New RAN Aviation Training Ship delivered

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MikeJames
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New RAN Aviation Training Ship delivered

Post by MikeJames »

This one snuck in under the radar. I had no idea it had been completed...

New Generation-Ready: Serco delivers Multi-role Aviation Training Vessel
22 September 2016

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Serco has proudly delivered the Australian Navy its first Multirole Aviation Training Vessel. This 94 metre long ship has a flight deck for training of crews of most types of helicopters used by the Australia Defence Force. The new ship, SYCAMORE, was launched in Vietnam on 30 August.

“The vessel’s primary role will be to support Defence helicopter training,” Serco Defence Managing Director Steve Richards said. “This is a multi-role vessel, designed to fulfil a range of training functions, including sea familiarisation training for new officers, and training in mine warfare, torpedo recovery, consort duties and unmanned aerial vehicle support.”

The MATV is part of the upgraded Helicopter Aircrew Training System, HATS, which will train Army and Navy pilots to operate new generation naval combat and battlefield helicopters. Known as Air 9000 Phase 7, the $157.1million project will meet the future rotary wing training needs of the Australian Defence Force. While

Serco is delivering the platform, Boeing and Thales are supplying the aviation component of the project.

The ship will undergo sea trials and then arrive in Sydney in 2017.

Serco Defence has already overseen the construction in Vietnam of the 83-metre submarine escape gear ship, EGS BESANT, and the 93-metre submarine rescue gear ship, RGS STOKER, both of which Serco Defence now operates and maintains.

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(L-R): Denis Mole, AM - EGM Military Support & Marine Services, Serco Defence, CAPT Allen Whittaker, AM, CSC, RAN – Director Aviation Capability, Roland Briene, Area Director – Asia Pacific, Damen Shipyards


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MikeJames
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Re: New RAN Aviation Training Ship delivered

Post by MikeJames »

Additional shots and info on the RAN's newest ship, the Aviation Training Vessel Sycamore.

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Line drawings

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Flight Deck layout

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SYCAMORE specifications
Vessel Particulars
Damen Design, Built of steel in Vietnam (2015 - 2017)
AMSA / Civilian – Special Purpose Ship – Aviation Capable
LOA 93.96m Draught (max) 3.96m Gross 3254 tonnes
Civilian Crew 22 max
Commonwealth (RAN) personnel 71 overnight + 20 day only
Speed (SS4) (twin VP propellers) 17kts max / 16.2kts @85% MCR
Range @ 85% MCR in SS4 4400 nm
Aviation Flight Deck (No Hangar) Modelled on FFH (modified Perth)
Aircraft EC135, MH-60R and MHR90
Aircraft Ship Integrated Secure and Traverse (ASIST)
Aviation Radar TERMA Scanter 6002 with Mode S / ADS-B receive

Aviation Fuel Pressure / Gravity /full HIFR fuelling (77m3 F44 storage)
_________________________________________________
Acquisition / Background / Operations
Acquired for the Commonwealth by DMS under the Fleet Marine Services Contract (FMSC) CAAP
Commonwealth Acceptance of MATV platform – Q3 2017
First of Class Flight trials (EC135) in support of
Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) program – Q3 2017
Transition of roles from MV Horizon – 2017
HATS Flying Operations begin – Q1/Q2 2018

Normal area of operations East Australian Exercise Area (EAXA)
Tasking planned through the Fleet Activity Schedule (FAS)
Tasking executed through the Fleet Exercise Program (FXP)
MATV available for tasking at approximately 280 days annum
___________________________________

ATV Capability
MATV is a civilian contracted crewed and maintained, RAN training platform
RAN provided Flight Deck Teams and procedural aircraft controllers (PAC)
Tailored embarked Aviation Training for
Aircrew Deck Landing Qualifications (with the Joint Helicopter School training as priority 1 – HATS)
Flight Deck Operations Training (including HIFR and VERTREP)
Procedural Air Controller (PAC) / Helicopter Control Officer (HCO)
Other Training roles / Tasks
Sea Familiarisation / NEOC training
MCD support (Mine warfare / Diving)
Consort Duties
Navigation Training / Target Towing
Practice Weapon Recovery
Government Direction / HADR / SAR
Fitted for Un-manned Aerial System (UAS) / EW through air threat sim

Image

Wonder if anyone might decide to build her in 1:72?

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Re: New RAN Aviation Training Ship delivered

Post by RussF172 »

Seems a bit ridiculous that she is an aviation training ship however she doesn't have a hanger which is one of the jobs of flight deck crews, folding and stowing aircraft at sea in difficult conditions. :stupid:
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Re: New RAN Aviation Training Ship delivered

Post by MikeJames »

I think she may have a hangar Russ, that looks like a Recovery and Secure Transit (RAST) track on the flight deck and looking at the drawing showing the rear elevation there is what appears to be a roller door visible.

Of course this might not be a helo hangar, she may have the capability to launch and recover UAVs.
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Re: New RAN Aviation Training Ship delivered

Post by rritchie71 »

Now don't go getting all logic and common sense Russ...:)
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Re: New RAN Aviation Training Ship delivered

Post by mphams70 »

Russ, stowing the damn thing isn't a currency. Just the amount and types of deck landings which waste a lot of a Warship's time. For both deck team and the flight crew. Just wonder if it can simulate the movement.
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Re: New RAN Aviation Training Ship delivered

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Sycamore on official Sea Trials off vietnam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL1SU46Kwo8

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Re: New RAN Aviation Training Ship delivered

Post by MikeJames »

Damen have apparently been doing the rounds in Canberra, telling Navy and politicians that Sycamore shows they can deliver vessels on time, on budget and that if they can do that in Vietnam they can do that with the highly skilled workforce here in Australia for the OPVs.

Not completely sold on their argument, given issues experienced here in Australia with delivering ships, but time will tell.

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Re: New RAN Aviation Training Ship delivered

Post by littoralcombat »

Nice Video, she looks better afloat than on 'the hard'.
I wonder why they have 'fuzzed out' the Port of Registration (Sydney) and her IMO Number on the Transom :?:

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Re: New RAN Aviation Training Ship delivered

Post by MikeJames »

Because at the time she was on sea trials and carried a Vietnamese port of registry.

Damen probably didn't think it was a good look to highlight a Vietnamese home port for a ship destined to work with the RAN based in Australia, especially when they were pushing building their offshore patrol vessels contender in Australia, it does kind of beg the question "why didn't you build her in Australia then if you are so confident in Australian shipyards?"

She now carries an Australian registry and her home port is listed as Sydney.

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Re: New RAN Aviation Training Ship delivered

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Just an update, Sycamore is tied up alonside Waterhen at the moment.

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Re: New RAN Aviation Training Ship delivered

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Nice image of Sycamore

Image

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Re: New RAN Aviation Training Ship delivered

Post by littoralcombat »

Assuming you took this from the Website 'Ship-Bucket' Mike?
If so it will probably be no-where near accurate.

Some of their fanciful products, e.g OPV's armed like Battleships, with enough top-weight to capsize in Sea-State 1 are vaguely amusing, but it ends there. :stupid:

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Re: New RAN Aviation Training Ship delivered

Post by MikeJames »

That image is from Shibucket, but you have to dffentiate between the Real Designs and the non-real.

The real designs drawings are generally an accurate representation of the real ship.

Some of the never built designs are interesting, such as the RAN DDL, which was created using plans I supplied.Image

Other never built designs with a strong basis in fact include the locally designed replenishment ship Protector which lost out to the French Durance design which became Success.
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The proposed alternative to the Spanish F100 design for the AWD from Gibbs and Cox
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The FORGACS alternative design for the Fremantle replacement, Austal won that competition with the Armidales
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And the two Transfield / Tenix designs for the joint Australian / Malaysian OPV deal that fell through back in the 80s.
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I don't bother with alternate universe stuff, that's just flights of fancy.

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Re: New RAN Aviation Training Ship delivered

Post by littoralcombat »

Understood Mike, guess it's the 'Flights of Fancy' that get my Goat, so to speak. Otherwise, the others are, I admit, a good basic representation of what might have been.
Certainly not a criticism of your effort in posting.

Nige
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