in service with the United States Army, which consists of six ships in several variants for a variety of missions. The Philippine Navy has two vessels of similar design. The ships were built by Halter Marine Group, Inc. of Gulfport, Mississippi. They were completed between 1987 and 1994.

The US Army vessels are the General Frank S. Besson (LSV 1), CW 3 Harold C. Clinger (LSV 2), General Brehon B. Somervell (LSV 3), Lt General William Bunker (LSV 4), Major General Charles P. Gross (LSV 5) and Specialist 4 James A. Loux (LSV 6). Three ships are based at Fort Eustis in Virginia and two are in Hawaii. The ship General Brehon B. Somervell is based at Tacoma, Washington with the US National Guard.

The ship is available in optional configurations to: house, feed, transport and deploy troops; deploy and retrieve helicopters and patrol boats concealed below the flight deck; train military personnel in seamanship; partially submerge allowing at-sea loading and unloading of smaller vessels; and civil/military inter-island transportation

CARGO SYSTEMS

The prime mission of the ship is the direct transport and discharge of liquid and dry cargo to shallow terminal areas, to remote under-developed coastlines and on inland waterways. The ships also provide a drive-through capability by mating the bow ramp to the neighbouring stern ramp in order to form a floating bridge. The ships can be computer linked to logistics files at military stock points, and can transport roll-on/roll-off and containerised cargo for unit deployment and relocation, tactical resupply and sustained resupply.

The ship does not require external cranes or port facilities and four feet of water allows the ship to land under full load. This capability expands the choice of landing locations and reduces the potential enemy impact on the logistics support operations. The ship also provides self-delivery to overseas locations. The ramps and the main deck are able to withstand roll-on/roll-off operations of the Abrams M-1 tank, the P&H 6250 crane complete with counterweight and boom, and rough terrain handlers.

The ship can carry up to 900 short tonnes during Logistics Over The Shore Operations (LOTS) and up to 2,000 short tonnes during Intra-Theatre Line-Haul (ITLH).

LSV - HELICOPTER CAPABLE

The LSV-Helicopter Capable configuration provides concealed transport, deployment and retrieval of both helicopters and patrol boats. Attack helicopters are concealed below a modular flight deck while patrol boats and intercept craft are behind the stern ramp. The configuration presents the appearance of a logistic supply ship without the obvious display of force.

LSV - SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE VARIANT

The LSV Semi-Submersible Variant provides strategic transport and launch as well as mobile repair and maintenance capabilities to minimise the down-time for smaller craft. The hull semi-submerges, the bow ramp lowers and the LSV takes on large floating cargo, patrol boats, etc. for transport and launch, or at-sea dry-dock and repair. When not carrying out the semi-submersible activities, the LSV-SSV maintains many of the mission capabilities of the standard LSV.

LSV - TROOP CARRIER

The Troop Carrier provides effective and efficient unit deployment and relocation. The ship has capacity for 144 troops and six officers plus supplies and equipment. The tunnel area below the superstructure is outfitted with three-storey canvas bunks and the officers’ accommodation is in separate berthing areas. Forced air ventilation is provided in the accommodation areas.

^yes, like I said the PN already has those LSVs:

a grand total of two, in fact. mblt6 had this to say about the limitations of the PN's existing vessels:

as well as the merits of the PMC's favored solution, spiderweb's pride the ENDURANCE-class:

that however was the PMC's position in the context of amphib operations, how about the Navy naman? can a "multipurpose platform" be justified in terms of the PN's distinct requirements? generating ideas in that area is the point of this thread, sir.

just a thought. can we actually modify the design of the Besson class LSVs into something similar to that of the Endurance class in terms of operational capability in order to satisfy our need for multi-role vessels? :dunno:

there is an upgraded version of the LSV, with the US Army:



http://starbulletin.com/2003/08/31/news/story8.html

other than modifying the bow to make it more hydrodynamic, it's the same old LSV. more pics here.

Nice idea indeed! Is this equivalent to the British ship which could be configured for different missions such as either a troop and light helicopter carrier or hospital ship, etc.?

Eto kaya guys pwede pa kaya sa atin itong Vessel na to? MRV tapos Helicopter Carrier din ...



213' Mobile Coastal Defence Systems - The MCDS SHIP

The MCDS SHIP aims to provide an infinitely flexible self-defense capability for any country which has exposed low-lying, or estuary coastline, possibly unstable relations with its neighbours, and a presently limited presence. The Arabian Gulf states and the countries of USA, West Africa, Central and South America, and Indonesia and the Pacific Rim would all benefit from the MCDS SHIP.

For the cost of one traditional type multi-role ship, the MCDS SHIP can equip a country with a whole fleet of multi-purpose base units which can when appropriately fitted out, deter even the most determined aggressor. Also, whereas a traditional type ship would be several years in the design and build stages, an MCDS unit can be supplied within the relatively short period of six months from the date of order. An MCDS unit can be supplied, appropriately converted, from a base price of $65,000,000, which compares extremely favourably with a traditional type multi-role ship at circa $575,000,000.

Crewing of a traditional type ship usually consists of in excess of 250 men, but an MCDS unit can operate on a ships crew of 10/15 men plus the necessary weapons technicians - thus creating a vast saving in manpower and running costs.

Aircraft/Helicopter Carrier
Helicopter training and dispersal
Coastal and Inshore Installation Defence
Economic Exclusion Surveillance
Illegal Immigration Surveillance
Underwater Survey and Surveillance
Multi-role ship
PARA - Military and Commercial Transportation
PARA - Military Early Warning Capability
Submarine Hunter/Killer
Anti-Drug and Smuggling Protection
Anti-ship/Submarine Torpedo Launch Platform
Stealth Capability
Virtually Unsinkable Capability

Specifications:
Year: 2005
Length (LOA): 213'

Construction:
Hull Material: Steel

Certification:
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Disclaimer:
Sotheby's Brokerage plc Kent UK Agent, "The Houseboat Centre", offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.

http://commercial.apolloduck.com/feature.phtml?id=29612

49 Meter Off Shore Support Vessel


Ito kayang OSV ship na to pwede na ba sa PN?

Mura na ba to sa Tenix Boats?

Description:
NEW BUILD - Wright International Ltd is proud to be able to bring this vessel straight from the drawing board. Following the success of the 36m Offshore Support Vessel and due to the worldwide demand for suitable protection vessels, this NEW DESIGN & BUILD 49m version is now ready to go into production. Designed to deliver the crew and the fast attack ribs to where they are required to go. With worldwide tensions at an all time high and with the need to protect the oil ports, tankers and fields this vessel could not have been launched at a more appropriate time. If you would like full details of just exactly what Wright International Ltd can Finance, Design, Build and Deliver for you anywhere in the world, then simply contact either Greig or Robert and we will assist you further.

Specifications:
Vessel Type: 49m Offshore Support Vessel
Model: 49m Offshore Support Vessel
Length (LOA): 49.5m Waterline (LWL): 45.82m
Beam: 10.15m
Draft: 3m
Engine(s):
Main Engine
2 x Caterpillar 3512B producing 1350 BHP @1200rpm

Fuel 80 Tonnes
Fresh Water 10 Tonnes

No. of Engines: 2
Fuel type: Diesel
Drive type: Shaft drive
Construction:
Payload 50 Tonnes of diesel and 20 Tonnes of Stores

Speed 16 Knots

Range 2000N Miles

Displacement: 320 tonnes

Further Information:
Price: USD $9,200,000.00
Location: Australia
Advertiser: Wright International Ltd
Reference: WIL 1201
Telephone: +44(0)1475 528960
Contact: [ Send Enquiry ]
More information: http://www.wright-international.com/wil120...pportVessel.php

thank you so much for updating this thread, comrade jammerjamesky. i have been looking for this thread for quite some time now to check on the posts here and update it. :thumb:

given the Philippines' financial constraints and need for a potent naval force, i honestly think that the idea of commissioning the multi-role vessels into the Philippine Navy is the economical way of doing things. by adopting multi-role vessels, we will be able to save much needed money because instead of buying multiple classes of single-purpose warships that entail high purchasing, maintenance and labor (salaries of personnel) costs, the PN will be able to field multiple number of warships that could perform a variety of tasks (e.g. anti-ship warfare, anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures missions, crew training, etc.) and, at the same time, provide the Philippines with credible naval vessels capable of defending the State and its people from both internal and external threats.

aside from the vessel types mentioned in previous posts, i would like to suggest the following multi-role warships that are very much worthy of consideration by the Philippine Navy:



-- Canadian Kingston class maritime coastal defense vessels.

equipped with a Bofors 40mm Model 60 Mk 5C rapid fire gun, two 12.7mm machine guns and mine countermeasures systems, the Canadian Forces had 12 Kingston class ships built for deployment in both the east and west coasts of Canada. the ship's main roles are coastal surveillance, naval reserve force training, mine countermeasures for route survey, minesweeping and mine inspection operations.

more recently, Kingston class ships had in been involved in border dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Arctic Ocean.



-- Danish Flyvefisken class multi-role vessels.

most of us here are very much familiar with these vessels. they are the epitome of a true multi-role vessel, capable of performing tasks such as surveillance, surface combat, anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures, minelayer and pollution control. the Flyvefisken class ships are based on a modular concept- using a standard hull with containerised weapon systems and equipment, which allows the vessel to change role quickly.

Since the bigger threat right now are terrs and smugglers maybe the PN can take a page from the USCG's playbook:



HITRON-10 and the Future of Armed Helicopters

The typical go-fast is 30 to 40 feet long and is capable of carrying up to two tons of drugs to ranges up to 1,300 miles at speeds of 40 to 50 knots--twice the speed of a typical Coast Guard cutter. Because they often are designed with low-observable features and multiple high-performance outboard engines--and employ sophisticated radar and stealthy tactics, such as operating under camouflage or with night-vision goggles under cover of darkness--they have become the conveyance of choice for drug smugglers.

Another reason for the shift in smuggling tactics is that the traffickers quickly realized that Coast Guard high- and medium-endurance cutters lack not only the speed but also the sensors needed to detect and intercept the go-fasts. Lt. Cdr. Jason Church, a Coast Guard helicopter pilot involved in many drug-interdiction operations in the Caribbean Sea, said in an interview with CNN, "They [the go-fast crews] pretty much mocked us and just kept going. Sometimes they wouldn't even look at us."

Because of this problem, and because the Coast Guard estimated that it typically thwarted fewer than 15 percent of go-fast smuggling attempts, Loy took the offensive by authorizing the interim establishment of HITRON-10 with two helicopters to test the potential use of aviation forces to stop and board non-cooperating surface ships.

Perhaps the most telling example of New Frontier operational capabilities occurred on 16 August 1999 after a Coast Guard HU-25 maritime patrol aircraft detected a go-fast fleeing into international waters to escape from a Cuban patrol boat. When the Coast Guard's two armed MH-90 helicopters arrived on the scene the suspect go-fast increased its speed and ignored all sirens, hand signals, and radio calls--in both English and Spanish--ordering it to stop.

Because there were no indications of the boat's registry, the helicopters employed a range of nonlethal devices--including entanglers and stingballs--but the go-fast continued its evasive maneuvers. The lead MH-90 ultimately fired four sets of warning shots, expending 100 rounds of 7.62mm shells from its M240 machine gun. When there was again no response, the MH-60's specially trained air gunner, a certified marksman, fired two rounds from his .50-caliber target rifle to disable the boat's starboard engine.

Working with the MH-90s, Coast Guard over-the-horizon rigid-hull inflatable boats (OTH RHIBs) from supporting major cutters arrived on-scene shortly thereafter and boarded the vessel. The boarding team seized the vessel--plus 2,200 pounds of marijuana, five gallons of hashish oil, and three suspects--bringing to a successful end the Coast Guard's first operational employment of the full continuum of force.

As a follow-up to Operation New Frontier, and to bring HITRON-10 to full operational capability, the Coast Guard formed a strategic alliance with Agusta Aerospace Corporation in April 2000 and--in March 2001--announced that it would lease up to eight Agusta A109E "Power" commercial aircraft to serve as follow-on aircraft to the proof-of-concept MH-90.

A typical deployment will involve two major flight-deck cutters, each carrying one HITRON-10 helicopter and one OTH-RHIB. The Coast Guard's tactical employment doctrine requires the use of two helicopters to ensure that one is always in position to provide cover if the suspect boat attempts to evade and/or run under the second helicopter. Once the threat boat is stopped, the OTH-RHIBs launched from the cutters will carry out the law-enforcement boarding.

The underlying operational theory is very significant to the Coast Guard. Instead of the major cutter being on-scene with the threat, it will remain beyond visual range while directing the mission to completion. The "active phase" of the cutter's role is reduced somewhat by the use of helicopters and OTH-RHIBs to carry out other phases of this traditional cutter mission. In essence, the Coast Guard has developed "standoff" law-enforcement tactics and capabilities that could be used to cope with the full spectrum of maritime threats now confronting America at sea.

With the new standoff operational concept rapidly evolving into a major capability, Coast Guard cutters will no longer have to engage threat boats directly; instead, the OTH-RHIBs and HITRON helicopters operating from well over the horizon will be the first operational platforms at the scene of action. The traditional Coast Guard process--"surveil, detect, identify, sort, intercept, and engage"--has been a continuum since 1790 in both coastal waters and the open oceans, regardless of the mission, and will not change, but the roles played by specific platforms will be revised.

Of perhaps greater importance, the new standoff capability also has the potential to significantly change the composition of future Coast Guard forces assigned to other missions. By exploiting the speed, range, and endurance of the helicopters and the OTH-RHIBs and combining those capabilities with the complementary capabilities of the Coast Guard's 21st-century C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) systems, major cutters could be true force multipliers.

They also would be much more effective than today's cutters, not only in law enforcement but also in a broad spectrum of such other missions as maritime defense, port security, and other national-security operations.

http://www.navyleague.org/sea_power/jun_01_08.php, http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/AC_HITRON_History.html

Specially-equipped and trained crews in helicopters and quick-response boats working as a team to extend the reach of a mother ship beyond the horizon. The perfect example of the mother ship concept in action. :thumb:

:exactly:

That's all about it.

This is the concept the Coast Guard and our OPVs for the Navy must try to look into deeply.

Terrorism, piracy and smuggling are becoming a threat that no country must remain complacent of their level of preparedness.

[b]We can only address this threat effectively if we know we have the capability and the TIME to react or act right before the crime even starts. [.b]

sir possible: which between the New Zealand Project Protector and this USCG concept that you are talking about is more adaptable to Philippine requirements?

Why, both of course! Look at what I posted earlier:

And look at the latest article again:

Since the mother ship no longer needs to get close to the target in order to prosecute it, the mother ship no longer needs to be a heavily-armed warship or a highly-maneuverable OPV. It could just as well be a converted ro-ro transport like the Kiwis’ MRV or an LST like the Singaporean ENDURANCE-class, which is actually a better platform in this context since it can carry more helicopters, RHIBs (or CB90s), and, most important, teams of specially-trained personnel (SWAG? Marines?). Besides, look at the USCG’s experience against drug runners in cigarette boats, the cutters had their 76mm guns and all but were helpless against the speed and elusiveness of the perps.

An MRV also has room to accommodate containerized workstations for the aforementioned C4ISR purposes (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems). And because it has these workstations, there’s no reason why an MRV can’t deploy UAVs, which means the people closest to the action can have direct control of all assets and so get the most mileage out of each: the hard-to-spot UAVs take care of long-duration/long-distance patrols, allowing the mother ship to economically-remain strategically-placed in the most sensitive or most-heavily trafficked location, while the helos and RHIBs deal with threats directly.

And as a practical consideration, an MRV has lots of room for captured smugglers or seized cargo, saving on unscheduled trips back to port. And as a bigger and thus more stable platform, the deck of an MRV or ENDURANCE-class LST is a safer and more weather-tolerant landing spot than the much-smaller helipad of an OPV. Plus, an MRV can accommodate more extensive helicopter maintenance facilities without compromising other functions, than would be the case on a smaller OPV.

This doesn’t mean a mother ship needs to rely exclusively on its embarked assets, far from it: because it has extensive C4ISR facilities, it can serve as the nerve center for a flotilla of other vessels and aircraft. Because the mother ship’s UAVs are doing the spotting, CYCLONE-class boats can lie hidden waiting for the mother ship’s go-signal to spring on clueless terrs. Or instead of UAVs, the mother ship can take its cue from manned MPAs.

About the HITRON concept in particular, given the nature of the specific threat facing the Philippines, maybe the PN would have to use more heavily-armed helicopters than the USCG uses. Crews can do their job better if they can neutralize terrorist kumpits from outside the range of the HMGs these boats usually carry, so fitting ATGWs like Spike or Hellfire on naval helicopters might be an idea worth looking at. In this case, the size of the MRV accommodates better facilities for storing sensitive missiles than would a smaller OPV.

The point is that the mother ship concept is not about ships or hardware, it’s about methods, tactics, and overall strategy. Again, the goal is versatility, the mother ship concept simply allows more flexibility for adapting/incorporating responsive solutions.

Good topic. Not a bad idea too since it would be something the PN was familiar with. In the 1960's one the the Philippine Navy's most capable ships was an APD (High speed attach transport). A Hybrid attack transport/Destroyer Escort. BRP Rajah Soliman ex-USS Bowers.

Unfortunately, a dockside "accident" during a typhoon resulted in the ship capsizing in port two years after she was transferred to the PN. She was later refloated and determined as unsalvageable and scrapped.

A modern equivalent of the same size would be a nice alternative to a ship like the Singaporean Endurance though she would be unable to carry armored vehicles.

http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/04040.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bowers_(DE-637)

Specifications:
Displacement 1,400 t.
Length 306' (ovl)
Beam 36' 10"
Draft 13' 6" (max)
Speed 24 kt.
Range 6,000 nautical miles at 12 kts.
Complement 186
Troop Accommodations 162
Boats 4 LCVP landing craft
Armament
one 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
three twin 40mm gun mounts
eight single 20mm gun mounts
two depth charge tracks
Propulsion
two GE Turbines (turbo-electric drive)
two boilers
twin shafts
12,000 Shaft Horsepower

Here is a picture of a sistership, in profile showing th LCVP's:

A worthy concept indeed. :thumb:

At these times and with the teros and pirates getting more and more sophisticated (better boats and well armed), we really need a fool-proof concept.

Choppers, attack boats, and spec ops teams, plus the the services provided by the mother ship will really provide the whole force the necessary capability, you may even call it a leverage, to easily intercept and neutralize the targets.

:exactly:
I believe there's no need to emphasize that further.

:agree:

actually, some countries has converted there warships to multi-role vessels also, take note of ARGENTINA'S NAVY converting there 2 destroyers as a patrol/past transport/command ship destroyers:

1. its a patorl ship,
2. a ASW/anti-ship destroyer,
3. fast transport that can carry a reinforced-company of marines,
4. a command and control ship,
5. carries a very flexible helo (2 helos) that can be used as ASW/anti-ship as well as transport trrops and supplies and medevac as well

as per news, they are also considering converting another 2 ships (in reserve) for MRV purposes. MORE BANG FOR THE BUCKS!

sayang yung BRP Rajah Soliman, can be used as pilot platform for our own MRV.

DATE:20/06/06
SOURCE:Flight International

USAF flies high to deliver torpedo

By Graham Warwick in Washington DC

Lockheed Martin is to demonstrate high-altitude, stand-off delivery of a torpedo from a P-3C Orion under a 12-month, $3 million US Navy contract. The navy’s Mk54 lightweight torpedo will be fitted with the company’s LongShot wingkit for the High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapons Concept (HAAWC) project.

Currently P-3s have to descend to 500ft (150m) to release the Mk54. The LongShot range extension kit, which includes pop-out wings, GPS navigation and autopilot, will allow the torpedo to be launched at altitudes of around 20,000ft (6,000m), avoiding the need to descend, reducing fatigue on the airframe and increasing survivability.

After release from the aircraft, the LongShot-equipped but otherwise unmodified torpedo will glide to its normal launch altitude, jettison the wingkit, deploy its parachute, enter the water and begin searching for its target. Two demonstration drops are planned for November, says HWAAC programme director Alan Jackson.

The demonstration requirement is for a stand-off range of at least 9km (5nm), but simulations suggest the weapon can achieve a 33-37km range, says Jackson. The wingkit will include a UHF weapon datalink, connected to a laptop in the aircraft, that will allow the crew to retarget the torpedo in flight by sending a new release point and heading.

Jackson says the HWAAC would help extend the P-3’s airframe life and could have application to its successor, the Boeing P-8 Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) now under development. “A turbo­jet like the P-8 does not like to come down to low altitude, and this would allow the navy to use existing munitions on the MMA and do it stand-off and at high altitude,” he says.

Lockheed has designs for similar concepts to deploy sea mines and sonobuoys from high altitude, and is seeking US Navy funding to build prototypes.

The sonobuoys could be containerised and the wingkit programmed to disperse them, Jackson says. The company has completed separation tests of LongShot-equipped Mk83 and GBU-16 bombs on the F-16 and is marketing the range extension kit to international customers.

The stand-off capability opens up the potential of using the Mk54 torpedo against surface targets, Lockheed says, by allowing the aircraft to launch from outside the range of ship defences. Also, says Jackson, the wingkit is stable after release of the torpedo and could fly on to do a secondary mission.

http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/...er+torpedo.html

http://www.missilesandfirecontrol.com/our_...t-longshot.html

A potential anti-ship missile substitute for the PN and PAF?

At the very least, worth looking into... :crawling: