Modules of the Navy’s two new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) departed New Zealand on their way to Australia on 12 June 2006.
The hangar, funnel and bridge modules were barged from their construction site in Whangarei to Williamstown, Australia where they will be be joined to the other modules to complete the construction.
The two new vessels, to be named Wellington and Otago, will be delivered into Navy service during 2007.
Above: A module from OPV 2 (Wellington) is prepared to be barged.
The OPVs will be versatile vessels capable of multi-agency operations in support of national security tasks, with a secondary task of operating in support of various maritime operations.
Above: OPV modules being towed by barge from Whangerei.
Several Northland engineering companies won sub-contracts from Tenix for various construction aspects of the project. A programme was developed by Tenix to maximise New Zealand industry involvement in the ship building.
As well as modules of the two Offshore Patrol Craft, all four of the Lake-class Inshore Patrol Vessels are being built in Whangarei.
By: Ja Worsley - 26th June 2006 at 17:27
Perhaps they might pick up a few Super Sea Sprites from the RAN, once the defective electronics are removed.
That won’t work either mate, our SH-2G(A)’s are very different to any other SH-2G out there, we only have a two man crew and such high computer technology. While the two man crew is an advantage over the normal three man crew, the computer technology being crammed in the airframe is so high, it’s like steping our of a DC-3 and into a C-17. The cost of removing the new technology and replacing it with more common equpiment in any of the G models, actually prevents this as a viable option to anyone- even Australia, Sadly we have to press forward because it’s too hard to go back.
Here’s an interesting comparission between the two cockpits that I have found:
It says underneath the pic: An SH-2G cockpit before and after Litton SMDF treatment as selected by Australia, which also suits the requirements of the US Navy SH-60R/CH-60. The suite has also been selected for the Italian EH101 and for demonstrations on aeroplanes like the B-1B, F/A-18, EA-6B and F-15
By: Unicorn - 26th June 2006 at 06:25
Perhaps they might pick up a few Super Sea Sprites from the RAN, once the defective electronics are removed.
Unicorn
By: Ja Worsley - 25th June 2006 at 19:07
JA are there any websites for these so that we can see the general layout of the vessels ? Can they take a helicopter ?
Well unicorn has provided one site with a rather detailed model and the IPV and MRV are there also, but I can also direct you to both the Royal New Zealand Navy- Project Protector page and the same with Tenix in New Zealand page. These two have all the relevant information on all the craft involved including the OPV’s
It should be noted that the OPV’s will carry one SH-2G(NZ) helo in a hanger between the two exhaust stacks. I find it odd that New Zealand will not be buying any more Super Seasprites to opperate off these ships, perhaps just another two might have been all that was needed, and the MRV is going to have two MRH-90’s and two SH-2G(NZ)’s aboard, personally I think the helo fleet is going to be both very active and rather streched.
By: Canpark - 25th June 2006 at 18:44
The Coast Guard OPV look great, any specs?
By: Unicorn - 25th June 2006 at 12:05
It is a derivation of the same base design as the Irish and Mauritious OPVs, the hull form is very similar and all were designed by the same design house.
The Irish design originally incorporated a hangar, but this was not proceeded with, and the final design chose diverged markedly from the original design which resembled the Mauritious OPV Vigilant.
A slightly modified version of the Mauritious design was also offered to the Thai navy.
Unicorn
By: Super Nimrod - 25th June 2006 at 08:27
I looks a nice robust design
By: Unicorn - 24th June 2006 at 13:32
Try the following web site, which has models of the OPV, IPV and MRV built for Tenix to their plans
http://www.defencemodels.com.au/Projects/OPV.asp
Unicorn
By: Super Nimrod - 24th June 2006 at 08:38
JA are there any websites for these so that we can see the general layout of the vessels ? Can they take a helicopter ?
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June 23, 2006 at 9:11 pm