Bulldust over a Kiwi BBQ: New Defense hardware announcements today. 23/8/2018

New video of Manawanui in Wellington 13 May 2019 posted at end of blog.

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HMNZS Aotearoa Keel Laying.

Hyundi Heavy Industries Lay Keel

by Frank Rands

Hyundai Heavy Industries hosted a keel laying ceremony for the Royal New Zealand Navy’s future tanker HMNZS Aotearoa at its shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, on August 13.

Aotearoa’s keel laying consisted of more than 500 tonnes of carefully constructed keel blocks being positioned together in the dry dock, where she will continue to expand upwards and outwards until her launch date early next year.

Aotearoa represents the first of a new fleet of RNZN ships built specifically to address the global requirements of the New Zealand Defence Force and government agencies for deployment from Antarctica to the Arabian Gulf.

The keel laying ceremony took place some seven months after first steel was cut for the New Zealand Navy’s largest vessel ever.

This is an exciting time for our Navy,” said Chief of Navy Rear Admiral John Martin.

“It is filled with challenges and opportunities as we ready ourselves for Aotearoa, as well as our modernized frigates. It is these three ships on which our combat capability will be based.”

HMNZS Aotearoa is designed to provide logistical support to New Zealand and coalition maritime, land and air units.

Her primary purpose is to conduct fuel resupply but she will also be capable of supplying dry goods, water, spare parts or ammunition. Her missions will include humanitarian and disaster relief, support to United Nations security operations, support to a coalition naval task group and Antarctic resupply.

The 173.2-meter-long ship will have the ability to carry 12 20-foot shipping containers, high-capacity freshwater generation plants, self-defense systems, aviation and marine fuel cargo tanks, dual all-electric replenishment-at-sea rigs and will be able to carry a Seaspite or NH90 helicopter. Aotearoa will displace 26,000 tonnes and will be operated by a crew of 64.

The ship’s $493 million price tag includes the tanker’s enhanced “winterization” capabilities, such as ice-strengthening for operations in Antarctica, including resupplying McMurdo Station and Scott Base. Predecessor tanker HMNZS Endeavour was not Antarctic-capable. Thankd Red M for the article

Aotearoa update. 18th April 2019

Video of Chief of Navy at Aotearoa's launching. (6th May 2019)

Click for video.

Image of Aotearoa (fitting out) 31 August 2019

HMNZS Aotearoa video firing up main engines - as at 2/9/2019 (Click here).

And announcement of purchased Hydro/Dive vessel.

Click here for Video of the New Ships Crest for Aotearoa. (as at 13/5/2019)

Click here for Admiral Martin's short video of Aotearoa formation.

New Vessel for Hydrographic and Diving

by Frank Rands

The New Zealand government has approved NZ$103 million for the purchase and refit of a second-hand multi-role offshore support vessel that will be used as a dive and hydrographic support vessel by the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Following purchase, the 85-meter Norwegian-built survey vessel MV Edda Fonn will be outfitted with the dive and hydrographic systems required by the defense force.

MV Edda Fonn will replace hydrographic ship HMNZS Resolution and dive support ship HMNZS Manawanui. The two vessels were decommissioned from the RNZN in 2012 and 2018 respectively, following several decades of service.

“This vessel will ensure that the current capability gaps for diving and hydrography are filled as quickly as possible, with a proven, well tested platform,” says Minister of Defence Ron Mark.

The ship is scheduled to be delivered to Devonport Naval Base in May 2019. It will feature a 100t salvage crane, a remotely operated vehicle and a contemporary dynamic positioning system, which will allow Navy’s specialist divers to achieve greater levels of effectiveness and safety, in a greater range of conditions.

The New Zealand Navy was initially scheduled to receive a custom, new-build vessel but an NZ$148 million cost blowout in the country’s frigate upgrade project forced the government to consider a used vessel.

Defense officials identified the MV Edda Fonn, owned and operated by Norwegian company Østensjø Rederi, as the most suitable option from an initial list of over 150 candidate offshore and subsea support vessels.

“Defence officials have subjected the Edda Fonn to considerable scrutiny ahead of purchase,” says Ron Mark. “We have been assured by independent experts that it is in excellent condition, and will handle well in the operations the Defence Force will use it for,” says Ron Mark.

The vessel generally operates in the North Sea, and is under lease until the end of 2018, following which the modification process will begin.

Once delivered, final modifications will be undertaken in New Zealand. It is expected that New Zealand industry will be involved in this part of the project. The ship is expected to be in service with the Navy by November 2019.

The NZ$103 million project budget is for the purchase, modifications and introduction into service. Thanks Red M for the article.

Click Here for link to specifications. (Note location??)

Both articles from the RNZN Communicators website.

This section is based on information gleaned from Navy Today. Manawanui is being delivered March 2019 by the owners.

Thing that raised my eyebrow was the flight deck size and could our Seasprite fit. In the article it stated the Super Puma Helo was the largest that could fit on her. The Super Puma is slightly bigger.

Hope you lot can read pre Decimal/new Decimal as that is how I found them and can't be fu***d converting them all!!

Super Puma Helicoptor (Used in North Sea with New Manawanui)

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Capacity: 24 passengers plus attendant
Length: 16.79m (main body), 18.7m (with rotors turning) (55 ft 0½ in, 61 ft 5in)
Rotor diameter: 16.20 m (53 ft 1½ in)
Height: 4.97 m (16 ft 4 in)
Disc area: 206.12 m² (2,217 ft²)
Empty weight: 4,660 kg (10,274 lb)
Useful load: 4,490 kg (9,899 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 9,150 kg (20,172 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Makila 1A2 turboshaft, 1,376 kW (1,845 shp) each

Performance

Never exceed speed: 327 km/h (177 knots, 203 mph)
Maximum speed: 277 km/h (150 knots, 172 mph) max cruise
Cruise speed: 247 km/h (133 knots, 154 mph) econ cruise
Range: 851 km (460 nmi, 529 mi)
Service ceiling: 5,180 m (16,995 ft)
Rate of climb: 7.4 m/s (1,457 ft/min)

Hope you lot can read pre Decimal/new Decimal.

Seasprite SH- G (RNZAF)

General characteristics

Crew: 3 (Pilot, Co-pilot/Tactical Coordinator (TACCO), Sensor Operator (SENSO))
Length: 52 ft 7 in (15.9 m)
Rotor diameter: 44 ft 0 in (13.41 m)
Height: 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
Disc area: 1520.53 sq ft (141.26 sq m)
Empty weight: 7,040 lb (3,193 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 12,800 lb (5,805 kg)
Rotor systems: 4 blades on main rotor and tail rotor
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric T58-GE-8F turboshaft, 1,350 shp (1,007 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 143 knots (165 mph, 265 km/h)
Cruise speed: 130 knots (150 mph, 241 km/h)
Range: 366 nmi (422 mi, 679 km)
Service ceiling: 22,500 ft (6,860 m)
Rate of climb: ft/min (m/s)

Armament

Hardpoints: 2× side fuselage mounting stub/pylon stations
Missiles: Non-US aircraft carry a variety of guided missiles, including the AGM-65 Maverick (often used in the anti-ship role) and dedicated anti-ship missiles.
Torpedoes: 2× Mk 46 or Mk 50 ASW torpedoes

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What the Ministry of Defense think they have bought.

What the Government has paid for!!

"SATIRE FOLKS"

Click on this Link for announcement from Admiral John Martin.

Latest Navy Today has announced the new Commanding Officer for HMNZS Manawanui.

LtCdr Andy Mahoney is a former RN'er who transferred here after being on Exchange as Fleet Warfare Officer and PWO/XO of HMNZS Te Mana. We all wish him well!!

Btw there is a very good article on Manawanui. "Clear as Mud" as we say.

Click on this Link to go to a Government Document released today (7/01/2019) on Manawanui.

Two images of Manawanui ready to enter and then entering Dry Dock in Denmark getting fitted out and painted military Gray