Aircraft carrier made of an ice mixture called Pykrete.
Posted on 05/22/2014 2:22:44 PM PDT by Dundee
TONY Abbott wants the navy’s new amphibious assault ships fitted out to carry Joint Strike Fighters — effectively turning the giant vessels into aircraft carriers.
The proposal, which would require comprehensive structural changes to the ships costing millions, comes at a time when the government is under pressure over budget cuts.
It would also require Australia to buy an alternative version of the fighter bombers already on order.
The Prime Minister’s proposal would bring Australia into line with the US, Britain and a number of other nations that plan to operate JSFs from their assault ships.
It is understood Mr Abbott has instructed planners working on his defence white paper to examine the possibility of putting a squadron of 12 of the short take-off and vertical landing version of the JSFs — the F-35B — on to the ships...
The 27,000-tonne assault ships, ...LHDs, were intended to carry helicopters rather than fixed-wing aircraft.
Operating JSFs from them would require extensive modifications to accommodate the aircraft and their fuel, munitions and parts.
The Royal Australian Navy has not had an aircraft carrier since HMAS Melbourne was decommissioned in 1982. Having landing ships carrying fixed-wing aircraft would bring a new strategic dimension to the region.
The ADF has said repeatedly that putting JSFs on to the landing ships was not being considered, but a government spokesman said the idea had not been ruled out...
The Canberra-class assault ships will be able to land a force of more than 2000 personnel by helicopter and water craft...
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.com.au ...
If they really wanted to go cheap they could refit a cargo ship with a flat top....
Tony Abbott or Tony Stark?
Or a supertanker.
Right!. That would give them ample room for reinforcing the deck and a lot of room for fuel.
“If they really wanted to go cheap they could refit a cargo ship with a flat top....”
For a while the Pentagon had this wild notion that they’d buy commercial hardware and “militarize” it. I was heavily involved and it turned out to cost many times what it cost to just start with and design to military requirements. (It was another idiot idea brought to you by progressives.)
A cargo ship would not have the water-tight compartments, fire suppression and damage control you’d really need if it ever got hit. If it did get hit I’d imagine that many times the personnel would be killed than if the same hit were taken by a purpose built ship.
There are some places where you should never go cheap. Wherever you’ve put military personnel’s lives on the lines, that’s the spot right there. Some things are worth the expense.
and who would ever attack Australia? lol
/sarc
Aircraft carrier made of an ice mixture called Pykrete.
wow, that is a big one too.
Looks like the Titanic and that iceberg had a baby!
Pykrete – Aircraft Carriers made of Wood & Ice (self-repairing)
http://tostevin.net/?p=2897
“and who would ever attack Australia? lol”
If you don’t want to be attacked, be so strong that any attack would be suicidal. BTW, Obama has shown the entire world that they all need nuclear weapons and delivery systems. You can bet that Japan, Taiwan and South Korea are either working on them or secretly already have them.
true!
We could sell them one of ours—we have several ready for the scrap heap—modernize them and will serve another decade.
Another casualty of global warming?
Good idea
See, you guys are "green" You're recycling the $$ into something useful..carriers..
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