Tag Archives: air defence

Is this the oldest frigate still in commission?

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A possible candidate for the oldest frigate still in commission.

HMS Llandaff (F61), a Salisbury-class (Type 61) radar picket frigate, was laid down at Hawthorn Leslie on 27 August 1953. Launched in 1955, she was accepted into service and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 11 April 1958.

HMS Llandafff (F61) Photo: Geoff Pollard

Paid off from the RN after 18-years service, Llandaff was transferred to the Bangladeshi Navy on 10 December 1976 as BNS Umar Farooq (F16.

Do you see what they did there? Just reversed the pennant number.

She is currently assigned to 7th Frigate Squadron based at Chittagong where she remains in active commission assigned to patrol and training duty.

BNS Umar Farooq (F16)

So is this the oldest frigate still in commission? If not, I’d welcome suggestions as to what is.

France dispatches frigate to join US and British naval forces poised for Syria strike

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The French Navy has dispatched the Chevalier Paul (D621) to join multinational naval forces assembling for a possible strike on Syria. The Horizon-class air-defence frigate lacks its own strike capability, but will support the 4 US Navy cruise missile equipped destroyers and Royal Navy attack submarine/s currently on-station in the Eastern Mediterranean.

La frégate : Le Chevalier Paul quitte Toulon pour rejoindre la flotte internationale au large de la Syrie

La France décide d’envoyer au large de la Syrie une frégate, en l’occurence le Chevalier Paul. Elle doit rejoindre rejoindre la flotte internationale qui se trouve actuellement au large des côtes syriennes.

© Photo : Boris Horvat/AFP

Plusieurs bâtiments sont déjà sur place, prêts à intervenir, dès que l’ordre leur en sera donné : 4 frégates lance-missiles de l’US Navy et des sous-marins nucléaires d’attaque américains et britanniques.

© France3 Côte d’Azur

http://cote-d-azur.france3.fr/2013/08/29/la-fregate-le-chevalier-paul-quitte-toulon-pour-rejoindre-la-flotte-internationale-au-large-de-la-syrie-308641.html

PHOTEX: USS Boxer (LHD-4) fires Sea Sparrow (RIM-7P) missile

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PACIFIC OCEAN (July 18, 2013) A Sea Sparrow (RIM-7P) missile is launched from the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) during a missile firing exercise. Boxer is underway off the coast of Southern California conducting a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX). COMPTUEX is a scenario-driven exercise aimed at integrating the ships of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group through a series of live training events. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Kenan O’Connor (Released) 130718-N-JP249-023

US and Australian forces collaborate in Talisman Sabre 13

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TS 13 continues with an air defence exercise.

HMAS Sydney (FFG 03) is an Adelaide class frigate (based on the US Navy Oliver Hazard Perry class) and is nearing the end of her operational life. She will be replaced with a new HMAS Sydney (the fifth so-named ship) a Hobart class destroyer in 2017, providing the RAN with an enhanced air-warfare capability.

U.S., Australian Forces Collaborate on Air Defense

CORAL SEA (NNS) — The U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) Carrier Strike Group, Destroyer Squadron 15 (DESRON 15) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) collaborate in an air defense exercise (ADEX) in support of exercise Talisman Saber 2013 (TS 13).

ADEXs provide combined training and validation for maritime and air operations and flex combined staffs in crisis action planning for contingency operations and humanitarian missions.

“We’re integrating the Australian forces into our air defense system to build a combined force for our nation and our allies,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Rene “Sleepy” Cornejo, air warfare commander of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) and air missile test commander for Commander, Task Force 70 (CTF 70). “We use the air defense to protect the carrier strike group to include the air wing, which also provides defense for our surface assets.”

TS 13 is a biennial training exercise aimed at improving ADF and U.S. combat readiness and interoperability as a Combined Joint Task Force.

“The exercise allows U.S. and Australia air defense assets to execute a pre-planned response to a hostile threat,” said Lt. Bill Webb, George Washington’s tactical actions officer. “One scenario we conduct is to have our aircraft act as enemy combatants. We then intercept them using our other aircraft, ships, and Australian forces. Integrating our forces definitely makes us stronger.”

The alliance between the two nations provides ADF with access to technology and defenses that increases the capacity and strength of its forces.

“We integrated HMAS Sydney (FFG 03) this year into the strike group and for today’s exercise, we had the Royal Australian Air Force solely providing assets,” said Cornejo. “Prior to integrating Sydney, we conducted classroom training. Once we got underway, we activated Sydney as the alternate air missile defense commander. Now we’re finally conducting TS 13 and testing each other’s air and weapons capability.”

George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its partners and allies in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=75472

Construction milestone for HMAS Hobart, RAN’s new air warfare destroyer

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Construction of HMAS Hobart, lead ship in a new class of air warfare destroyers for the Royal Australian Navy, proceeds apace. The Hobart design is based on the Spanish Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate, which beat out the US Arleigh Burke- class in the RAN’s search for a new air defence destroyer.

The new destroyer will be the third HMAS Hobart. The first was HMAS Hobart (D63) a Leander class cruiser that served during the Second World War. The second was HMAS Hobart (D39) a Perth class destroyer that served from 1965 to 2000.

Consolidation of final keel block for first Air Warfare Destroyer

Consolidation of final keel block for first Air Warfare Destroyer.

Minister for Defence Materiel Dr Mike Kelly AM MP today announced the final keel block for the future destroyer, Hobart, has been successfully lifted into place by the AWD Alliance in Adelaide.

Dr Kelly said the final keel block is the 18th of 31 blocks to be joined into what is rapidly becoming the recognisable structure of the Hobart.

“This particular block will house flotation and stabilisation equipment for the Hobart and will now be consolidated into the existing ship structure to complete the keel,” Dr Kelly said.

“The keel is the main structural element stretching along the centre line of the bottom of a ship from the bow to the stern.

“The keel blocks will contain part of the Vertical Launch System, the diesel and gas turbine main engine rooms, auxiliary engine rooms, ballast tanks, propeller shafts and sonar equipment.”

Each destroyer will have six Vertical Launch System modules containing eight cells which are able to store and launch missiles.

“There are a total of 48 cells in each ship, with each cell able to be armed with either a single Standard Missile 2, or four Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles.

“The Hobart Class destroyers will provide the Royal Australian Navy with the most capable warships they have ever operated, with a sophisticated range of both offensive and defensive weapons.”

Dr Kelly said the AWD project is the most complex naval ship construction program ever undertaken in Australia.

“This milestone demonstrates the ongoing progress and quality of work being undertaken by the national shipbuilding industry across the country,” Dr Kelly said.

Consolidation of the entire hull will be complete in early 2014 and will be followed by fit-out and testing of the ships’ systems before sea trials are undertaken.

The AWD Alliance is made up of the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) representing the Australian Government, ASC as the lead shipbuilder and Raytheon Australia as the mission systems integrator.

http://news.navy.gov.au/en/Jul2013/Fleet/79/Consolidation-of-final-keel-block-for-first-Air-Warfare-Destroyer.htm