The Navy Vol_37_Part2 (Aug-Sep-Oct, Nov-Dec 1975-Jan 1976)

It was probably as a result of their
success with MOSKVA, and her sister
LENINGRAD, that the Russians
decided to build KIEV, the first of
their 40.000 ton aircraft carriers.
These big 30 knot ships will be
capable of operating 25 Freehand
VSTOL aircraft, together with 25
ASW helicopters. They will carry a
heavy SAM armament, but no SSGW
armament is planned. For reasons
which are not clear to observers.
KIEV is expected to carry a
surprisingly heavy gun armament —
twenty-eight 57mm guns in twin
mountings on sponsons. either side
of the quarter deck, and forward, at
a height above sea level that is likely
to make them wet in heavy seas.
In 1974. the Italian Navy
announced its intention of constructing
an additional helicopter
cruiser, capable of operating VSTOL
aircraft. This new ship will join the
t.iree helicopter cruisers (VITTORIO
VENETO. ANDREA DORIA and CAIO
DUILIO) already in service with the
Italian Navy. Although, as yet. the
Italians operate no VSTOL aircraft,
they have conducted a series of deck
landing trials with a Harrier. As is to
be expected, the Italian ships are
designed for Mediterranean distances
and sea conditions.
The Brazilian Navy's i .w
construction programme includes a
helicopter carrier, presumably to
replace her existing aircraft carrier
N. Ac L. MINAS GERAIS (which
served as HMAS VENGEANCE from
1953-5 r )
The United States Navy's Destroyer (DDj SPRUANCE, the name
ship oj the class oj which 30 will be built. SPRUANCE (DD963) was
launched on 10 November, 1973, and commissioned in October, 1974.
Vessels oj this class were designed primarily jor anti-submarine
warfare.
An Australian Role
For An SAP?
HMAS MELBOURNE is a Seaborne
Air Platform. It is the ship's hull,
machinery and accommodation
that are forcing her retirement. Her
aircraft are not obsolete. On the
contrary, the US Navy have this year
requested the construction of more
SKYHAWKS. and the SEA KING is
widely regarded as the best antisubmarine
helicopter in the world.
Classed as a support carrier (CVS).
MELBOURNE has two alternative
aircraft complements. She is a ship
with two interchangeable armaments
that can be embarked
according to the tactical role she is
expected to perform.
MELBOURNE'S Tracker aircraft
and Sea King helicopters can
provide a formidable anti-submarine
force Her SKYHAWKS are very
effective aircraft in the anti-ship
role, as protection against hostile
Long Range Maritime Patrol (LRMP)
or long range SSGW control aircraft,
and in support of ground troops
operating in remote areas where the
paucity of operational airfields
suitable for land-based aircraft is a
serious difficulty — a situation particularly
applicable to many parts of
CONTRIBUTIONS INVITED
Australia now. and. for cost and
population distribution reasons,
likely to obtain for the foreseeable
future.
Australian trade must have protection
against these forms of attack. A
decision must be made as to how
these forms of attack can be prevented
after MELBOURNE'S retirement.
It is the protection, not necessarily
the ship, that must be replaced. This
can be done in two ways:
• Land based aircraft and helicopters
operating from escorts.
• VSTOL aircraft and helicopters
operating from a Seaborne Air Platform.
The former method would require
substantial expenditure upon
additional aircraft and more of the
first class airfields essential to their
operation. Even if there were enough
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of them, the RAAF's Mirages have far
too small a radius of action to
provide the protection necessary.
Information published about
potential replacements for the
Mirages indicates that none offers
sufficient improvement in radius of
action to resolve the maritime
problem without new first class
airfields.
These are factors senior Defence
Advisors will take into account when
making their recommendation to
the Government. It is to be hoped
that whoever is Minister for Defence
at the time will avoid the mistake of
becoming politically committed for.
or against, the project before he has
received the experts' recommendation
with supporting facts.
For The Ran —
TDCor SCS?
With the possible exception of the
Russian ships, none of the types
examined above are strategic strike
weapons systems. They are not
suitable for launching opposed air
strikes against targets overseas.
Both the TDC and the SCS could
fulfil an Australian need to provide
air and ASW protection for merchantmen
trading with Australia.
The TDC carries in one hull all the
weapons necessary for defence
against deep water surface, subsurface
and air attack, with the
advantages of the economy of scale.
But all the eggs are in one basket —
the whole unit would have to be
deployed even if only one type of
threat was expected. The TDC is an
expensive and complex ship that
would be difficult, if not
impracticable, to build in Australia.
The Sea Control Ships would need
SAM/SSGW armed escorts (the
patrol frigates, now known as FFGs.
and our modernised DDGs. will have
that ability). The relatively simple
hull and machinery of the SCS would
make construction in Australia a
practical possibility. The much
smaller crew would facilitate the
operation of two SCS by the RAN. In
appropriate tactical circumstances.
FFGs and DDGs could be deployed
separately from the SCS. The fact
that all three types. SCS. FFG and
To "The Na»y",
Box CI78, Clarence Street Post Office.
Sydney, NSW. 2000, Australia.
DDG. are US-designed would
promote compatibility of systems
used in the ships.
Within the next twelve months, the
RAN will have to make its choice.
Unit costs and manpower may well
compel a choice between two SCSs
and one TDC. It will be a choice of
very considerable consequence to
both the Australian defence and to
Australian industry.
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Page Sixteen THE NAVY Aug/Sept/Oct, 1975
Aug/SapVOct, 1975 THE MAW Page Seventeen