3 New Navy Vessels for Irish Naval Service

We have enough problems with the other protestors kicking off when the Port of Cork close the Deep Water s ships are berthing and unberthing, because the hour or so is a great impact on their lives (maybe someone should explain what might happen if a mooring line snaps and how that could ruin their lives…), close off the area totally and they will join these muppets for more protesting.

On happy news of the visit, the AC managed to play with one of the 139s landing and lifting off from the Doorman, and the Dutch had their helicopter up as well during the day.

I was planning to drive down to Cork to get a view of the ships up close tomorrow, but other plans have intervened.

Any pics anyone has would be appreciated.

Tis a big old mother to be sure!

Mate of mine was aboard earlier.

Everything light grey is crew accom, a hospital, dining facilities, driving the ship etc.

Where you see the 2 lifeboats, inside that is hangar space for 6 NH90s (Dutch not at all happy with theirs at present)

Beneath that, from the stern under the helideck to a point just under the CWIS up front, is a vehicle/cargo deck, which can be accessed either from the 45 degree stern ramp, the stern steel beach (With landing craft unloading but not entering) or via a large hatch on the main deck inside the 70 tonne crane between the refuelling posts.

All with a crew of about 150. Mostly involved in the C&C role.

That seems to be the persistent rumour on social media.

Holland-Class PV 'Groningen'

109m 3,750 tons

Lead ship of the Seven Provinces-Class frigates, the 'Zeven Provincien'

144m, 6,050 tons

Desperate crates altogether.

Yet again, never be an early adopter. Let some other poor bugger figure out how crap a piece of kit is. Whether that be an LTAV, a helicopter, a fleet support vessel or a helmet.

I shall call it the L85 Maxim.

I don't believe that is their remit, however they can monitor fishing activities, and ensure everyone is pinging when they are supposed to. SFPA are supposed to do the inspections when the FVs land their catch. Whether they do or not is a matter for SFPA.

Arent the SFPA still on a work to rule? If the fisheries element was removed from the naval service how much time would that free up?

I was thinking along those lines myself Doh. What the hell else do they do....or can they do, apart from token frontier patrol and occassional rescue and drug interception? A couple of frigates and a sub or two is what's needed.

I see the Brexit Media are having a sh1t attack over the new british fleet support vessels being partially built in spain.

Thank god we wont have that BS with the MRV

Were we ever in the Naval business before?

When we had Corvettes and Minesweepers, yes. Ships that in addition to being able to Patrol, could carry out other military task by design.

The Flowers certainly were by the time we stopped using them.

The Flowers were a modern equivalent of a Perry class, still in service in Australia and Spain. No longer state of the art, but still ideal for the job it does. Problem was we were mean with maintenance, and as time moved on, the ASW gear was all removed, until all that was left was a slow whaler, armed with a 4 inch open cannon on the bow, and a single Pom-Pom aft. You still needed a huge crew to keep the engines running, and handle the seaboats for boarding.

The Tons were nearly new when we got them, and still in use with the RN for years after we dispensed with ours. The Hunt class or tripartites are comparable today. Problem is they were way too small for the west coast, and were probably designed with the Humber or the Wash, Persian Gulf or Hong Kong in mind, maybe even the Med. Not Dingle though.

Thing is, at the time both of these type were purchased, there were better ships available, for similar cost. There were as many Castle class in reserve in 1947 as Flowers, and they were better suited to our waters, even if we only had to patrol a few miles off the coast back then. When we got the Minesweepers, the RN were literally giving away surplus frigates to former Colonies. Oz, Canada, India and Pakistan did well from it. We took the smallest ship going that wasn't an RAF rescue boat.