HMAS Manoora Decommissioning

[Jackaroo]

Royal Australian Navy Announces the Decommissioning of HMAS Manoora
Canberra, Australia February 01, 2011

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that HMAS Manoora would be decommissioned and that Defence would develop a new comprehensive plan to transition to the new Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) Ships.

HMAS Manoora will be decommissioned on the advice of Chief of Navy.

Manoora was placed on operational pause by the Seaworthiness Board in September last year.

An examination of the over 40 year old ship has revealed it requires remediation of significant hull corrosion and the replacement of both gear boxes.

This work would cost over $20 million and would take until April 2012 to complete.

Manoora was scheduled to be decommissioned at the end of next year.
“That is not value for money for another nine months of service,” Mr Smith and Mr Clare said.

Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD):

HMAS Manoora and the Royal Australian Navy’s other amphibious support ships (HMAShips Kanimbla and Tobruk) will be replaced by two Canberra Class LHDs, the largest Ships ever operated by the Royal Australian Navy.

Later this month (February 18) the hull of the first LHD will be launched in Spain where it has been constructed by Navantia.
The hull will arrive in Melbourne next year for further work to be completed at the Williamstown Shipyard before the LHD becomes operational in 2014. Australia’s second LHD will become operational the following year.

The LHDs are bigger than Australia’s last aircraft carrier. Each is 230 meters long and can carry a combined armed battlegroup of more than 1000 personnel, 100 armoured vehicles and 12 helicopters. Each also includes a 40-bed hospital.
“Stepping up to this new capability is going to require a lot of work by Navy,” Mr Smith said.
“It is very different to the ships we currently operate. One LHD will effectively replace the entire amphibious force we have today. It also has a number of capabilities, such as a floating dock that the Royal Australian Navy does not currently operate.
“Because of the decommissioning of the Manoora and the age of our other amphibious ships, I have asked Defence to present a new comprehensive plan for the transition towards the new LHDs.”

Transition plan:
“I have asked Defence to present me with options and recommendations to ensure the smooth transition to the LHD,” Mr Smith said.
This could include the lease or purchase Ships that would provide a platform to train and prepare for the LHDs, such as a Bay Class Ship from the UK Government.
If this option is taken up it could provide for the decommissioning of the HMAS Kanimbla or HMAS Tobruk to be brought forward.
HMAS Kanimbla was also placed on operational pause by the Seaworthiness Board last year. The Kanimbla is not now expected to be available for operations until mid-2012 and is currently scheduled to be decommissioned at the end of 2014.

HMAS Tobruk is currently being maintained at a 48 hours readiness posture in order to meet Australian Defence Force preparedness requirements.

Tobruk will be required to dock this year to replace worn-out support bearings on a propeller shaft. She is due to be decommissioned at the end of 2012.

[patroclus]

It would appear from this announcement that out of the three amphibious support ships only one is operational and that one, at present, possibly a lame duck.

[culverin]

If Australia is interested in a Bay class, then you had better get off your rears.
Lager Bay is up for grabs, and greedy eyes elsewhere may move a lot quicker than you indecisive lot can.
What is the problem.
Buy it.

[patroclus]

Originally Posted by culverin

If Australia is interested in a Bay class, then you had better get off your rears.
Lager Bay is up for grabs, and greedy eyes elsewhere may move a lot quicker than you indecisive lot can.
What is the problem.
Buy it.

Is that a brand of beer?

[mstary1]

I can feel a sinkex coming on!

If we can get a Bay class, I hope we give her a worthy name.

HMAS Jervis Bay?
HMAS Gallipoli?
HMAS Kokoda?
HMAS Shropshire?

[Surfgun]

Originally Posted by patroclus

Is that a brand of beer?

The Beer Class

Lager
Porter
Stout
Bock
Pilsner

Maybe an Ale Class?
lead ship - I.P.A.?

All good names, that a Sailor should be proud of!

[culverin]

Further to my # 3 here and that following,
Actually the Largs Bay, however together with sister Lyme Bay the pair are known as Lager and Lime.
Anyway, Largs is now up for grabs and as i wrote in the HMS Ark Royal to HMAS Ark Royal thread # 11 on 7 Nov last, if you grab one of these and renamed her Jervis Bay, you can do it on the cheap and only alter the Largs part.
Sit down with yer lager and dwell on it.
Not for too long though, this ship will sell very rapidly.

[patroclus]

Given the hole in the Budget as a result of recent natural disasters, it will be interesting to see whether this purchase eventuates.

[bigkezza]

I would like to weigh in with my Tuppence Halfpenny worth..
Both the two vessels mentioned in this thread were rust buckets before the Department of Defense against the advisement of the RAN purchased them and had to be pretty well rebuilt.
Around at the time were the ANL,s Trader class Brisbane,Townsville and Sydney similar in silouhette to the Kanimbla and Manoora maybe a tad smaller and in a lot better nick also with strenghtened vehicle decks for the carriage of tanks which was used by the D of D when they chatered the Sydney Trader to take a full load of ACP's and Tanks with associated containers of stores and equipment to Townsville for a big exercise in North Queensland we also 12 months later in the Lysaght Endeavour did the same thing we had containers of equipment in the lower two vehicle decks and Main shelter decks with the ACPS, Tanks and trucks on the main vehicle deck also spotted on the main shelter deck. I was Bosun in her at the time with help of wharfies and Army personnel who drove the ACPs we loaded and lashed the cargo.
The money that was spent on the Kanimbla and Manoora they could have had either one or two of these vessels converted them and had change left over for good BBQ and booze up,
Also around at the time was BHP's Iron Duke laid up in Newcastle owing to a down turn in coastal shipping and problems with her gas regenerators in her gas turbine engines not being offay with the with that part of the ship she was a relatively young ship (7 years old) the merchant marine engineers not having the experience of the naval engineers were having the problem of keeping her going no doubt the expertise of the Navy engineers would have fixed the problem and ahd the running like clockwork and getting her going, she also had her own Stern Ramp.
She was cannabalised for parts to keep her sister ship Iron Monarch going which was eventually re-engined. The Duke was eventually towed away and scrapped at the tender age of 8 years old, another vessel that could have been purchased and maybe converted for use by the RAN.
This is just my information and thoughts on this subjecte i leave it open for you experts.
bigkezza

[patroclus]

It will be interesting to see what (if anything) comes out of the enquiry the Australian Government has set up. The clear intent of the Defence Minister in recent days has been to lay the blame on "the Navy".

[bigkezza]

The old pass the buck ploy
bigkezza

[mstary1]

it's like your Transport section being given a fleet of Toyota Crowns and then castigating them for not being able to keep them running.

Of course the manager who ordered them has a Bentley.

[bigkezza]

Originally Posted by mstary1

it's like your Transport section being given a fleet of Toyota Crowns and then castigating them for not being able to keep them running.

Of course the manager who ordered them has a Bentley.

Good one that would be about right.
Kezza

[Three Mike Port]

Originally Posted by patroclus

It will be interesting to see what (if anything) comes out of the enquiry the Australian Government has set up. The clear intent of the Defence Minister in recent days has been to lay the blame on "the Navy".

Isnt that political school 101, learn to pass the buck and deflect on sensitive issues. Those involved know what happened, so do those who make the decisions, but it does reflect poorly on Smith, he knows the Navy is an easy target and can't respond.

[kersim]

G'Day All,

Please find attached a signal [UNCLASS] regarding the Decommissioning Ball for HMAS Manoora

Cheers

kersim

[patroclus]

Well, its official, Australia is to buy one of the RN's Bay Class ships.

[mstary1]

Well done, finally we purchase a ship not from the 60's.

This is great news, wonder if they'll throw in Ark Royal for free?

[delboy86]

well if she had to go to anyone else then I'd rather it was to the RAN - wonder if she could be modified to operate the new F35 fighter?

[delboy86]

I meant the Ark - not Largs Bay....

[ObiWanRussell]

Originally Posted by delboy86

well if she had to go to anyone else then I'd rather it was to the RAN - wonder if she could be modified to operate the new F35 fighter?I meant the Ark - not Largs Bay....

According to officers onboard HMS Illustrious I spoke to a couple of years ago, the Invincibles could operate F-35Bs without to much difficulty, mostly a matter of equipping the stores and workshops with the correct parts and tools. The aircraft fit on the lifts (just!), though they said if it was rough weather they would have to line it up diagonally to get enough clearance. Aircraft are only struck down to or brought up from the hangar in a de-fuelled and unarmed condition, so only the empty weight (13tonnes) matters, not the max takeoff weight (31tonnes) quoted by some armchair generals. The lifts on the Invincible class are rated at 18.5tonnes. The F-35s spot factor isn't that much greater than a Harrier's either, meaning you could swap them on a one for one basis. The Invincibles can operate up to 22 aircraft, but in practice the optimum number of Harriers was found to be 14, supported by three Sea King ASaC 7s for AEW and four to six Merlins for ASW. Latterly their air groups have also included a pair of Lynx helos as well. So 12-14 F-35Bs plus 6-8 helos would be a reasonable guess at the potential air group.

[ludsie]

Does anyone know what the plans are for the kanimbla

[Jackaroo]

Originally Posted by ludsie

Does anyone know what the plans are for the kanimbla

I hear she will be decommissioned shortly.

[Jackaroo]

More here on Kanimbla http://www.navy.gov.au/Decommissioning_of_HMAS_Kanimbla