Rumor is that the 2nd Stereguschiy has “Redut-K” which is part of a 9M96 missile complex?? Would it have the 9M62E2 120KM missile?

Also, are the Stereguschiys getting Klub or the boring old Uran?

There is a promotional clip out, which shows a possible future version in which Kashtan is replaced by an 8-cell VLU with Club SSM, the 2×4 Uran replaced by 2x a compact small VL SAM, and the 2x AK 630 replace by 2x 14.5mm HMG. I’m not sure this is intended for the Russian navy.

Snake65 may know more specifics about the second of class.
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showpost.php?p=1543841&postcount=328

Personally, I think it would be unlikely to have a change in arms/sensor with already in the second craft: I would expect the russian navy to take delivery of possible different versions in batches.

Hovering and roping yes, other no.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_090921-N-5126F-006_An_MH-47_Chinook_helicopter_assigned_to_the_160th_Special_Operations_Aviation_Regiment_(Airborne)_approaches_the_guided-missile_destroyer_USS_Higgins_(DDG_76)_to_conduct_a_fast-rope_evolution.jpg

Liked this one from Afghanistan too…

http://granitegrok.com/pix/chinook_pinpoint_landing.jpg

The first one is a Royal Norwegian Navy Landing Craft, a closer look at the flag would signify this!

Amphibious landing vessels:

* Sørøysund (L4503)
* Maursund (L4504)
* Tjeldsund (L4506)

Noted the Norwegian flag. However, I don’t think that really is a *sund class landing vessel: that class is more of an LST.

Net tonnage: 347 tonnes
Gross Tonnage: 907 tonnes
L: 60.6 m
W:10.3
D: min 1.8 max 2.2 m

http://www.auksjon.no/BoatView.aspx?BID=64

The craft in the pic may actually be an Norwegian army logistics craft…

Sharpen your boots to give yourself a good kicking. Same ship as #3 HNLMS Van Speijk, M class frigate.

DOH!

😀

(amazing, I had some sort of auxiliary ship in mind because in the image that bridge appeared so narrow…)

@Ja: Do remind (some of) us how it’s played properly, please.

Number 2: NL-LCVP MkIII

Wow talk about a thread hijack 😛

Anixtu: Nice try on the ship guessing game mate

You blink for a sec and they take over :diablo:

Let’s not rule out on-board accident, sea mine either.

Only one navy is still flying the Grumman Tracker from an aircraft carrier these days. Although the rumbling sound will never be heard again, in the South-Atlantic the ‘Stoof’ still rules the waves. Argentinean Tracker pilots are still carrier qualified despite the only aircraft carrier ’25 de Mayo is out of service. The Brazilian Navy gives the CANA (Comando de la Aviacion Naval Argentina) the opportunity to train pilots for carrier operations. First the NAeL Minas Gerais was involved and nowadays the ‘new’ NAe Sao Paulo will have Trackers sometimes onboard. For the first time the Trackers operating from the NAe Sao Paulo during ARAex VI (April/May 2002).

http://home.planet.nl/~roden171/faa1.html (with action pics)

Argentina (Comando Aviacion Naval Argentina) IN SERVICE
On Februari 6, 1962 the Argentinian Navy received six S-2As that were based at BAN Punta Indio. They later moved to BAN Comandante Espora. The Trackers were also frequently based onboard the aircraft carrier ‘A.R.A Independencia’ (V-1). In June 1967 one extra S-2F was added to the squadron.
After the Independencia was withdrawn from use in December 1968, the Trackers could not fly from any carrier for a short period of time. But on November 23, 1969 the first S-2 landed on the deck of ‘A.R.A. 25de Mayo’ (V-2)(Patch), the former Dutch carrier ‘HMS Karel Doorman’ that was taken over by the Argentinians.
The first of six ‘new’ S-2Es arrived at Comandante Espora in May 1978. Due to the growing use of the S-2s and the A-4Q Skyhawks &emdash; also based onboard the 25de Mayo &emdash; the CANA developed a requirement for a transport aircraft that could fly personnel and supplies to the fleet: COD = Carrier Onboard Delivery. Therefore three S-2As were converted to transporter and designated a US-2A. In April 1988 the last US-2A was withdrawn. The Argentinian Trackers haven’t operated from the carrier since mid-1990, when the ship was laid up.
In order to extend the life of the Tracker, the government decided in 1989 to modernize the aircraft with new turbo engines and ASW equipment. Six Trackers are upgraded and delivered since. The Trackers are based at BAN Comandante Espora, Bahia Blanca and serve for 1 Escuadrilla Anti-Submarina. From 1993 the Argentine Trackers fly from the Brazilian aircraftcarrier Minas Gerias during joint-maritieme exercises, mostly each year. Even though the Trackers could stay operational for many more years, the future of these S-2Ts looks uncertain. The CANA has received five P-3 Orions and ’25de Mayo’ was scrapped.

Brazil (Força Aerea Brasileira) OUT OF SERVICE
The FAB received 13 S-2As in 1961 and the were locally designated P-16As. After the carrier ‘NAel Minas Gerais’ was taken into service, the aircraft were deployed onboard regularly. Three S-2s were used for transport and called UP-16As by the Brazilians.
The S-2As were replaced by eight S-2Es (P-16Es) eventually. These newer models were also based onboard the ‘Minas Gerais’. Due to the ageing of the aircraft, a contract was made with IMP in Halifax (Canada) for the modernization of eight S-2Es to Turbo-Trackers. But because the FAB was not satisfied with the results, only one S-2 was converted. The operations with the Trackers lasted untill mid-1996. The costs for maintenance were to high and the aircraft were stored.
The future of the Tarcker of the FAB is unclear, especially because the FAB has ordered some second-hand P-3 Orion from US stocks. All S-2s are now put up for sale. The majority of these aircraft is in storage at PAMA São Paulo, while the sole Turbo-Tracker is still at Santa Cruz, the former home base.

Taiwan (Republic of China Air Force) IN SERVICE
Taiwan received its first of 37 Trackers in 1978: S-2As, S-2Es and S-2Gs. In 1991 the first of these Trackers arrived at AIDC in Taichung for converion to S-2T Turbo Tracker. A total of 22 S-2Es and S-2Gs received turbo engines.
All S-2s are in service with the air force and based at Pingtung AB. The aircraft are not capable to deter the growing Communist Chinese Navy and especially their submarine fleet. Taiwan needs ASW aircraft with more flying range, but as long as the US won’t allow the delivery of P-3 Orions, the S-2Ts will stay in the front lines, but for how long? Brian Hsu of Taipei Times reported December 12th 2000: “At a budget meeting the Navy’s chief of staff said that more than three-quarters of the fleet of 40-year-old planes had been incapable of flying missions recently. The navy admitted yesterday that only a small percentage of its anti-submarine aircraft have been operational recently. The navy would like to retire the aging fleet, but has nothing to replace them with. Navy chief of staff Vice Admiral Chang Wen-ping said that only 23.8 percent of 26 of the S-2T anti-submarine aircraft in the service are operational. The figure means that only six of the operational S-2Ts are capable of carrying out a mission, raising an alarm about the navy’s anti-submarine capabilities. “The figure was true only for three days [recently]. It comes as a result of an ongoing comprehensive check of all the S-2Ts for suspected generator problems. By Dec. 24, mission-capable aircraft of the S-2T fleet will increase to nine,” Chang said, adding that the number will further increase to 13 by January 20. Chang made his remarks yesterday during a budget screening session of the defense committee in the legislature. Chang revealed the poor condition of the S-2Ts, the only fixed-wing anti-submarine aircraft in the armed forces, as he sought for support from defense committee members for a proposed NT$1.43 billion allocation to buy spare parts for the aircraft next year. “Except for these three days, we have kept the operation ratio of S-2Ts at 51 percent over the past 10 months. If we can get enough money next year, we can raise the operation ratio of the aircraft to 71 percent,” Chang told the lawmakers. “Actually we need more money than our proposal asks for,” Chang said. Despite Chang’s persuasive efforts, committee members, following negotiations, still decided to cut the proposed allocation for the S-2T spare parts by NT$140 million. KMT lawmaker Chou Cheng-chih, a retired general, said he doubts the navy needs to keep “so many anti-submarine aircraft that are in such bad shape.” A disappointed Chang expressed regrets over the committee’s failure to fully support the navy’s efforts to extend the service life of the aircraft, which are more than 40 years old. “The NT$140 million cut will greatly affect our plans to keep the S-2Ts in normal operation conditions. It will kill us!” Chang told the Taipei Times. “We wish to buy the P-3C from the US to replace the S-2T. We are still making an effort to talk the US into selling us the new anti-submarine aircraft,” he said. Air force chief of staff Lieutenant General Chou Wen-chung came to the navy’s aid, telling defense committee members that it is very difficult to maintain operation of the S-2Ts under current conditions. The S-2Ts were in service with the air force beginning in the mid-1970s before being re-attached to the navy in July 1998. “Taiwan is the only country in the world which is still using this type of aircraft (that is not true, Argentine and Thailand still do). The aircraft is already out of production. We are not sure whether we can get the spare parts we need for the planes even if we are fully subsidized,” Chou said.”

Thailand (Royal Thai Naval Air Division) IN SERVICE
In 1967 or 1968 Thailand received 10 S-2Fs for anti-submarine warfare and 2 US-2Cs for transport and support. They were based at U-Tapao. Thailand is one of the very few countries that still have Trackers in active service. In 1995 the first P-3 Orion was delivered to the Royal Thai Navy and the days of the S-2s seemed numbered. The feared decision failed to occur and it still appears that the S-2s will carry on for some time. About five aircraft are still kept operational at naval base U-Tapao.

http://home.planet.nl/~roden171/operatorse.html
Besides the US, several other countries have Trackers in storage (e.g. Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela)

Surviving Grumman S2F Tracker Information Repository
By David D Jackson
Focusing on Existing Grumman S2F / S-2 Tracker, TF-1 / C-1A Trader and WF-2 / E-1B Tracer Airframes
http://www.s2ftracker.com/

Looks like an evolution of the BAE design seen earlier. The rear phalanx seems poorly sighted with a blind spot to port, a 76 which has to be a **** poor idea, CODAG and has lost the 23’s magazine lunched torpedos for some cheapo deck mounted idea.

Colombamike why all the smiles plastered over your reply about CVF? Its great they wont be built? Hilarious 10,000 will be out of a job and the uk ship building will disappaer? Your really pleased the RN will be destroyed? how is any of that funny?

That gun looks a bit too large to be a 76mm. It might be an Italian 127mm/54 (5″) LW mount though. This can fire the 70km range ‘Vulcano’ fin-stabilized projectile, essentially the OTO-Melara competitor to ERGM and BTERM. This mount will be fitted to the German F-125 frigates