tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254362504495980377.post8815698511340134072..comments2024-03-20T12:03:26.126+00:00Comments on Thin Pinstriped Line: Thoughts on Maritime Patrol Aircraft, SAR and the sad loss of the Cheeki RafikiSir Humphreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704774192275240783noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254362504495980377.post-52710519028737837882014-05-28T23:45:46.697+01:002014-05-28T23:45:46.697+01:00I was referrring to the RMAF--the Malaysians. And ...I was referrring to the RMAF--the Malaysians. And I think the Indonesians as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254362504495980377.post-77490418233186191942014-05-27T03:28:00.889+01:002014-05-27T03:28:00.889+01:00Very valid point indeed.
However as far aw the R...Very valid point indeed. <br /><br />However as far aw the RNZAF is concerned, That have transform from a full scale military force, to a Self Defense Force structure, with very limited expedition capability and warfighting capability to an extent. One really cannot blame the RNZAF. the RAAF, I believe they did their part by sending numerous vessels and P-3 to join the search effort. I assume there must be some helpful systems on the p-3 that would contribute more than just a couple pairs of binoculars to the search effort. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01581379429919922174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254362504495980377.post-18425450216551537142014-05-26T18:59:32.379+01:002014-05-26T18:59:32.379+01:00The UK deployed the survey ship HMS Echo and the h...The UK deployed the survey ship HMS Echo and the hunter-killer HMS Tireless in the search for MH370, I doubt any other European nation did more, and the same applies to typhoon Haiyan. <br />The RN sent HMS Daring and HMS Illustrious to the Philippines to support the relief operation, which were the only European naval vessels deployed. But keep talking the RN down. <br /><br />RN response MH370<br />https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/10305<br /><br />WaylanderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254362504495980377.post-14258486686708104432014-05-23T18:26:02.279+01:002014-05-23T18:26:02.279+01:00Anyone can give counter examples. See my comment o...Anyone can give counter examples. See my comment on the C-130s in the MH370 search below.<br /><br />And the think defence article<br /><br />http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2014/05/binoculars-maritime-patrol/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254362504495980377.post-26510974991150913992014-05-23T18:20:44.536+01:002014-05-23T18:20:44.536+01:00One also forgets that C-130s were used in the sear...One also forgets that C-130s were used in the search for MH370 (in the early days) and that RAAF/RNZAF crews still use binoculars off their P-3s to search for M370.<br /><br />Suddenly, these countries are also not blamed?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254362504495980377.post-54899412485086126352014-05-23T05:02:04.057+01:002014-05-23T05:02:04.057+01:00Hi Jason L,
I fully agree with your point. I hav...Hi Jason L, <br /><br />I fully agree with your point. I have been following the USN LCS program for a good while, and that along with the MRA.4 is again classic example of bad procurement, bad management, unrealistic goals that at the end both ended miserably. I would insist on that the MPA capability is rather essential, however the MRA.4 was a bad platform to provide it. <br /><br />As far as having as much indigenous products as possible for various economic, strategic and administrative reasons, one must obvious weight the cost and benefit of doing so, an example of this was the AEW.3 , in the end we acquired the E-3 Sentry, the very plane we try very hard not the procure in the first place. <br />As with the case of the MRA.4, I think we again overestimated our capability, overly simplified the accounts, and left it too late, to get a proven system such as the P-3, P-8 .etc In a time where budget is extremely tight, I think this is the kind of saving we ought to look into, instead of trying to cut RN's hull numbers, or removing weapon systems. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01581379429919922174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254362504495980377.post-28909048288695353602014-05-22T12:46:51.712+01:002014-05-22T12:46:51.712+01:00When will people learn that we just cannot have al...When will people learn that we just cannot have all the toys we want and especially expensive toys which are only useful for rescuing people who shouldn't have got into trouble in the first place. These were professional yachtsmen fully aware of the dangers they were prepared to face. The yacht was a racer and probably stripped of any superfluous gear. The yachtsmen's families, devastated although they are must also have been prepared for something like this disaster. All the parties involved in this episode are also well aware that the sea is a dangerous place and all sailors are well accustomed to absorbing the danger by reference to the old adage that you shouldn't go to sea if you can't take a joke.<br />There is no parallel with ML370 which contained much more commercial and military aspects, quite apart from the personal ones.<br />I've no idea what went wrong with the Rafiki, but in all the maritime rescues involving a foundering craft that I have been involved in, the one common denominator is the underestimation of the power of the sea.<br />Derek McBridenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254362504495980377.post-41885761924181521982014-05-22T11:50:15.393+01:002014-05-22T11:50:15.393+01:00Jonathan L,
The problem with the MRA.4 wasn't...Jonathan L,<br /><br />The problem with the MRA.4 wasn't that the capability was not required: it was that the MRA.4 as built was not going to be able to safely provide it. <br /><br />The 'cheap, easy' option of using existing Nimrod fuselages as the basis for an RMPA turned out to be expensive and difficult - the cost growth, schedule delays and numbers cuts through the project began early and were truly appaling - and the airframe had serious stability and safety issues which would have made it practically impossible to get it approved for flight. <br /><br />Unfortunately, Nimrod MRA.4 is destined to be a case study of "how not to do procurement" and perhaps the question should be why the plug wasn't pulled, and a workable alternative sought, much sooner.Jason Lynchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6254362504495980377.post-60792540109291195302014-05-22T09:37:09.737+01:002014-05-22T09:37:09.737+01:00Sir H, Very interested read indeed.
I am very mu...Sir H, Very interested read indeed. <br /><br />I am very much on the same page as you on the fact that we should give credit to the USCG for the SAR effort, but I can't agree with the fact that you mentioned scrapping the Nimrod fleet was not only a sensible idea, and one that has the support of the mass. You have pointed out in previous writings that Mainstream press' lack of understanding and insight is a cause to many of these arguments such as "whether we need more ship" or "we can't field 3 divisions overnight anymore", the fact remains that we have not the MPA systems, no eyes on the waves from up top, the lack of designated sensors, and so on. <br />While it maybe sensible in monetary and accounting sense, the much needed MPA capability was suddenly cut short by the very rapid retirement of the Nimrod fleet if I remembered correctly. A replacement certainly wasn't being discussed back then, and even now we have to wait to 2015 for the very preliminary selection. <br />What matters on a MPA is it's sensors, which no ship, sat, or UAV can replace. And this I think it's a very good demonstration that we do need that capability, for war fighting purposes (Looking down from a C130 and try to spot a periscope?), or secondary purposes such as SAR, either way, a MPA system would contribute greatly and it might just save a couple more lives in the search time it saved. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01581379429919922174noreply@blogger.com