Task Force 72

Some of the latest images of the upgrade underway on HMAS Perth.

I am sure DMO has done all the sums, but by god they look top heavy.









(Open each image in a new window to see the complete image)

Mike

Are they upgrading her main 5" gun casing to the stealthier squarer design?
She still has in the photos there the original design - which seems a bit odd given all the nice mods fitted, not to mention most ANZACs now having the gun upgrade too.

Nice photos
Thanks
J

I like the enclosed fwd mast, But the main mast array looks terribly topheavy with the SPS-49 moved higher surely they could have come up with a better design than that!

Bruce

looks like they could afford the 62 Cal barrel but not the later turret shell...Cheap buggas

As the last one completed she received the original gun turret that was used at the land-based Anzac class integration facility at Williamtown, once that was no longer needed.

She is scheduled to receive the new casing in due course.

Mike.

Mike very interesting photos but I like the Anzac as she was first delivered to us. I will not be changing my Anzac to the refit. Scott

Could they have saved some topweight by trunking the twin funnels into one like the Canucks did with the Iroquois class?

Comparatively little top weight there Michael, the funnel casings are a combination of aluminium and mild steel.

An acquaintance was involved in some of the design work and in answer to my doubts about stability said that the top weight was manageable, given that the Harpoons are located on 01 deck and the Nulka launchers on the hangar roof weigh considerably less than a Phalanx, ensuring stability in bad weather involving extreme beam seas leading to excessive rolling motion.

This is the reason that Australia, unlike just about every other Meko 200 operator does not have a CIWS located on the hangar roof. To ensure stability in the storm swell conditions encountered during Pacific Ocean storms, which have a different amplitude than those in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, ie. the waves come further apart and generally higher.

The Kiwi's don't operate Harpoon and Nulka, and therefore ship the Phalanx on the hangar roof. They have indicated that they have neither the inclination nor the money to participate in the Anzac class upgrades the RAN is implementing.

This is just one of a number of differences between the ANZAC class and other Meko's, the RAN / RNZN engine combo of two diesels and one LM2500 gas turbine is optimised for long range, which is why they are the slowest of the type, but also the longest ranged. Everyone else went for 2 LM 2500s and are good for 31-32 knots while ours are only good for 27 knots. The difference is that the Turkish, Greek and Portuguese Meko 200s are good for 4100 nautical miles at 16 knots, while the ANZAC Mekos can do 6,000 nautical miles at 18 knots.

Mike

Very good info Mike - thanks learnt something re the endurance of our's cf others.

Keith and Carl, who have served tell me there is few hundred tonnes of extra ballast down below to compensate for up top new bits BUT this ballast shaves the top speed back again.

J