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These Mother Ship LSTs provided a nesting area for the small crafts to replenish their ammunition, take on fuel, and needed supplies, make repairs, and perform maintenance while alongside the LST.

http://www.lst1126.com/, http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2006/0...adron/index.php

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The Tenix 131-metre MRV meets or exceeds all operational requirements, including those for cargo and troop carriage, speed, endurance, helicopter operations, and the secondary role of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) patrol and response.

The Tenix MRV is fully equipped for EEZ patrol and response. Specifically, the design provides for a gentle roll period when empty at loiter speeds through the inclusion of active anti-roll tank stabilisation, bilge keels, and the wide beam and hull lines
of a passenger ferry. The proposed sea boat, helicopter facilities and gun provide a measured peacetime enforcement capability.

http://www.tenix.com/PDFLibrary/239.pdf

4 February 2006
Media statement

Defence Minister Phil Goff visited the Merwede shipyard in Rotterdam today to inspect the Royal New Zealand Navy's new Multi Role Vessel (MRV), which is due to be launched next weekend.

"It is designed to be fully operational in harsher conditions than the weather that keeps the Cook Strait ferries in port. Obviously not sailing due to inclement weather is not an option when you are patrolling in the southern ocean, for example, where there is no shelter."

The MRV will have a maximum speed of 19 knots, and be capable of transporting the Army’s Light Armoured Vehicles and Light Operational Vehicles, as well as 250 troops, one Seasprite and four NH90 helicopters. It will have two 60-tonne landing craft – also being built in Rotterdam – for situations where port facilities are not available.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0602/S00063.htm

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BEN MY CHREE - PASSENGER / FREIGHT FERRY

Ben My Chree is a combination passenger and freight ferry, providing a vital lifeline link between the Isle of Man and the north of England. The Isle of Man, situated in the Irish Sea, is a major holiday destination, as well as being a key venue for the TT (tourist trophy), Grand Prix motorcycle endurance races and other sporting events – all of which attract many hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Although well served by airlines, the island’s somewhat remote location requires regular, reliable sea transport. An economic and tourist boom in the mid-1990s fuelled the need for an additional ferry service for transporting building materials and construction equipment.

The result of this demand is the 12,500gt Ben My Chree, a £24 million (US$39.5 million) newbuilding from the Dutch ferry specialist Van der Giessen de Noord BV. The order was placed by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, and is the company’s first new ship for 23 years.

http://www.ship-technology.com/projects/ben/

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Main characteristics ship platform:
Length, overall: 121.00 m
Length, DWL: 109.00 m
Beam: 17.00 m
Draught: 4.40 m
Displacement: 3,900 t
Range: 8,000 nm
Endurance: 30 days
 
Propulsion:
2 high-speed diesel engines 5,200 kW each
2 shafts fitted with controllable pitch propellers
Max. speed > 22 kn
 
Crew: Total 150 + 10
 
Helicopter: optional


The MEKO® 200 MRV is designed according to the same rules and principles as applied to the MEKO® 100 OPV. lt has been designed as a long range, high endurance cutter with the enhanced flexibility to operate as a true Multi-Role Vessel "MRV" with additional mission capabilities. As a larger vessel, the MEKO® 200 MRV obviously outperforms the MEKO® 100 OPV having more space for more equipment and personnel.


Furthermore its has:

* Superior seakeeping characteristics

* a significantly longer range and endurance of above 8000 nm run 30 days

* higher availability for longer operations on the high seas

* larger boarding party capacities due to:

- Two 30 knots / eight person RIBs
- An additional nine meter 25 knot long range inspection/ rescue boat equipped with the appropriate communication systems, which can be launched and hoisted up to SS5

* On deck space and stowage for oceanographic/ hydrographic/ environmental equipment containers

* on deck stowage of wheeled equipment with the following advantages:

- all equipment can remain fully fuelled and ammunitioned ready for immediate action upon arrival
- less fire and explosion hazards below deck
- no necessity for explosion proof ventilation in covered cargo decks
- vehicle weapons can be deployed as additional defence guns

* On deck stowage and operation of:

- Remote controlled minesweeper/ minelaying equipment
- UAVs and UUVs

* Accurate dynamic positioning without heading (two CPPs, bow thruster, two independently controllable rudders)

* Heavy lifting 20-tonne gear/18 meter reach crane

* Larger training facilities for up to 150 cadets with large briefing and lecture rooms, Practical demonstration of shipboard gear for trainees

* On-board medical training in the ship's hospital


Multi-Role missions for the MEKO® 200 MRV can be classed into the following tasks with overlapping and interfacing components: Peace Keeping and Sealift, Disaster Relief and Evacuation.

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Peace Keeping and Sealift:

* For rapid force deployment, the MEKO® 200 MRV can transport a payload of
550 tons plus 150 persons at 15 knots over distances exceeding 8000 run and
30 days. Transportation on the stern deck of heavy and bulky equipment,
weapons and containers. All relevant mounts and lashing points are flush to
ensure undisturbed helicopter operations from this deck.

* Five lane cargo deck which totals 200 lanemeters length.

* On-the-body-equipment storage facilities for 80 kg per person with easy
access for fast disembarcations.

* Loading and unloading with the ship's own 20-tonne/18 meter reach crane in
port and at sea.

*  Discharging up to SS3 with seafollowing controls on crane.

* The crane handles 20/ 4Oft containers.

* Briefing rooms and special communications for special forces.

* Dedicated accommodation for special forces which is separated from the
permanent crew and provides for mixed complements.

* Separate ammunition storage for special forces.

* Two helicopter (12-15 tonne) landing areas when the deck is cleared of cargo.
Day and night operations up to SS6. Inflight refuelling system. (A hangar is
optional).

* NBC citadel for the accommodation and engine room.


Disaster Relief and Evacuation:

The parameters for disaster relief and evacuation bear similarities to those of sealift
mission task

* Heavy gear and machinery for re-construction and other civilian aid measures.

* Supplies of all kinds, liquids, medicine, medical gear, provisions etc. in trucks
and containers.

* Transportation of heavy gear, ambulances and helicopters for rescue services.
Protection for the crew and evacuated in the NBC citadel from toxic gases
through, for example, volcanic activities.

* The MEKO® 200 MRV has the capacity to accommodate and support
approximately 200 evacuated persons.

* Large hospital facilities to cater for sick and injured.

* A field hospital consisting of twenty or more containers can be carried on deck.

* Fast and easy helicopter operations ensure rapid evacuations, even under
adverse conditions


Naval Mission:

* Due to the modular concept, the MEKO® 200MRV can be upgraded at short
notice with a sensor and effector package similar to that of the OPV 100.

* The 25 knot version of the MEKO® 200 MRV is capable of sailing at the same
speeds as a modern containership, a Ro-Ro or passenger vessel.


Courtesy and Good Will Missions:

The MEKO® 200 MRV has more than ample space below and on deck for transporting home produce and industrial goods overseas to other countries when the vessel is de-ployed as the versatile exhibition or diplomatic ship. Due to its generous accommodation layout, it can offer comfortabie lodging to accompanying representatives. Its professional ambient is the prestigious background to forge and cultivate successful business and diplomatic contacts. We believe there is currently no other comparable vessel on the market which is able to compete with any of these two ships in value for money, multi-role capability, high availability or reliabllity.

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http://www.navy.mil.nz/visit-the-fleet/pro...tor/default.htm


Project Protector


Project Protector fleet requirements were outlined in the 2002 Maritime Forces Review, conducted by Defence in close cooperation with MFAT, the Ministry of Fisheries, Customs, Treasury, the Maritime Safety Authority, and Police among others. In mid-2004 a study was undertaken in conjunction with the Civilian Agencies to decide the number of vessels and fleet mix necessary.

The Project Protector vessels' capabilities include sealift, coastal and offshore patrol, and at-sea training for the RNZN. New Zealand's approach to the Protector ships, that they are designed, built and maintained to commercial standards, is consistent with other contemporary navies.


The Multi Role Vessel (MRV)

The MRV is contracted-out to Merwede Shipyard in the Netherlands, but will be sailed to NZ or Australia for final fit-out. The MRV should be delivered to the RNZN in late 2006.

Tenix's MRV as a design based on a commercial Ro-Ro ship, BEN-MY-CHREE in operation in the Irish Sea. Tenix's existing facilities could handle building the ship, but the Dutch yard offered the best use of the facilities available in order to get the ship to the RNZN as soon as possible.

The MRV will have diesel-electric propulsion and a max speed of 19 knots. The MRV is intended to provide a sealift capability for the transport and deployment of equipment, vehicles and personnel, and to be capable of transferring cargo and personnel ashore when port facilities are not available.

Displacement:  8000 tonnes
Length overall: 131 metres
Beam:            23.4 metres
Speed:            19 knots


Complement:  Core ship's company:  53
                      Flight personnel:        10 
                      Government agencies:  4
                      Army ship's staff:        7
                      Trainees:                    35 
                      Troops:                      250 
                      Total:                        360


Propulsion:      Diesel engines

Flight deck:      Space for two helicopters

Helo: The NH90 helicopter has been selected to replace the RNZAF's Iroquois utility helicopters. It will be able to operate from the MRV carrying Army equipment from the ship to shore.


Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV)

Two ships are required to conduct maritime surveillance, in conjunction with maritime air patrol assets to the limit of New Zealand's EEZ, in the South Pacific and in the Southern Ocean for a total of about 420 days annually.  Tasks in the southern half of the EEZ are mostly offshore, but activity in the south almost doubles during winter, coinciding with the worst sea states.

The Tenix Offshore Patrol Vessels are based on a design already in service with the Irish Navy. They will be built in Melbourne with modules made in Whangarei, where modules were also built for the 10-ship Anzac frigate project.

Displacement:  1600 tonnes
Length overall: 85 metres
Beam:            14 metres
Speed:            22 knots
Range:            6,000nm

Complement:  Core ship's company:  35
                      Flight personnel:          10 
                      Government agencies: 4
                      Additional personnel:  30
                      Total:                        79


Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPV)

Four IPVs will be built and launched at Whangarei, to conduct maritime surveillance in support of civil agencies in the area from the shoreline to approx 24 nautical miles.  The total requirement is for about 950 sea days annually. Tasks in the northern half of our EEZ (north of and including the Marlborough Sounds and Tasman Bay) are almost all inshore, with relatively constant levels of activity during the year. The Inshore Patrol Vessels are based on a Tenix-designed Search and Rescue vessel in service with the Philippines Coast Guard. 

Displacement:  340 tonnes
Length overall: 55 metres
Beam:            9 metres
Speed:            25 knots
Range:            3,000 nautical miles

Complement:  Core ship's company:  20
                      Government agencies: 4
                      Additional personnel:  12
                      Total:                        36


The Delivery Schedule:


2006

* March:        Two LCMs for use with the Multi-Role Vessel
* December:  MRV


2007

* Jan/Feb:      Inshore Patrol Vessel 1
* April:          Offshore Patrol Vessel 1
* May/June:    IPV2
* September:  IPV3
* October:      OPV2
* December:  IPV4


DCN comments:

'By end of 2007 there will be seven new ships in our Navy, with the first of those berthed at Calliope Wharf in less than 2 years. Overall, we will need an extra 245 effective people in Navy by 2008 than there are today.

We need more people to fill our current shortfalls in rank and trade and to allow reasonable breaks from sea, and we will need more people to both support the seven new ships of the Protector fleet and to go to sea in them.  We need to bridge the gap in training capacity from the decommissioning of Canterbury in April 2005 until the MRV arrives at the end of 2006.'

israeli

Feb 10 2006, 11:14 PM

comrade possible: correct me if i'm wrong but i think the French Champlain class is a purposely-built LST and not really a multi-role vessel if we are to follow the flow of our discussion here.

regarding the status of the Champlain class LSTs, almost of them are still operating in far-flung French overseas outposts such as New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Martinique except for the flagship Champlain, which was retired in 2004 and used as a target ship during a sinking exercise.

possible

Feb 10 2006, 02:21 AM

at minimum, the Philippine Navy needs to perform missions of offshore patrol, transport of men and material, disaster relief, SAR, and coastal interdiction missions against terrorist groups. instead of acquiring separate platforms for each, wouldn't it be more efficient to get a few larger but more capable vessels to perform multiple missions? - as in, "capable" not in terms of weaponry, but rather versatility?

the Philippine Navy currently uses its LSVs as helicopter platforms and patrol vessels. the trend of using re-activated WWII LSTs for the same purpose was common in Vietnam:

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if we are to follow Project Protector, the Philippine Navy will not only need one MRV, two OPVs and four IPVs similar to that of the New Zealand plan but AT LEAST three MRVs, six OPVs and 12 IPVs due to the Philippines' vast territory and EEZ.

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also, the MRVs that the PN should get must have anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare and air defense warfare capabilities, unlike the planned New Zealand MRV that has NO provisions for SSMs, SAMs and ASW torpedoes (such roles though are relegated to the two ANZAC class guided-missile frigates).

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The Requirement for Maritime Forces

1.5 The Government’s objective is to equip the Navy with a practical fleet that is modern, sustainable and matched to New Zealand’s needs. To meet this objective the Navy requires the capability to undertake an extensive array of military and nonmilitary tasks in widely varied environmental conditions. This requires a Naval Combat Force, Naval Support Force, Naval Patrol Force, Mine Countermeasures and Diving Support Force, and a Hydrographic service.

·  A Naval Combat Force is required to undertake the most demanding military tasks. These include providing for the defence of New Zealand and its territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), meeting our alliance commitments to Australia including responding to South Pacific and Southern Ocean contingencies across a broad front, meeting our Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) obligations and contributing to UN and other multilateral peace support operations. The ships of the Naval Combat Force also demonstrate New Zealand’s commitment to regional and global security through ship visits, and training and exercises with other countries. With the disbandment of the Air Combat Force the ability of the Naval Combat Force to participate in FPDA activities will take on added importance.

·  A Naval Support Force. There are two elements to the Naval Support Force. The first is the provision of underway replenishment of deployed forces, currently provided by the fleet tanker, Endeavour. The second is the provision of a sealift capability for the transport and deployment of equipment, vehicles and personnel without access to a port. No Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) capacity currently exists. A MRV that is able to meet a range of roles in our region would also have a tactical sealift capacity. The MRV’s roles would also include: responding to natural disasters in the South Pacific; undertaking humanitarian relief operations; participating in peace support operations; military support activities; and contributing to development assistance in the South Pacific.

·  A Naval Patrol Force is required to conduct maritime surveillance, in conjunction with maritime air patrol assets, in the New Zealand EEZ, to assist South Pacific Island states to patrol their EEZs, and in the Southern Ocean. The surveillance tasks are primarily non-military in support of civilian agencies. These tasks can be grouped as inshore tasks that cover the area from the shoreline to about 24 nautical miles; offshore tasks that extend to the limit of New Zealand’s EEZ; tasks in the South Pacific; and Southern Ocean tasks.

·  A Mine Countermeasures and Diving Support Force is required to provide mine countermeasures and clearance diving support capabilities. The requirement is to protect New Zealand’s seven major ports through: the development of safe routes into them; the maintenance of a route survey database; the development of a capacity to dispose of mines and other explosives underwater; and by practicing the skills necessary to lead merchant ships through cleared access routes into the ports.

·  A Hydrographic Service refers to the provision of hydrographic survey and associated services to the NZDF, Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) and other civilian agencies (this is the subject of a separate review and is not addressed further in this report).

http://www.defence.govt.nz/pdfs/reports-pu...ations/mfr1.pdf

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Helicopter Operations

Recognising the importance of the MRV’s training and operation role, helicopter facilities provided in the MRV have been designed to replicate those of the ANZAC frigates in service with the RNZN. The Australian DoD’s independent analysis of the MRV platform indicates that helicopters can be launched and recovered at the top of sea state 5.

http://www.tenix.com/Main.asp?ID=972