Ja, I’m probably wrong about the helicopters but I stand by what I said about politicians and civil servants 😀

It’s got at least 245 pages any way 😉 http://www.rolls-royce.com/history/publications/jet_engine/downloads/deliver_244-245.pdf

Australia’s helicopter procurement policy is a mess. Too many new types have been selected, and logistics will prove to be a nightmare. I still can’t figure out why the profoundly expensive NH-90 was chosen, when Australia already operates a relatively large S-70 fleet. Why was the SH-2G chosen when there were enough extra naval S-70s for half of the Anzac-class? Then of course, you really have to wonder why the incredibly expensive Eurocopter Tiger deal was made?

I agree, more Sea Hawks and Black Hawks would have been the sensible and easy option but politicians and civil servants like to waste time and money on studying the alternatives.

I guess this is because the longer a procurement project team takes to come to a decision, the longer they get paid 😡

I normally double the size of the RN in these fantasy threads but I think I will do some drastic defence cuts for a change :dev2:

Scrap the CVF and JSF program, replace them with four 20-25,000t Sea Control Ship carriers (30kt capable) operating Harrier III (improved II+) and/or helicopters. Scrap the Invincible class and Ocean as soon as the SCS become available.

Begin building a 16 ship class of multi-purpose logistic ships (based on the SCS hull) to eventually replace all the RFA’s and amphibious ships.

16x T45, 8x Air Defence Destroyer and 8x (cheaper) General Purpose.

16x LCS (same reasons as EdLaw, patrol, MCM, etc).

12x Astute SSN, 4x standard and 8x with hull plug silos for cruise missiles or nuclear deterent missiles so the Vanguard class can be retired.

The main aim of this fleet mix is to eliminate the waste of building too few of too many designs.

Some info on these Finnish designs here http://www.akerfinnyards.com/naval.cfm

This Discovery channel video has some Scud footage in it http://www.exn.ca/video/?video=exn20030325-scud.asx

…Orginally it was planned to have four of these and punch of howercraft FACs but somehow our politicans decided that howercrafts are no good in participating NATO -led invasions of some poor third-world countryes so they were cutt of…and as usuall, whitout no replacement desing…

What happened to the Tuuli class hovercraft? Does Finland operate any other type of hovercraft?

These pics are from the US Navy website gallery (search for Oriskany if the link doesn’t work). http://www.navy.mil/search/photolist.asp?sort_row=1&page=1&terms=oriskany&search_type=All
Hi-res versions are available too.