What ships does the RAM equip in your navy mate? I guess the Phalanx is going to equip the Type 23 when she finally gets there as well as the two Type 22’s right? and the Dutch vessels have the Oto gun but the Brittish ships have the Vickers, will they have a standard oto fit as I susspect or will they keep their guns?

Forestin: Mate that would have to be the most comprehensive refit I have ever seen, full points on the effort!

Does your country however, have access to the Phalanx/RAM combo? Also do you already have harpoons in your inventory? I never said anything about the aircompliment did I but do you have the Super Puma’s in stock already?

Jonesy: mate I must admit it did give me a giggle or two, but it sorta defeats the spirit of the game.

Well if that’s the case would you permit me the same curtosey since I am German?

Can, I guess you are of Vietnam originally, right? Well I guess I can allow that, should have thought of that now shouldn’t I?

The LHDs won’t.

I know and that is what is confusing about the whole deal, like I susspect, the LHD’s will get the ramp and F-35’s thus proving the point in the naming. The names Chosen are a sort of hint that this will be the case.

The French have a small LSD by that name.

Yes but that’s not an Australian vessel now is it? there have been cases where two countries have used the same name on a ship at the same time under their own banner, the USN had USS Canberra at the same time we had HMAS Canberra for instance.

Nelson; mate do you really have to ruin everything like this? Seriously this isn’t about fixing capatilits against communists, one side against the other. It’s about opening your mind and thinking about what you would like to see in your navy, now unless you live in North Korea, or Taiwan in the other thread, please don’t comment on another country!

Interesting, under the terms of the Naval ships and establishment naming commity, HMAS Australia is to go to a major fighting unit, and one would have thought that the new LHD’s were just that., this only leaves me to susspect that we will soon also have a propper carrier with said name and carrying F-35B’s.

Any comments Dan?

Hey Jest: Mate thanks, I was getting board at looking at the same old topics especially this v that which never really worksbecause you are either for one ship or the other and no matter how many good points are put forward you can never shake a persons conviction that they like the better ship, even when the ships do exactly the same thing but with different weapons (and that’s mainly what it’s all about, which one do you think would give the bigger bang).

As for your question, I was trying to keep it simple especially for someone in a country I am who won’t spend big to upgrade on the small, they’ll do it for the bigger ones just not the smaller ones, thus I wanted to see what people would come up with in a similar situation. This is why I thought about using only what is already available to the country mainly because they would have spares around for the upgrade, well as a trial ship for starters then if it works they’d order more systems in and upgrade the rest.

As for the 25 de Mayo, no, they don’t have her anymore, though she is still there rusting away, she has finally been taken off the registry, especially after the last fire with caused much damage as to put her beyond ecconomical repair. This is why they are looking for a new carrier but the money is the big issue (they don’t have any).

Pending the success of this I have another idea based on a similar theme, so look out for it.