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

A Company of the
Vickers Group
VICKERS
COCKATOO
DOCKYARD
Pty Limited
BUILDERS OF MANY OF
THE NAVY'S FINEST
FIGHTING SHIPS
COCKATOO ISLAND
SYDNEY
Telegraphic Address:
CODOCK
Telephone: 82 0661
Telex: AA 21833
If you haven't
got a Passport,
you're probably
not going
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Passport Scotch Whisky
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904.1028
for larger ASW helicopters after {he
retirement of the aircraft carrier
HMS ARK ROYAL (see photograph)
and the anti-submarine cruisers
BLAKE (see photograph) and TIGER.
ARK ROYAL herself is an attack
carrier. Her ship-borne armament is
limited to four small Seacat SAM
launchers. She is much bigger than
would be necessary to carry the
number of aircraft required for the
TDC role.
The ungainly BLAKE and TIGER
were built as gun cruisers and have
a hangar .and platform perched
upon their after ends. The forward
two-thirds of the ships look like any
other gun cruisers. This 'half
platform" approach, adopted by the
Admiralty to utilise available hulls,
allows space for only four SEA KING
ASW helicopters — less than ideal
for the tactical requirements
envisaged for the TDC.
Seeking to take advantage of the
"through" or full hull length, and
angled, deck aspects of the conventional
carrier, and the cost effectiveness
of carrying a major SSGW
and SAM system in the same hull,
the British Admiralty has developed
a design in which the flight deck
extends forward from the stern
about seven-eighths of the length of
the sHip The remaining eighth of the
deck length — the fo'c'sle — are
utilised for the SAM and SSGW
systems. A complete maritime task
force command centre will be
incorporated in the INVINCIBLE.
Apart from the British Navy, the
TDC is being considered by the
Imperial Iranian and Indian Navies.
The Shah of Iran, who is widely
reported to have undertaken to
purchase a TDC from Britain
provided that country developed,
built, and sold to him. maritime
Harriers to operate from his new
ship, is now likely to place a firm
order. This ship, operating with the
six SPRUANCE type (see photograph)
super DDG's being built for
Iran in the US. will provide the Shah
(and the Indian Ocean) with a
formidable armada.
The Indian Navy's position is very
similar to our own. Our MEL-
BOURNE was originally a sister to
India's VIKRANT. Although both
ships could easily be modified to
operate Harriers, and are quite large
enough, both must be retired
because their hulls and machinery
HMS ARK ROYAL, an attack aircrajt carrier. She is scheduled Jor
disposal upon completion oj the Through Deck Cruiser HMS
INVINCIBLE.
are wearing out. India's strategic
circumstances indicate the need for
a continued seaborne air capability.
She is studying the alternatives —
the TDC and the SCS.
The Protean Concept
Y ARD (Australia) Pty Ltd has
developed a basic hull and
machinery design with interchangeable
standard commercial
size containers providing the equipment
and accommodation
necessary for three alternative
tactical roles:
e Fast Transport,
e Replenishment Ship,
e Light VSTOL Seaborne Air
Platform.
The concept is fundamentally new
and. as yet, untried by any Navy in
construction, maintenance or
operation. At first glance, at least,
the concept has definite conceptual
attractions to a small Navy that must
operate over the long distances of
Australia's coastline.
Whilst the Royal Australian Navy
and t istralian industry may well
have the confidence and ability
essential to successful development.
it is difficult to see support
coming from a Government that
had insufficient confidence in Australian
industry and technology to
support the DDL (light destroyer) —.
a project technologically more
difficult than anything attempted
here previously, but not new in
concept.
Russia, France, Italy and
Brazil
Four other nations, none of whom
have previously been the source of
major technology for the Royal Australian
Navy, are interested in
developing or acquiring ships of a
similar type to the TDC or SCS.
The French have Announced their
intention of laying down this year an
18.000 ton nuclear powered helicopter
carrier which would be
capable of operating VSTOL aircraft.
Details of her armament have
not yet been announced.
Undoubtedly, her nuclear powered
propulsion unit will make her a very
costly ship, quite apart from the
domestic political difficulties that
would arise if the RAN sought to
acquire such a ship.
In mid-1967, the Russians
completed MOSKVA, the first of their
15.000 ton helicopter carriers.
These thirty knot ships, which can
carry 18 ASW helicopters, are
armed with SAM as protection
against air attack. They carry no
SSGW.
Page Fourteen
THE NAVY
Aug/SepVOct, 1975
Aug/Sept/Oct, 1975 THE NAVY Page Fifteen